Monoposto

Nº 25

Damon Hill

1996 World Champion

Rothmans Williams Renault

Overview

Damon Graham Devereux Hill, born in Hampstead, London, on 17 September 1960, won the 1996 World Drivers' Championship with Williams.1 His father, Graham, won the title twice, and Hill is one of only two sons of world champions to win it himself, with Nico Rosberg.1

He started out on motorcycles, funding it partly through building work and dispatch riding, and reached Formula One at 31.1

1996

Eight wins, 19 points clear of Jacques Villeneuve

Settled in Japan

He took eight wins, and won the first three races of the year.12 The title went to the Japanese finale against his teammate Jacques Villeneuve, and Hill clinched it when Villeneuve retired.1 He won the race as well.2

Williams had already dropped him for 1997 in favour of Heinz-Harald Frentzen.1

Every Grand Prix finish, 1996

Numeral size follows the result. Round 1 at left.

Image plates

3 photographs, in season order

Helmet

His helmet has eight white oar blades on dark blue, the same design as his father's.1 It represents the London Rowing Club, for which Graham Hill rowed.1

A drawing of his 1996 design.

Auge=mit · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Background removed

Williams FW18

Adrian Newey and Patrick Head's FW18 won 12 of the 16 races in 1996, eight for Hill and four for Villeneuve.3 Williams clinched the constructors' title as early as Hungary, and finished with 175 points.3

His title-winning FW18 on display in 2017.

David Merrett · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Engine
Renault RS8 V10
Team wins, both drivers
12 of 16
Team points
175

Road to the title

  1. 1981Started in motorcycle racing.1
  2. 1985Moved to cars, racing in Formula Ford.1
  3. 1992Formula One debut with Brabham.1
  4. 1993Joined Williams, and first win in Hungary.1
  5. 1996World Drivers' Champion.1
  6. 1997–99Raced for Arrows and Jordan.1

Records

  • World champion son of a world champion, shared only with Nico Rosberg1

Sources