1997 Hungarian GP: one lap too many for Damon Hill

On the evening of the 1996 Japanese Grand Prix, Damon Hill was crowned World Champion of Formula 1 with Williams, becoming the first driver to succeed his father (Graham Hill titled in 1962 and 1968) on the prize list. Happiness is tinged with sadness for this British champion whom no one expected because his departure from the Grove stable at the end of the season is confirmed. Frank Williams knows in fact that the investment of Renault in F1 will soon end and he is determined to chase out BMW which is preparing its big comeback. For this he decided to associate the young German hope Heinz Harald Frentzen with Villeneuve for the 1997 season.

Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen celebrate 1996 World Champion Damon Hill. © Claire Mackintosh/EMPICS.

While it was announced at McLaren, the announcement of Hill's arrival at Arrows is a thunderbolt for the F1 world and a masterstroke for Tom Walkinshaw who has just taken over the team. The British team is coming out of a difficult season but can see good days ahead thanks to the elegant Arrows A18 equipped with a Yamaha V10 hatched by John Judd and Bridgestone tires. Damon Hill becomes the designated number 1 of the team, associated with the Brazilian Pedro Diniz whose millions of euros in sponsorship are no stranger to the arrival of the World Champion.

Team Arrows Yamaha 1997 © DPPI

The start of the season is a real ordeal, and if the situation improves over the course of the qualifying races, the weaknesses of the Yamaha V10 rule out any hope of points. Hill would not see the arrival of a grand prix until the seventh round in Canada before scoring his first point two events later on his British soil.

Damon Hill spent the 1997 season getting the most out of an Arrows A18 that was nothing like an arrow. © DPPI

For the 11th round contested on the Hungaroring turnstile, the two title contenders set the pace. Michael Schumacher takes pole ahead of Jacques Villeneuve... and Damon Hill, who on this driving circuit is remembered fondly by everyone.

Damon Hill creates a surprise by taking third place on the grid © DPPI

At the start Villeneuve misses and lets Schumacher and Hill pass. There Ferrari flies away, but the oppressive heat which reigns on the Hungarian track puts the Gooyear tires of the Ferrari to torture. Hill comes back lap after lap and on the 11th lap the Arrows n°1 throws himself onto the rope in the first turn and takes the lead of the race!

11th round. In a few meters Damon Hill will take control of the race. © DPPI

With the Ferraris offside, only the Williams of Villeneuve and Frentzen seem to be able to stand up to Hill. The laps pass and with three laps to go Hill leads with 35 seconds ahead of Villeneuve, the promise of a first victory after 208 Grands Prix for Arrows.

More than 60 laps led. Only the last one is missing. © DPPI

History has however taught us that to finish first, you must first finish and on the 75th lap out of 77 the Arrows suddenly found themselves in slow motion. The hydraulic pump has just failed, and the gearbox is stuck in third gear. Hill doesn't give up, using all his knowledge to get the best out of his injured horse, but the 35 seconds will not be enough, and the Quebecer passes him on the last lap to win.

A second place which is worth many victories. ©DPPI

Damon Hill is devastated but quickly realizes, in the face of countless signs of affection from his peers, the tremendous feat he has just achieved. His joy on the podium will be that of the winner he should have been.

There is no great race without great champions. © BBC