69 replies to this topic

[SeanValen]

Now I'm not a Damon Hill fan, but I just wanna know how good he was and what made him to many to be considered average or not impressive, but good.



I'm going to use your replys, to show to some friends, and give them some good reviews from experience f1 fans.

Thanks for your help in advance.

[servellen]

Oppinions vary when it comes to Damon Hill. I consider him to be an above average F1 driver who was good at setup and development but lacked the balls to really race wheel to eheel effectively which caused him not to pass other drivers very well which resulted in a few collisions with Michael Shumacher. He was good in a dominant car and almost won a race for Arrows unde favourable circumstances for his Bridgstone tyres while the opposition was still on Goodyear, but he wasn't a guy to bring confidence into a developing team as he lacked a certain confidence that some other drivers do have.

As the English said when he won the WDC; "It's nice to see a good bloke can still win the championship" I and i indeed agree that Damon Hill certainly seemed to be one of the nicer guys in Formula one and I will remember his career in the light of him being knocked off the track by Shummy for the Championship and hating him for it until this day..

[Vrba]

In my opinion, part of the problem with perception of Damon lies with the fact that he was not a great duel driver. He was undoubtedly very quick; in his championship year of 1996 he qualified every time on front row (9 poles, 7 second places), something that only Senna did, back in1989.
He is definitely underestimated. He was very quick driver, good in developing the cars. His shortcomings were hown in direct duels particularly with Schumacher but there's no question that he thoroughly deserved the 1996 title. He was, ina way, a driver like Clark (Clark fans, don't bash me :-)) - greatest when in front. And don't forget that incredible drive in 1997 Hungarian GP.
Personally, I always liked him.

Hrvoje

[AD]

First of all Hills strongest point was his car development skills. At Arrows and at Jordan his car got more and more competitive as the season went on.
Damon wasn't the most skillful driver ever, but when you get to F1 everyone is pretty near in skill. Yes you have freaks like Schumacher or Senna who live and die great but... Anyways Hill more or less maximisied his potential IMO. In 1996 he qualified on the front row for every race Yes the Williams was a great car but the highly rated JV wasn't anywhere near this feat rookie or not. As well as that Hill led the Williams team for the few races after Senna died in an admirable fashion. That showed that he is a determined character.

Damon was no Schumacher, Senna, or Prost. Then again who is? However I always rated him as a bloody good driver who could mix it with anyone on his day. His finest hour was Suzuka '94 which to a certain degree proves the previous sentence IMO.

[Ross Stonefeld]

A truly exceptional driver. A very unimpressive racer. I give him a lot of respect becuase he seems the most 'human' of F1 drivers. He had good days and bad days, just like any of us would

[Pikachu Racing]

He's a good fast driver but he couldn't push the car beyond 100% most of the times. When the pressure was on him, he seems to throw it away. His late season fade in 96 gives it away which allowed JV to close in within 9 points before going to the last race.

[MPea3]

i think in considering DH, you have to look at what his capabilities as well as limitations were.

i think he was undoubtedly an excellent development driver. while many pass of his successes in the mid 90's at williams to his simply having had the best car, that car was to some degree his responsibility. he was also able to put arrows toward the front of the pack in his first year there, and the same with jordan. that is impressive to me moreso than his WDC.

he was also able to put together a total weekend, which now seems to be part of F1. he seemed comfortable getting the car dialed in on friday, qualified on saturday, and raced on sunday, and doing all three to a high level.

his WDC was the result of hard work, and he might have easily had 2. i don't think any WDC should be discounted.

while often maligned as a driver, oddly enough, he had success at many of the "drivers tracks".

he also was, for a while, the only person really taking the fight to MS. do i consider him in MS's league? no, but then again, almost no one is.

his skills seemed much more limited when not in front. both at arrows and his first year at jordan, he seemed prone to somewhat dumb mistakes of judgement, especially in the early laps.

his 2nd year at jordan was sad to watch. i wish he had retired before the end of the season no, let me rephrase that. i THINK he should have retired before the end of his last season.

in all, he lacked the "tiger" and artistry that would have made him a great driver. still, i feel he took the skills he had, and made the most of them.

[MortenF1]

Damon Hill was indeed a very good driver! As mentioned, he was a great development-driver, and his feedback was precise, and he helped improve many cars over the years. But to me, what proves he was good, was how he did against Senna and Prost, two of the very best drivers ever!! He also made a bold move when joining Arrows, and as we all know, almost gave them their first win, and placed them higher on the grid than ever. Rock on, Damon!

[BuzzingHornet]

AFAIK, Hill is the only driver (before 96 and since) to qualify on the front row of every GP in a season. Did Senna do it in 89 Vrba?

[rtcoman]

Damon Hill: a World Champion

Not one of the greatest - as in Fangio, Senna or M.Schumacher - but a great driver nevertheless with a very unusual career.

Damon Hill

[John B]

I'm pretty sure Senna did indeed make all front rows in 1989, unless I missed something.

I think one way to evaluate Hill is to look at how he maximized his opportunities with Williams-Renault. First he did enough as a test driver to merit being chosen for a ride with the top team, then in 1993 and 94 he did more than reasonably expected, albeit with circumstances in 94. 1995 proved a disapointment, and in 1996 with high expectations he took care of the title with 8 wins. He managed much more than DC and HHF with their two combined wins at W/R, and both of those drivers have held good rides and been highly regarded at times in recent years.

[George Bailey]

Senna 1989 13 1sts 3 2nds according to Forix.

[Vagabond]

I agree with AD, Ross and those who said Hill was used to be very good driver but not much of a racer. His smooth driving style (inherited probably from his motorbike years) and great technical feetback he was able to provide with his engineers were awesome. Quite good in rain too. Good in technical circuits, had a few wins on ttracks like Spa and Suzuka. His two + almost third wins in Hungary including his first in 1993 and his 1997-show make him a true Mr. Hungaroring of nineties. Do not forget that he joined F1 very late in his career. That makes his achievements even more impressive. And remember that he was always measured against world champions: Schumacher, Prost, Senna, JV. All in all I think he did great.

[holiday]

As a person a really nice bloke, as a driver certainly not nearly in the league his stats might suggest. He will forever have the stigma of something of a product of lucky circumstances: He had one of the most dominant cars ever in f1-history at exactly a time when the old garde left the scene and new promising drivers were nowhere seen.

Imagine, Hill in Benetton and Schumacher in Williams in the Midnineties: Honestly, how many wins would Damon have scored? But then again, he was the only one who could take the fight to Schumacher from time to time.

As a person, he was refreshingly honest and could pay tribute to other when it was due. I had always the feeling that this trait didn't do him always good as a racer...

[TazioN]

I think he needed lots of motivation, which he could not find at Arrows and Jordan. Still, when he was "on", he was clearly very good. Also, we have to remember that during his tenure at Williams he had the benefit of a really good car.

[Williams]

In 94 and 95 Damon was not so much the driver who carried the fight to Michael Schumacher, so much as the driver who raced at a level, in the best car, such that Michael Schumacher was able to carry the fight to him.

But in 1996 Damon proved that competition can make average people bring out the best in themselves, and make them perform at a level previously beyond them. Damon deserves full marks for reinventing himself in his championship season, positioning himself as the top driver and the man to beat for one crucial season, and in the end executing to a level sufficient to win the championship. This despite the news, received with only a few reaces to go in a closely-fought championship, that his services would not be required at Williams the following year.

In a way, Damon had anticipated this news. During his off-season, Damon laid his plans for an assault on the championship very carefully. In addition to fine-tuning his physical and mental preparation, he also prepared himself for the probabilty that some event would occur which could derail his momentum and potentially damage his campaign beyond repair. On hearing the news of his imminent dismissal, he was able to say to himself "OK, this is it, this is what I've been expecting". As such, he was able to remain focussed on the task at hand, finally defeating his rival and teammate with an utterly domininant performance at Suzuka.

While Frank Williams would never say that Damon was a true fighting champion in the same mold as a Mansell or his beloved Alan Jones, Frank had this to say at the end of the 1996 season, and perhaps it captures perfectly the magnitude and the character of Damon's achievement:

"I believe that what Damon has done is truly admirable. It is a great example for everybody wanting to learn the lessons of life — just keep going if you believe in yourself and you believe in something. It is a great demonstration of how life, generally, should operate. I must say he’s been very masterful in the car this year, about how he conducts himself in the pits during practice, how he thinks through his race, plans strategy, everything. He is changed from last year. He is more mature and he’s done it through a self-development programme. And, I emphasize, it was very successful. He controlled the championship. He was given some good equipment and he made 101 per cent use of it. He’s also a rare breed as a gentleman. I’ve hardly ever seen him angry and I’ve never seen him come out with any invective at all. Damon has climbed a mountain for four years and he thoroughly deserves to be at the top."

IMO history will not assess Damon Hill as a foremost champion, despite his remarkable statistics, but he will be affectionately remembered as one of the truly human drivers who was able, with grit, determination, intelligence, and a touch of good humor, to push beyond his limits into the realm that makes an F1 champion.

[Flying Panda]

Hills story is the same a Villenuves....

They are (OR at leaset were) Great drivers... thats how they won the WDC.
But because they did it in a dominant car, it dosent really count... , and this has been said by dies hard Schumacher and Ferrari fans... talk about the pot calling the kettle black....

sorry, getting back on topic.

"You dont become World Champion by accident" - Quote Ayrton Senna AND Alain Prost.

[The First MH]

[QUOTE]Hills story is the same a Villenuves....

They are (OR at leaset were) Great drivers... thats how they won the WDC.
But because they did it in a dominant car, it dosent really count...


So does that mean that because MSchumacher won in a Ferrari in 2001 it does not count! Or because Mika won in 98/99 in a GREAT car it doen't count either. They were both GREAT cars after all. The Ferrari won the first and last race of last season (2001).
It seems silly to suggest that just because a driver won in a GREAT car it doesn't count. Yes winning a WDC in a car that clearly isn't the best more deserving of respect, but I fail to see how this means that winning in a good car doesn't deserve any, or that it doesn't count. I bet if you won in a GREAT car it would count ;)

[Flying Panda]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by The First MH
[QUOTE]Hills story is the same a Villenuves....

They are (OR at leaset were) Great drivers... thats how they won the WDC.
But because they did it in a dominant car, it dosent really count...


So does that mean that because MSchumacher won in a Ferrari in 2001 it does not count! Or because Mika won in 98/99 in a GREAT car it doen't count either. They were both GREAT cars after all. The Ferrari won the first and last race of last season (2001).
It seems silly to suggest that just because a driver won in a GREAT car it doesn't count. Yes winning a WDC in a car that clearly isn't the best more deserving of respect, but I fail to see how this means that winning in a good car doesn't deserve any, or that it doesn't count. I bet if you won in a GREAT car it would count ;) [/QUOTE]

Thats why you should have read my whole post..... not just the first sentance....

the little guys mean sarcasm....

[ehagar]

People tend to look down on Hill, a he wasn't really a great racer , so they say. Given his backrgound of only race wins and no championships (in junior formulae), plus his age, one might think he didn't deserve the Williams ride. They would be wrong. He pleaded to become a test driver, and in his first year he proved to be nothing spectacular. But in his second year he managed to really step up his game, and Patrick Head took notice.... When Williams signed Alain Prost in 1993, there was no way Nige was going to stay, as he had been beaten at Ferrari by him.... so it seemed, with Damon's improvement, it would be a cheap driver alternative...

The only thing I'd say against him is that he could be at times frightfully inconsistent. Towards the end of his career he didn't seem able to adapt to the new cars.... old dog, new tricks I suppose.

Here is commentary from Gerhard Berger on Damon Hill (Sept 98 F-1 Racing Mag)

What are your impressions of Damon?

'I respect him a lot because I have always appreciated his gentlemanly style. But I think he's very up-and-down in terms of performance. In some races he can deliver an unbelievable performance, in some he is normal, and others he is really bad!'

Is that a motivational thing?

'I have no idea. I don't know him well enough to answer that. But, you know, he was in the best car for two years. Actually, I think he should have been world champion twice...'

In 1995 as well as 1996?

'Yes. He was driving the best car. Mind you, the year before, 1994, it was Michael's mistake or Michael's fault that Damon wasn't world champion. But Damon was always a gentleman.'

Is he still keen?

'From the outside, you get the feeling that his time has gone, but he still doesn't want to accept it.'

Were you faster than Damon Hill?

'Now that is something you can never ask a racing driver. It's something you can never really measure, and even I don't know.'

Was he a worthy world champion?

'Everyone who becomes world champion is something special. Being in the right car is a big help, but some guys can be champion in any car'

[Zawed]

Damon Hill: A great driver, a great champion, a gentleman to boot, but not the best of racers. He should be given credit for being the only serious competition for Schumacher in 94/95. One of his greatest drives was in Suzuka 1994 in the rain. Talk about pressure; he had to win to keep his chances alive, and he did it, fair and square. People often talk about him being in a dominant car, winning from the front. I think it's still damn hard to lead a race from start to finish without being chased hard by another driver, it's just a different kind of pressure.

[mikedeering]

Originally posted by Pikachu Racing
He's a good fast driver but he couldn't push the car beyond 100% most of the times. When the pressure was on him, he seems to throw it away. His late season fade in 96 gives it away which allowed JV to close in within 9 points before going to the last race.

Damon was very emotional, and I think his apparent collapse in the second half of 96 related to all the rumours about Williams dumping him for 97. To be fair, it must be difficult for anyone to do their job probably when the threat of sacking is over them. When that pressure is mganified through the press, it was unsuprising Damon made some elementary mistakes, notably at Monza.

Funny how everyone talks about Damon nearly throwing away the 96 WDC, when he was under so much pressure. Hakkinen in 99 had a far easier time of it (lack of competition, total team support) and still managed to prolong winning the title until Suzuka. In that time he too made an elementary mistake at Monza while walking away with the race...

[jun]

IMO Damon was just your avarage racing driver who got the chance to drive with the best car (Williams) together with the best teammates (Prost, Senna, Villeneuve). You're bound to become experienced in that situation. And I believe experience is the key to stay in F1. (Look at Jos the Boss)
Although I think in a (racing)match that even Jos would beat Damon.

[BuzzingHornet]

When Hill wanted to retire mid season in 99 they tested Jos and he ccouldn't get within a second of Damon

Good post Williams.

[Force Ten]

To me, Damon is allot more like me and you than any of the other drivers around there driving around in circles 17 times a year. He was at his mid-twenties a pretty much regular Formula 1 fan - just like everyone here in this bulletin board. A good picture is here, with a great caption: "Me in the green T-shirt eyeing up the master, Monaco 1988" -

http://damon.hill.ne...n/page_53.shtml

It could have been just you or me - a guy at his late twenties going to see the sport he loves the most - F1 racing. And not only did he later manage himself to get in an F1 car, he managed to become a race winner, a World Driver Champion and won more than twenty races. And that at the light that he was not considered a great natural talent as Häkkinen, Räikkönen, Frentzen, Fisichella or Trulli is considered. Sans Häkkinen, he outperformed them all and in a way he outperformed even Häkkinen - he was able to win in two cars and almost won in his third. This is why I actually do not buy that "not having a talent"-crap -- the man that managed to pull out a serious race winning situation from every car that the drove a full season with - that ain't half bad.

Hill definitely was at his best when up front - there he managed to pull something very special out of himself that many others lacked, especially Alesi, and to some extent also Frentzen and Coulthard. That's why I think that the 22 wins he has had allot more to do with the driver driving the car than the car that the driver was driving.

[Blade]

Originally posted by Force Ten
To me, Damon is allot more like me and you than any of the other drivers around there driving around in circles 17 times a year. He was at his mid-twenties a pretty much regular Formula 1 fan - just like everyone here in this bulletin board. A good picture is here, with a great caption: "Me in the green T-shirt eyeing up the master, Monaco 1988" -

http://damon.hill.ne...n/page_53.shtml

It could have been just you or me - a guy at his late twenties going to see the sport he loves the most - F1 racing. And not only did he later manage himself to get in an F1 car, he managed to become a race winner, a World Driver Champion and won more than twenty races. And that at the light that he was not considered a great natural talent as Häkkinen, Räikkönen, Frentzen, Fisichella or Trulli is considered. Sans Häkkinen, he outperformed them all and in a way he outperformed even Häkkinen - he was able to win in two cars and almost won in his third. This is why I actually do not buy that "not having a talent"-crap -- the man that managed to pull out a serious race winning situation from every car that the drove a full season with - that ain't half bad.

Hill definitely was at his best when up front - there he managed to pull something very special out of himself that many others lacked, especially Alesi, and to some extent also Frentzen and Coulthard. That's why I think that the 22 wins he has had allot more to do with the driver driving the car than the car that the driver was driving.

well, thanks for the link. It contains all the info about Damon Hill.. so I don't have to buy his book haha.

[marques_the_great]

Damon was a very good driver and deserved his WDC. He did not possess MS ability but then again who does? I have a lot of respect for Damon as it must have been difficult to live up to what his dad achieved in his career.;)

[Lister of Smeg]

To me, a driver who wins the WDC racing against MS , knowing he's going to get sacked whether he wins or looses is a great dirver.

[Carsten]

As others have said:
- Damon was good at developing cars
- Damon was good at doing fast laps, whether it was wet or dry
- Damon was poor at wheel-to-wheel racing (look how he ran into the side of MS in 1994).
So, all in all, an above average driver but not one of the greats and certainly not a particularly exciting driver to watch.

[Todd]

Originally posted by Lister of Smeg
To me, a driver who wins the WDC racing against MS , knowing he's going to get sacked whether he wins or looses is a great dirver.

That may or may not be the case, but Damon only had to beat his rookie teammate in 1996. MS didn't have a reliable or fast enough car to even compete with the likes of Damon and Jacques over the course of a season.

I see Damon as being a driver whose fans always stray far from reality to sing his praises. He wasn't completely talentless, but every single one of his achivements in Formula 1 had an asterisk after it. For example:

Suzuka 1994: Ross Brawn assumed there would be a timed race and forced Michael into a choice between running slowly to conserve fuel or making an unplanned stop.

1994 title challenge: only happened on the points table. Michael owned Damon on the occasions that the FIA let him race.

1997 Hungary: Michael chose his tire compound for a car that he crashed in the warm up. Starting the race in the older and poorly balanced F310b, he was doomed to blister his soft Goodyears on every out lap. Damon ran on Bridgestones on the day that they got it so much more right. Had Panis not broken his legs, he'd have won Hungary. And besides, why did Damon's electronics act up with the race seemingly won?

1998 Spa: Michael eliminated from commanding lead, Damon's teammate held back by understandable team orders.

What else did he do?

[Force Ten]

And in comes Todd and starts with the familiar song...

[karlth]

Dear Todd,

Formula 1 doesn't revolve about Michael Schumacher. Just because this thread is about Damon Hill doesn't mean it is attacking your idol.

Cheers
Karl

[POLAR]

Nostalgia Forum?????

Polar

[Bex37]

Damon Hill?

My opinion.

Excellent with car development.
Very good at posting a fast lap.
Lacking in racecraft and "thinking on the fly".

The Williams was an awesome car.

[grmpreefan]

Originally posted by Todd



1997 Hungary: Michael chose his tire compound for a car that he crashed in the warm up. Starting the race in the older and poorly balanced F310b, he was doomed to blister his soft Goodyears on every out lap. Damon ran on Bridgestones on the day that they got it so much more right. Had Panis not broken his legs, he'd have won Hungary. And besides, why did Damon's electronics act up with the race seemingly won?


What else did he do?

Damon doesnt deserve an ounce of credit for a supurb race in a crap Arrows? What are you getting at about his electrics playing up when the race was seemingly won? Was it his fault? If MS didnt prang his car in warm up he would have won, of course right, that goes without saying doesnt it? Shouldnt have pranged his car in the first place then.! If Panis didnt have broken legs he would have won? So you rate Panis above Damon or Prost chassis above Arrows or Bridgestone rubber above Goodyear or what the hell? If seriously hope your not implying Panis is better than Damon, what did he ever do beside win a GP everyone else tried their hardest not to win and one I might add where your buddy threw it at the armco on the first lap!!!

You should uncover your other eye and see how much more perspective you have when you use both of them in tandem. Im surprised you dont have a higher regard for Damon as he had been MS's closest rival and if you dont rate him at all then that only diminishes the quality of MS achievements in my eyes.

[Todd]

Originally posted by grmpreefan
So you rate Panis above Damon or Prost chassis above Arrows or Bridgestone rubber above Goodyear or what the hell?

Panis was better than Hill before Olivier broke his legs. Bridgestone tires were better than Goodyears a number of times in 1997. If you remember the 1997 season, than these two opinions should come as no surprise to you.

Originally posted by grmpreefan
If seriously hope your not implying Panis is better than Damon, what did he ever do beside win a GP everyone else tried their hardest not to win and one I might add where your buddy threw it at the armco on the first lap!!!

He also looked remarkably competitive in the early part of the 1997 season...

Originally posted by grmpreefan
You should uncover your other eye and see how much more perspective you have when you use both of them in tandem. Im surprised you dont have a higher regard for Damon as he had been MS's closest rival and if you dont rate him at all then that only diminishes the quality of MS achievements in my eyes.

Senna was a good rival to Schumacher in 1992 and early in 1994. Mika Hakkinen was a far better rival to Michael Schumacher than Damon Hill. None of them diminish the quality of Schumacher, because there has probably never been a rival that could have competed with Michael in the same car over a season. I doesn't matter that Schumacher started in 1991 instead of 1971 or 1981. Any era he raced in would have had only one star.

[grmpreefan]

Originally posted by Todd


Panis was better than Hill before Olivier broke his legs. Bridgestone tires were better than Goodyears a number of times in 1997. If you remember the 1997 season, than these two opinions should come as no surprise to you.



He also looked remarkably competitive in the early part of the 1997 season...



Senna was a good rival to Schumacher in 1992 and early in 1994. Mika Hakkinen was a far better rival to Michael Schumacher than Damon Hill. None of them diminish the quality of Schumacher, because there has probably never been a rival that could have competed with Michael in the same car over a season. I doesn't matter that Schumacher started in 1991 instead of 1971 or 1981. Any era he raced in would have had only one star.

Due to superior rubber on the day compared to Goodyear runners wouldnt you say and undeniably better chassis that what Damon had use of. And where has he been since? Good tester at McLaren but nothing else on the CV of note.
Wrong, plenty of stars in the 80s and Senna won against them all. But lets not digress....

[Todd]

I wonder what Damon Hill would have to say on the subject?

Now, after keeping quiet about his thoughts on Schumacher since he retired in 1999, Hill has finally spoken out.

"I think he has got the ability to be regarded as the greatest driver of all time," said Hill on Sunday's BBC Sports Personality of the Year show. "He is incredibly talented."

[karlth]

Originally posted by Todd

And besides, why did Damon's electronics act up with the race seemingly won?

That is a brilliant question Todd. Why on earth did Damon's electronics act up when the race was seemingly won?

Did the electronics have a hidden agenda? Did Damon perhaps only test them for race distance - 2 laps? And why did the suspension cooperate but the electronics not?

It would probably be best if you forwarded your question to the technical forum, they might be able to come up with some logical explainations.

[grmpreefan]

Originally posted by Todd
I wonder what Damon Hill would have to say on the subject?

So he is a crap driver but is qualified to comment on who is the most brilliant driver in history? Im sure anything that comes out of his mouth you would take not very seriously even if you bothered to listen to it.

[Todd]

Originally posted by grmpreefan
So he is a crap driver but is qualified to comment on who is the most brilliant driver in history? Im sure anything that comes out of his mouth you would take not very seriously even if you bothered to listen to it.

Damon raced against Senna, Prost, Mansell, and Schumacher. He should have an educated opinion on this particular topic, shouldn't he? Or do you think that he is stupid or dishonest?

[grmpreefan]

Originally posted by Todd





Senna was a good rival to Schumacher in 1992 and early in 1994.

I noticed you ommited 1993 : , what sort of rival was Senna that year or doesnt it count because of the infamous technical marvel that was the fully loaded McLaren chassis that year? MS being at such a disadvantage its probably not fair to compare them that year I know!!!

[grmpreefan]

Originally posted by Todd


Damon raced against Senna, Prost, Mansell, and Schumacher. He should have an educated opinion on this particular topic, shouldn't he? Or do you think that he is stupid or dishonest?

So your saying he has identified all the qualities he didnt posses which are needed to be considered the greatest? No I dont think he is dishonest or stupid but thats my perspective on it, whats your honest opinion?

[Todd]

Originally posted by grmpreefan
So your saying he has identified all the qualities he didnt posses which are needed to be considered the greatest? No I dont think he is dishonest or stupid but thats my perspective on it, whats your honest opinion?

Damon Hill raced against the best drivers of the 1980s, with the exceptions of Lauda and Piquet. He thinks that Michael Schumacher is better than they were. I hope reading comprehension isn't one of your job skills.

[Blade]

just for correction. The 1997 Hungarian race, Damon Hill car was slowed down not because of electronic failure, but a hydraulic failure occured in the transmission and he couldn't shift gears. Tom Walkshaw remarked if Damon shift to 6th gear sooner, then he could have cruise to the end to win the race.

[Jhope]

Has Damon Hill set a Grand Prix record by claiming 17 front row starts in a row staring in Oz 1995 and ending in Japan 1996? In that time? In that span, he set a remarkable 10 pole positions. I just wanna know. Is this a record?

[BuzzingHornet]

...and 9 wins too from 17 starts, equalling Michael Schumacher's 1995 season

[Mila]

you have to give Hill credit for Suzuka 94, but, I'm sorry, little else.

[Nikolas Garth]

Originally posted by BuzzingHornet
...and 9 wins too from 17 starts, equalling Michael Schumacher's 1995 season

If you want to look at wins achieved in any consecutive 17 race sequence, then look no further than the 17 races from USGP 2000 to Belgium GP 2001, MS did. 11 wins from 17 races.

[Force Ten]

Originally posted by Mila
you have to give Hill credit for Suzuka 94, but, I'm sorry, little else.

I am sure that Hill is very sad on your assessment over his abilities.