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Damon Hill

Damon Hill is a retired British Formula One racing driver who won the 1996 Formula One World Championship with Williams.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Damon Hill is a retired British Formula One racing driver who won the 1996 Formula One World Championship with Williams. He is the son of two-time Formula One World Champion Graham Hill, and became the first son of a world champion to win the title himself. Hill scored 22 Grand Prix victories during his career.

Early life and background

Damon Hill was born in Hampstead, London, in 1960, the son of Graham Hill, a two-time Formula One World Champion. He came to top-level single-seater racing relatively late compared with many drivers.

Formula One career

Hill made his Formula One debut in 1992 with Brabham, then joined Williams in 1993. He raced for Arrows and Jordan after leaving Williams, and retired at the end of 1999.

1996 championship season

Hill won the 1996 Formula One World Championship driving for Williams. That title made him the first son of a former world champion to win the championship himself.

Later roles in motorsport

After retiring, Hill remained involved in motorsport as a broadcaster and later in leadership and ambassadorial roles. Williams announced him as an ambassador for 2026.

Key facts

  • Entered Formula One in 1992 with Brabham before moving to Williams.
  • Won the 1996 Formula One World Championship with Williams.
  • Became the first son of a Formula One world champion to win the championship.
  • Scored 22 Grand Prix victories in Formula One.
  • Retired from Formula One after the 1999 season.
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Canadian context

Damon Hill is closely associated with Canadian Formula One history because he lost the 1996 championship to his Williams teammate Jacques Villeneuve, who became Canada’s first Formula One World Champion.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Damon Hill?
Damon Hill is a retired British Formula One driver best known for winning the 1996 World Championship with Williams.
What team did Damon Hill win the title with?
He won the 1996 Formula One World Championship with Williams.
How many Formula One races did Damon Hill win?
He won 22 Formula One Grands Prix.
Is Damon Hill related to Graham Hill?
Yes. Damon Hill is the son of Graham Hill, who won two Formula One World Championships.
When did Damon Hill retire?
He retired from Formula One at the end of the 1999 season.

References

  1. Formula 1 — https://www.formula1.com/en/information/drivers-hall-of-fame-damon-hill.5Cwo2Aog5nHCR1eduIkq3y
    Supports: 1996 World Championship, 22 wins, late entry to the sport, family background
  2. Williams Racing — https://www.williamsf1.com/articles/a5795986-8ed3-47e0-9ee7-b675b10481ab/get-to-know-damon-hill
    Supports: 1996 title with Williams, first son of a world champion to win the title, later broadcaster and 2026 ambassador role
  3. Autosport — https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/hills-eventful-f1-career-5050515/5050515/
    Supports: 1992 Brabham debut, Williams move, retirement after 1999
  4. F1-Fansite — https://www.f1-fansite.com/f1-drivers/damon-hill-information-statistics/
    Supports: Teams, wins, starts, points, career statistics
  5. London Speaker Bureau — https://www.londonspeakerbureau.com/speaker-profile/damon-hill/
    Supports: OBE, broadcaster role, BBC Sports Personality of the Year distinction