Damon Hill, the 1996 Formula One World Champion, is the son of Graham Hill, a two-time Formula One World Champion. Graham Hill was as much a charismatic, gregarious personality as he was a highly skilled Formula One driver during the 1960s.

When Graham Hill was killed in a plane crash in 1975, his son’s life changed dramatically. The family fortune was lost, and the future of the Hill family looked uncertain. Damon Hill initially showed little interest in motor racing, instead preferring motorcycle racing.

He went on to win races on two wheels, but eventually shifted his focus to four wheels. Starting relatively late, he was 24 when he entered junior formula racing. Even so, he demonstrated enough skill and talent to be signed by Williams F1 as a test driver.

He secured a race seat at Williams in 1994, partly by circumstance, after Nigel Mansell left the team following his championship-winning season and Alain Prost’s retirement left a vacancy. Hill was supported by his engineering team and by Patrick Head, a demanding figure known for his high standards.

Eventually, Hill won the 1996 Formula One World Championship. As a young F1 fan at the time, I always supported him and still feel he is somewhat underrated as a driver. He was not at Michael Schumacher’s level, but few drivers are; nonetheless, he was close enough to challenge and beat the German wunderkind when it mattered most.

Damon Hill recently reflected on his difficult path to Formula One in an in-depth interview with Goodwood Road & Racing.