Will He Ever Win?

Will He Ever Win?

The next Grand Prix on the calendar, at Monaco, was and is one of the most prestigious. Steeped in history, this race would have a special significance for Damon. His father had won five Grands Prix here in the sixties and certainly the media pressure would be on for Hill Jnr. to make it a father-son double. Experience at this twisty circuit through the streets of the tiny principality tends to tell as the cars need guiding within inches of the barriers at speeds approaching 180mph. Damon explains: "It is one you have to learn intimately to feel comfortable and happy in the car. If not, you can become intimidated. Enjoy yourself around these streets and you will go quick. But your concentration has to be absolute because you cannot afford a single error. You have to know every contour of the road. It's a bit like a golfer studying the borrow of a putt. Get the line right and you will make the putt. In our case it can save vital tenths of a second."

Damon would be cast in the role as protector of his father's reputation, because if Senna won, he would have six wins, while if Prost succeeded, he would have equalled Graham Hill's five victories. Recent history would suggest that either Ayrton or Alain would triumph, as only their names had graced the Monaco trophy during the past ten years. This would be Damon's first Grand Prix at Monaco, although he had raced here in 1988 in Formula 3 and had failed to qualify the Brabham in 1992. "Monaco is always a difficult proposition," says Damon. "It's restrictions, the fact that it is a street circuit and it's lack of grip all conspire to put you on edge. It's a moving target because as the weekend goes on, the track gets quicker - so everything you do is a bit of a compromise. Trying to qualify the Brabham last year was bloody hard work because I spun off in the Casino Square and ended up running all over Monaco trying to get back to the pits to take over the spare car." "Both Alain and Ayrton are in a position to claim my dad's glory. I know that I have a job to do to prevent that happening, especially as they are so vastly experienced here. But I intend approaching the Monaco Grand Prix in a positive state of mind. My first win anywhere would be special - but I can't deny it would be something else if it came in Monaco because of the Hill family connection and the fact that it is such a difficult challenge. I feel increasingly confident and able to adapt the car to whatever circuit I am on and that is going to be vitally important here. I am actually looking forward to this weekend, which I regard as two races in one - with qualifying at the front of the grid being so important."

Damon never saw his father race at Monaco - only on television, it has though, held a fascination for him. He first came in 1976 - "I just wanted to see what the place was like. I never saw my father at his greatest, enjoying himself where he most liked to be. It makes me feel sad because it must have been really something special to watch him drive there. He absolutely adored the place. The atmosphere suited his love of the high life. He showed that when it was vital, when he needed to be responsible and serious, he could get his head down, concentrate and win with the best of them on the hardest tracks. My dad gave the impression that he was a devil-may-care playboy type - but he was an extremely accomplished and serious driver." "What my father did here and the era he raced in bear no relevance now. I have to do my own thing and build my own career. You won't see the drivers out drinking at the Tip Top now because it's much more professional. It's still very exciting though, and the jewel in the Formula One crown. It's a place where the show-off driver comes out because you are very much aware that you are being watched. People are so close to the circuit and you have to slow down so much at some corners that you cannot help but pick out faces. I find that a thrill, it's a good feeling. The fact is that the circuit is not really suitable for Formula One cars and overtaking is almost impossible, but it is Monaco. Your heart is in your mouth driving here. Just finishing is an achievement because it's a race of attrition. You need every ounce of energy. It's one thing to concentrate for a twelve lap qualifying session but seventy-eight laps is something else."

With all eyes on young Hill, he was not making any grand prophesy as to the result but instead tried to play down his prospects. "It will be more nerve-racking for me in the Williams because qualifying will be so vitally important to the outcome of the race, as overtaking is so difficult. I am not sure that the FW15C is as well suited to Monaco as some other circuits. I think maybe it is not so agile on a street circuit. But, if I do win, I shall be buying drinks for anyone, anywhere!" Thursday's qualifying session, run in torrential rain, found Hill's name at the top of the timing monitors as he clocked in 7/10ths ahead of his nearest rival, Alain Prost. Past master Senna, could only manage to get within four seconds of Damon, after his car bottomed out and smashed into a barrier, leaving the Brazilian nursing a swollen left hand. Senna said: "I was very, very lucky." With a rest day on Friday, Damon knew that if the weather improved for Saturday qualifying, his pole position could be threatened. "If it is dry on Saturday, I will need to do it all again - but I don't mind. I would prefer it to be dry and battle for pole in those conditions. I have probably put extra pressure on myself by getting provisional pole. But the conditions were bad out there and it was one of those days when you were relieved to get into the tunnel. The bumps and stresses of Monaco imposed their toll on Damon's Williams car during Saturday's qualifying. Heading away from the tunnel towards Nouvelle Chicane, a left-hand rear suspension arm snapped, causing Hill to spin at 170mph but thankfully emerge physically unscathed. "It was the fastest part of the circuit, just where the track curves round the rock-face towards the chicane. I was flat out in top gear and the car suddenly spun round. I hit the brakes but it made little difference because the rear corner of the car was dragging on the ground. I thought 'bloody hell, we're going a bit quick here'. I was going through 360 degrees coming down the hill and it seemed a long, long way. I thought I was going to hit the tyre barrier, but the car seemed to come round at the right moment and I went into the escape road. The rear wing just brushed the barrier along the way, that was all. I was amazed I didn't hit anything." A check of Prost's sister car revealed a similar fault about to happen on his suspension.

Mechanical failures are do not inspire a driver's confidence, but both drivers were out again in repaired cars with the Frenchman collecting his sixth pole position of the season. Damon could only achieve fourth, almost two seconds behind Prost, with Schumacher and Senna in second and third on the grid. Damon was philosophic about his position: "You only need to look at the number of races Prost and Senna have won here to know how difficult it is going to be to beat them. But I feel I am getting stronger and more comfortable with every race. I've got no illusions about the task ahead but I'm looking forward to it and I'll give it my best shot." Sunday afternoon and the relative quiet of the millionaire's playground of Monaco was about to be shattered by the start of the 1993 Grand Prix. The first set of wheels across the line were those of Alain Prost. The rest amazingly funnelled themselves through the single-file Saint Devote first corner without incident. On a circuit notoriously difficult to pass on, the race took on a processional air with the top four keeping their grid places. However, in the opinion of the stewards, Prost's start had been just a little premature. Although it only looked as if he had a few inches advantage before the red lights fully extinguished and the greens glowed, he was called in for a stop-go penalty on lap 12. Harsh, maybe, but made worse when his engine stalled. When he finally got going again, he was down in about 22nd place.

Hill, now up to third was being pressured by Berger and Alesi in their Ferraris. Up in front, Schumacher kept his distance from the chasing Senna until lap 32 when the German retired with failed hydraulics. Senna now led with Hill second. For thirty-eight laps, Senna sliced through traffic while Damon found that task more difficult: "There's no doubt about it, I lost too much time in this race. I'm really still learning about Monaco and I was probably too circumspect about taking chances. The only thing seems to be to muscle through." On lap 70, Berger caught Hill - literally, at Loews hairpin. He tried to take the Williams on the inside but instead succeeded in shunting Damon's car sideways, completely blocking the track and causing a traffic jam. The Ferrari stalled and ended Berger's race there and then, but Hill had kept his engine going. In a monumental display of coolness, Damon found reverse gear, managed a two-point turn and pulled away. "I was fuming, I must admit, but I got going again. In the last few laps I was worried about the car - given the knock it had taken." "I saw Gerhard coming and had to close the door on him so I would hang on to second place. It resulted in a farcical situation. But the reason he got that close in the first place was because I was getting caught in traffic and losing more ground than I should have been."

Excitement over, Senna went on to win with Hill 53 seconds behind. Prost finished, incredibly, in fourth behind Alesi, having clawed his way back from 22nd. Damon was happy with the result. "A win would have been brilliant but I think second is pretty good. I went for a finish and a good result. I was conservative throughout the race because I didn't want to do anything silly." Senna winning of course, beat Graham Hill's record of five wins but Damon was as graceful as his father would have been in congratulating Ayrton. "It's a great tribute to my father and to Ayrton that it has taken so long and required someone of such calibre for this record to be broken. To win just once at Monaco is a fantastic achievement, but to win five or six times is something special. If my dad was here, I'm sure he'd be the first to congratulate him. Monaco is a real test of a driver's ability."

The three weeks intervening between Monaco and the Canadian Grand Prix gave Damon time to reflect on his recent achievements. His three retirements and three second places would satisfy most, but for Damon, that elusive first win would be the most welcoming news. "It's up to me to show everyone I'm worthy of keeping my place in the team next season. I have to go for it because I am fully aware there are a lot of drivers out there who would love to be in this car." Hill no doubt visualised the likes of Senna, Hakkinen and Alesi as prime candidates. Hill had been weighing up his choices. To continue as before and contribute a steady drive for his team and sponsors or take the big risk. The second option, to go flat out for wins whatever, may convince Frank Williams to retain him - or if the strategy failed, bring the walls down around him. "This is a crucial period for me. I've proved I can get points but now I've got to start showing I'm a winner. Now I must go for it believing that in Montreal, then France and at Silverstone I can truly come into my own. I've had my running-in period and supported Alain but there are no team orders and I have to start thinking of myself - I see the Canadian GP as my window of opportunity." "I'm not holding Damon back" said Williams. "He's not on a leash. But he is in learning mode. Damon is a long-term prospect who has exceeded our expectations. He has driven within himself and scored points for the team which has been his mission. The wins will come sooner or later. We are hoping that the team will do better as the season progresses but it is not going to be easy with Senna about. Still it is good for Formula One business that the season has not turned into the one-horse race everyone predicted."

Damon had tried unsuccessfully in 1992 to coax the Brabham onto the grid at Montreal, so he was familiar with the track and that no doubt boosted his confidence. Prost was fastest in Friday's qualifying with Hill just 0.5 seconds behind. "At least I knew my way around before I started and everything is really falling into place for me now. We are benefiting from the electronic throttle system we are using because on a circuit like this, when you need to brake from high speed in sixth gear a couple of times each lap, the downchanges are much cleaner and you can concentrate totally on controlling the car. I think it is possible that all the quick times will have been set today because the cool conditions are ideal for the engines and tyres. The forecast is for slightly warmer weather tomorrow, so I would expect the track conditions to be slightly slower." Damon was spot-on, lap times were 0.5 - 1 second down during final qualifying but 'Le Prof' remained on pole with Damon beside him. Sunday 13 June, the weather was Prost got away to a characteristically doddery start in comparison to his team-mate who leapt into the lead before the first turn. Schumacher, third on the grid had a terrible start, dropping four places. Senna though, passed five cars from his fourth row position so that by lap three only Hill and Prost were ahead.

The Frenchman was not about to let Damon dominate the race and stuck close to his colleague's gearbox until lap six when Hill generously left room for him to pass at the old pit's hairpin. With Prost now in control at the front, Damon tried to stay with him but Alain pulled off a succession of fastest laps and by the time one score laps had elapsed, Hill was nine seconds behind with Senna breathing down his neck. "I had to push quite hard to stay ahead of Ayrton" said Damon, but he managed to until lap 30 when he pitted for tyres and immediately wished he had not. "I really don't know what happened at the pit stop, but I suppose you could say they were not ready for me. They were all looking around for tyres. We lost a lot of time and simply couldn't make up the ground." Car zero was actually stationary for 17 seconds - a lifetime in Grand Prix racing. The problem had been caused by a mix-up in the instructions to the pit team, who had laid out Prost's tyres instead. As the rules dictate that each driver is allocated a given number of sets and are marked thus, Hill had to wait while the mechanics fished out the tyres with his name on. The consequences of this slip-up was that Damon dropped behind both Senna and Schumacher. However, when he had settled back into the groove, he found himself unable to make up any distance on those ahead of him. "I really thought that fresh tyres would make a big difference, but for some reason they didn't.

Towards the end of the race, the engine didn't seem to be quite right so I thought it was better not to push too hard. It was vital to finish rather than break down." On lap 62, Damon was handed another championship point when Ayrton Senna's electric's packed up, promoting Hill to third place behind Alain and Michael. While the Williams team celebrated a one-three finish, team manager, Ian Harrison, confirmed that the pit stop problem was not the fault of Hill. "Damon wasn't to blame. It was a complicated strategic situation concerning the tyre changes intended for both drivers. It was one of those things that shouldn't have happened but it did." Damon no doubt had much to discuss with his team about complicated strategic tyre situations. Third place however, still left Hill a little frustrated that he had not yet bagged a win. "There are people who say I'm not doing as well as I should . But I'm improving all the time as a Grand Prix driver. And the more I learn, the better I'll get. Canada was Alain's 48th victory, but was only my ninth race. It took Nigel Mansell over five years to prove he was a winner in GP racing and look at him now!" Frank Williams, still cannily not yet confirming Hill for next year, said he was impressed with his driving. "The thing people should realise when they watch Damon, is that he doesn't look quick because he drives so smoothly, just like Prost."

An interlude of three weeks separated Canada and the French and British Grands Prix which would be run within a week of each other. For Damon, it was back to Silverstone to run a final test on the circuit before the race. At the end of June, Damon, Georgie, Oliver and Joshua enjoyed a weekend at EuroDisney in Paris before moving down to the Circuit de Nevers Magny Cours in preparation for the race on 4 July. This was the track where he had learnt the rudiments of four-wheeled racing, over eight years before, yet the favourite to win still had to be Prost, who had finished first in five previous French Grands Prix. Damon took provisional pole on the Friday, six-tenths faster than Alain who's car had suffered a computer malfunction on his third lap, causing a spin. The Williams Renault's had already established their supremacy in qualifying over the last seven races, but at Magny Cours, they exceeded even their expectations. The third car on the grid was nearly two seconds slower than the pole! The Saturday session saw Prost set a fastest lap early on which Hill topped by nearly two-tenths. Try as he did, Prost could not better this and Damon found himself on pole for the first time in his Grand Prix career. It also made him the second fastest Briton to get a pole - after ten races - John Surtees managed it for his third.

A modest yet pleased Hill said: "I like to compete seriously in qualifying and have made a big effort to concentrate harder and drive quicker. I am satisfied as today is very important to me. I feel that up to now I have been rather under Alain's shadow, but now I am glad that I have seen the job through." "I had a lot of traffic on the previous lap but I pushed extra hard, scrabbled through the chicanes and somehow got a good time. It is of course an advantage to be on pole with your team-mate next to you, it means I have someone there to protect me. It wasn't the perfect lap, as I don't think I have ever done the perfect lap in my life, so there is always a bit of untidiness. Today I drove better in qualifying than I have for some time, probably all year. There is probably going to be more pressure for the race than I have ever felt in Formula One, so I am going to have to really think hard about it. I know it is going to be difficult to beat Alain at his home grand prix." Prost missing out on pole at such an important grand prix for himself and Renault, might, it was suggested put the outcome of the race in jeopardy for the Frenchman. To which he answered: "I have won four races this year and was not at the first corner for any of them." However, speculation was rife that Hill would be asked to let Prost through.

Before the start, Damon was asked if there were any special team orders for the race. "You'll have to ask Frank. There are no team orders that I'm aware of for the French Grand Prix." Williams tactics, did appear to remain the same - both drivers would be free to race with one another until the last ten laps when whoever is behind would be told to stay there. And of course, when overtaking a team-mate, try not to take each other out! Whatever Hill said, rumours would continue, probably until Hill won a race. Alain Prost decided not to run the new Williams ABS anti-lock braking system for the race, fearing a repeat of Friday's malfunction, Damon though was eager to race with it. Both Williams enjoyed a good start, with Hill holding a gap of about 1.5 seconds over Prost for the opening few laps. For another twenty-five laps the Hill/Prost train steamed around the 2.64 mile circuit, steadily increasing it's lead over all contenders.

On lap 27, Damon ducked into the pits and Prost took the opportunity to floor the gas and gain vital seconds before his tyre stop. Damon's stop itself went fine, but accelerating down the pit-lane just behind Andretti's McLaren, they came upon Wendlinger's Sauber that had pitted some time previously with gearbox trouble. Both the McLaren and Williams, now closing at terrifying velocity were forced to take evasive action. The pair miraculously avoided touching the Sauber or the pit-wall - but only just. This incident lost Damon enough time to let Alain rejoin a few yards ahead of him after his own stop. For half a lap or so, Hill was all over his team-mate, while his tyres came up to temperature, but the Frenchman held onto the lead and the race settled into a demonstration drive by the two Williams. They crossed the finishing line separated by just 0.342 seconds after seventy-two laps of racing, having slowed a little in the closing stages to conserve tyres, brakes, fuel and drivers! But still they led third place Schumacher by twenty-one seconds.

This was to be Williams only one-two finish of the 1993 season and it couldn't of happened at a more opportune time - in front of their main backers, Renault and Elf. The French crowd was ecstatic that Prost had won again - they would have been slightly less so if Damon had pipped Alain by 3/10ths. But Damon's own grand prix was but one week away and he was looking forward to it with confidence. "It was important for the team to finish well in France, the cars were identical and therefore it was difficult to overtake. I never really got close enough to pass Alain. I think we are so closely matched that it can be dangerous for the team trying to overtake if it doesn't come off. I backed off for a while because I was worried that I was running too close at times."

Such domination was raising eyebrows among the ranks of the sports governing body. FISA president, Max Mosley was particularly concerned over the advanced technology employed by the wealthier teams of Formula One. "Within a few years, these cars could probably be driven by anybody", he said. "We have to stop technology that is replacing a racing driver with a computer." 'Give the others a chance was the cry heard after Magny Cours - arguments about soaring development costs and unfair advantage would rumble louder over the coming months. But for Williams, the task was clear - win the drivers and constructors championships fairly and sportingly. Within seven days, the Formula One circus would be engulfing the Silverstone circuit - one renowned for it's sweeping curves and long, fast straights - ideal fodder for the Williams Renault's. Damon: "I have tested there so much recently that I feel I know the place inside-out. I think I have that bit of intimacy with the circuit which is really important when you want to get the maximum performance." Prost thought that Hill's best chance of a win would be at Silverstone. "Damon proved at Magny Cours how fast he is and I would be happy for him if he won his own grand prix, but I have to think of the championship."

With no other obvious home-grown winning prospect, possible success for Damon was being talked up in the sporting pages of Fleet Street. Frank Williams though, would not prophesy a win for Hill. "Even at Silverstone, a circuit where Damon has completed thousands of kilometres for us in private testing, I do not think he will be able to beat Prost. I do not think he will beat him either in qualifying or in the race." Was this his true belief, or was he winding Damon up to perform more aggressively? The controversy over team orders was to continue up to the British Grand Prix. It was being assumed by most that Hill had been ordered to run second and Damon was himself apprehensive as to his instructions for Silverstone. "A lot of it is out of my hands, I drive for Williams Grand Prix Engineering, I have a contract with them and there are a lot of important considerations to bear in mind. I have to get the best result for the team, but at the same time I want to be able to give my best and show the best of myself." "As far as I know, there are no team orders as yet, but I cannot see a situation where Alain will be asked to come second. I hope the conditions will be there for me to give 100 per cent from start to finish. But I will not know whether I will be given that chance until the time comes. The team is thinking of the championship and I'm part of the team. No matter how much you want to divorce yourself from the team and look after your own interests, you can't. It's all part and parcel of paying your dues as a grand prix driver."

Frank Williams would not budge when questioned about Prost-Hill orders, saying that team tactics are strictly team business and would never be shared as they would soon become known to other teams. Pointing out that the greatest obligation of any team is to it's sponsors but that mechanical error, misfortune or other events do not allow him to totally control his own team's fate. "It is certainly true to say that Damon was asked to give precedence to Alain in France. We have got a championship to win. Alain is the person most likely to do that. It is understood in Damon's contract that if we request him to do so, he has to give way to Alain. Damon's contract doesn't say he can't finish first - it says he is forced to follow team orders if we request it." "When Damon joined the team, we knew he was going to be good. But maybe not as good as he has turned out to be. It may be that we will have to review his position."

Apart from the tactics controversy, Damon was the natural centre for media attention in the lead-up to Silverstone. Hill's modesty was often confused with lack of determination. The British public were expecting a win from him on Sunday, just as they would of Mansell, and their support was warmly welcomed by Hill. "This race does mean a lot. It means that I will be the focal point of the supporters. I'm very familiar with the passions of the British motor-racing fan. I think I will be psychologically stronger than Alain at Silverstone because it is my home grand prix. I know every driver says that does not matter, but if there are thousands of people cheering you on, it's bound to give you a little bit of extra momentum. From my point of view, there will be no effort spared in trying to win this race. If anybody thinks that I am just going to cruise along enjoying the scenery in my first year, they are extremely misguided." Friday's qualifying saw Prost nearly two seconds ahead of Hill who in turn was almost a second faster than Senna and Schumacher. The session had been conducted in waterlogged conditions, with some sections of the track under inches of water. Damon coped with the water but found the cars bunching in front of him, slowing him down. "I'm not disappointed, but traffic was a real problem in those last few minutes. I tried to drop back to give myself some space to get a clear lap, but I kept catching up with the cars in front."

Saturday's session, watched live on BBC television in Britain for the first time, was memorable for the fight between the two Williams. With most of the cars back in their garages, Prost and Hill took to the track, minutes before the session was to end. The pole position swung from one to the other as they bettered each other's times. Then Hill responded with a lap 4/10ths quicker than Prost's previous. Linked by radio to the BBC's commentator, Murray Walker, he told an overjoyed Damon he was on pole. But he had spoken too soon, next lap, Prost retrieved pole by lapping just 1/10th faster. Murray Walker relayed the bad news. "I was live on the BBC" said Damon, aware this was the perfect opportunity to get his own back on Walker, but diplomacy and decency got the better of him. "I really thought I had pole position, but I should have known better. I beat Alain to it in France last week, and I think maybe he took it a bit personally! Now he's done it back to me in Britain." Silverstone on race day was not the magnet for Britain's motor-racing fans as it had been in the preceding years.

The absence of Mansell, economic recession and the expected domination by Prost kept the crowds away. Nevertheless, the majority were rooting for Hill. At the green light, Damon was on his way to Copse corner before Prost, with his wheel's still spinning got under way. Senna had passed the Frenchman off the blocks too and the pair were to dice with each other over the opening laps while Hill; pulled out a lead of 8 seconds. Prost finally managed to pass Senna's ever-wide McLaren on lap seven and then put in a series of fast laps to bridge the gap with Hill. By lap 31, with both Williams' re-tyred, the gap was down to three seconds. Then Luca Badoer's Lola-Ferrari suffered an electrical failure and parked up at Woodcote. This being deemed to be a dangerous position, the safety car was sent out while marshals moved the Lola. This of course, slowed and bunched the cars - maybe unfair for those in front, but potentially offering the prospect of a dash for the chequered flag over the closing laps. the racing proper began again on lap 40.

Hill went for it and pulled away from Prost, setting the lap record on the next lap at 1m22.515secs (141.67mph). Next time round however, coming round Club corner, a noise from behind him and then a bouquet of flames told Damon his race was over. Bringing his car to rest at Luffield, marshals hurried to extinguish the engine fire. A disconsolate, disappointed and disbelieving Damon climbed from the cockpit and removing his helmet encountered a huge cheer from his fans - their way of saying 'bad luck'. "When they cheer at you in those circumstances, it is a very emotional moment" said Damon "But it was a sympathetic cheer. I'd rather have a congratulatory one." For another driver, it would have been just something more than another race retirement, but for Damon it was knowing that the course of history had not been changed that afternoon for the Hill family. The curse of the British Grand Prix remained. On his way back to the pits, Hill failed to avoid the temptation to call at the British Racing Drivers Club for a pint of beer - and who could blame him? "I feel empty, totally empty. I just feel as if my world has been turned upside down. I was so pumped up. Now I feel so tired." Damon explained what happened: "There was a loud noise and that was it. Maybe it was a valve breaking. But when something comes loose in one of these engines, it's destroyed. This is very rare, but it's happened to me twice this season. You have no warning about these things, suddenly the engine goes and you are out. There is nowhere to direct all that energy and concentration. You can't have pushed as hard as I did, and have done everything possible to win without feeling very, very frustrated when you are stopped from doing so by mechanical failure. The overwhelming feeling is of disbelief." "It's infuriating, just bloody infuriating. You do your job, do everything possible to make it happen and inevitably feel anger before disappointment. I tell you, you have to be as hard as nails in this game. But the important thing is that I gave the best of myself. Alain is no mean pedaller, but I was sure going to make it difficult for him to get by."

The crowd went strangely quiet for the remainder of the race and when Prost took the flag, their disappointment could be felt around the circuit. "I can't be proud" said Prost "But I've done my job well today. I really think Damon deserved to win this race at home. Certainly I would have liked to win in a different ambience. I know the people are disappointed and I am sorry for them and for Damon, but what can I do? I was able to catch him, but he was driving very well and it would have been difficult to pass him. I saw his problem shortly before he pulled off and wondered if he might have been pulling more revs than I was." The accusation - or suggestion that Damon had used the high boost switch to pull away from Prost was repeated all the way down the pit-lane. Bernard Dudot, technical director of Renault however, absolved Hill of blame, while confirming it had been a cam-follower disintegrating that had caused the engine failure. "Damon did not use the device on the car that would have enabled him to pump up the revs for a couple of laps. He was not to blame for the engine problem. We will not know exactly what went wrong until we have finished stripping the whole thing down."

The Williams team shared Damon's anguish and sorrow but also revealed that there were no team orders for the race. "part of the decision lay in the fact that Prost had a twelve-point lead going into the race which meant he was at least one win ahead of Senna. We also felt we were obliged to assist the show for the public." said Patrick Head "Damon should go away feeling renewed confidence after leading the British Grand Prix for 42 laps and looking as though he could have held on. He knew Alain was not letting him win - he wanted his fiftieth win." Yet after coming so close again, folk were asking 'when will he ever win?'. The World Championship positions after nine rounds now looked thus; Prost 67 points, Senna 47, Schumacher 30, Hill 28; Williams were running away with the Constructors Championship with 95, McLaren 50 and Benetton 39. A mathematician would tell you that there was still a theoretical chance of Damon to win the championship! This would of course require Prost to stop winning and for Hill to win race after race - with his luck at Silverstone, this seemed an unlikely event. That there would be a next Grand Prix was also questionable the day before FISA met in Paris to discuss the banning of driver aids. Thinly veiled threats from the governing body threatened to both deduct points from certain leading teams for alleged fuel mixture contravention and force any car with driver aids to be modified before the German Grand Prix. Patrick Head said "If active is banned, we will naturally appeal. If that is turned down, Williams Renault will not take part in the German GP, nor the Hungarian three weeks later." Eventually a compromise was evolved and agreement made whereby the cars could remain the same until the end of the season, but all aids would be banned in 1994.

The first practice day at Hockenheim was hard going for Hill, suffering brake problems throughout the session. "This was probably the worst session I have had all year. It was a miserable afternoon, the car was a real nightmare. It was just unbelievably bad when braking and that is so crucial on this track. It was as though I had the handbrake on going into the chicanes. It just wanted to swap ends all the time. There was no way you could drive in a race like that and we have a lot of work to do tomorrow. It was really like driving in the Manx Rally out there." Damon suffered his car set-up in reasonable temper only to be tested to the limit by a fellow driver - Michele Alboreto who shunted Hill off the circuit at Sachs Curve. "I was a victim of Alboreto's cantankerousness out there. He opened the door for me and then closed it - I was incensed. It was totally unnecessary. I went to make my feelings known to him and I think he knows enough English to have understood it. Let's just say I think Michele must have reached the IndyCar stage of his career." To Alboreto, Damon's remonstrations were out of order, especially from one a whole three years younger! But observed in context, it showed that Hill's confidence had grown to the point where he now believed in his Formula One abilities and was no longer prepared to overlook misdemeanours from even a driver with 160 more Grands Prix to his name than Damon. It also proved that he had inherited his father's irascibility and is not afraid to use a little venom when required. Alboreto's viewpoint is understandably different: "He came into my garage and began shouting at me, but I could not hear him because I was still in the car. He should try to keep cool. He is too young to blame anyone. Next time, instead of coming into the pit like that, he should just have a quiet word. I gave him the line but he spun off. He is too inexperienced to start shouting his mouth off. I think the English expression is, 'He is a bit too big for his boots'.

Having resolved the problem with his anchors, Hill's determination during the Saturday session brought him to the front row, less than 2/10ths behind Prost's pole time. However, both Williams drivers found that the usually well-balanced active suspension was not giving them the sort of advantage they had come to expect. With low-downforce settings and high fuel loads, they were tending to bounce their way around the Hockenheim track. Consequently Schumacher, on his home circuit and Senna were providing stiff competition as they both would drive cars made lighter by their lower fuel load due to their less thirsty Ford V8 engines. Hill's start was outstanding while Prost, off pole had seen better. Prost was left to fight for possession of the first chicane with arch-rival, Senna. For once, the Frenchman won, only to find Brundle's Ligier pirouetting towards the second chicane. To avoid a collision, Alain took to the escape road and a few laps later was penalised with a stop-go penalty for illegal use of the run-off. Damon pulled out a gap over Schumacher but Prost quickly made his way to the front, passing Damon on lap 8. But after his penalty, he found himself 20 seconds down on Hill and doing his best to cling on to second place. The Williams pair had been advised that tyre wear would be light and hence they would not need to stop. Others though, found they required to change not once but twice.

Towards the end of the race, the Hill-Prost gap was down to the mid-teens and looked like staying that way. The German Grand Prix appeared to be Damon's but with just one full lap remaining, disaster stuck when his left-rear tyre ripped itself off the wheel and Hill's car limped disconsolately back to the garage. Yet another catastrophe plucked from the jaws of victory. For Prost, it was but a mere walk in the park for him to retrieve another ten points with Michael Schumacher taking second. Damon was distraught to have got so close only to have his first win snatched from him. "This is a million times worse than Silverstone. The job was done. It was finished. I did not deserve that. At Silverstone there was still some racing to do. There were 17 laps to go when my engine blew. It's doubly rough to lose two races like this." Calming down, Damon looked for an explanation for his plight. "I don't think the blow out was caused by the tyres being worn. I think there was a sharp object. I could feel something was wrong when the car shuddered going round the Ostkurve chicane. When I looked behind, the tyre was already in a thousand pieces." Frank Williams, although still collecting maximum Constructors points for Prost's win, was really beginning to believe that Hill had a win in him. "I feel for Damon. We're all sorry for him. There was no warning of a puncture but that's racing. This makes me even more convinced he'll win the next one or even the next two or three. That's how it happens. He's looking very strong." Hill's resolve was undented. "If I was determined before, I'm three times more determined to win a race now. It's no satisfaction leading all that way and not winning. The only satisfaction is going across the line first. You just have to keep hammering on and not let it get you down. It's got to come if you don't give up."

 

Copyright 1994 & 2000 Mike Baldock