Hill had an F1 career like few others
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British F1 legend Damon Hill is set to take his rollercoaster life story on tour, with a seven-date ‘Evening with…’ show running in January.
Joined by F1 podcast host Tom Clarkson, the 1996 champion will share tales from an extraordinary journey which began as the son of ‘60s grand prix Graham Hill, included being team-mates with Ayrton Senna and featured a series of titanic battles with Michael Schumacher.
Hill’s father died in a plane crash in 1975, when Hill was just 15, leaving his family in serious financial difficulty.
Hill (centre) with father Graham and family
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The Brit initially moved his focus away from cars and was enthusiastic about bikes in his late teens and early 20s – with help from Brands Hatch owner John Webb.
“I went racing, bought my own ’bike, prepared it, did it all on my own,” Hill told Motor Sport in 2007.
“John helped me, though – he knew my father’s name was good for the gate. In 1984 I won just about everything I did, 40 races. One day my ’bike broke, the big end seized. I went up to John Webb in the Brands Hatch bar and said, ‘I’m sorry, I can’t race this weekend’.
“He got the barmaid to open the till, fished out £100 and gave it to me. He said, ‘Go and find someone in the paddock who’ll rent you a ’bike’. So I went to the paddock, rented some fellow’s ’bike, and won on that too. I remember thinking, ‘Bloody hell, it’s not the ’bike, it must be me!’”
Hill switched to Formula Ford in 1985 and began a steady climb up the junior single-seater ranks.
Brit had to overcome death of Ayrton Senna to lead Williams team
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Three years in F3 and another three in F3000 eventually led to a testing role for Williams in 1991.
Two years later and he was suddenly dropped into a race seat next to Alain Prost following Nigel Mansell’s sensational switch to IndyCar.
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Hill took his first grand prix wins that year, but the next season was met with one of his greatest challenges when team leader Ayrton Senna was killed at Imola.
“I had to raise my game, and I don’t think I was prepared for that,” he said. “It was horrible: his clothes still hanging up in the changing room, everyone in shock.”
Hill managed to galvanise the team by taking the title fight to Benetton’s Michael Schumacher, eventually securing the championship himself in 1996 following a couple of near-misses.
A stint with Jordan provided the coda to Hill’s racing career, culminating with a famous first win for the team at Spa ’98.
Final F1 win came with Jordan at Spa ’98
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“I’m a massive doubter,” Hill said. “A humongous doubter. But it’s okay for me to doubt myself. If someone else doubts me, that’s not allowed! I think life’s a test. I’m not religious but I do believe that we have one life, just one chance to define ourselves.”
‘An Evening with Damon Hill…’ begins its tour on January 14 2026 – tickets and more information can be found here.
