Damon Hill Returns to Williams as Official Ambassador 30 Years After Title Win
Damon Hill Returns to Williams as Official Ambassador 30 Years After Title Win
Williams Racing has announced the return of Damon Hill to the team as an Official Ambassador, marking 30 years since the British driver won the Formula 1 World Championship with the Grove-based outfit.
Hill first joined Williams as a test and reserve driver in 1991 before being promoted to the race team for the 1993 season. His debut victory came later that year at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Over his time with the team, Hill amassed an impressive record, including 21 race wins, 40 podium finishes, and 20 pole positions.
The 1994 season was particularly dramatic, with Hill narrowly missing out on the drivers' title after a controversial collision with Michael Schumacher in the Adelaide finale. Despite this, Williams secured the Constructors' Championship for the third consecutive year. Hill's crowning achievement came in 1996, when he clinched the World Championship, emulating his father Graham Hill's success with eight Grand Prix victories that season.
Now, as an Official Ambassador, Hill joins fellow Williams alumni Jacques Villeneuve, his 1996 teammate, and three-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick to form a prestigious ambassadorial lineup.
“Williams is truly a special place for me and where some of the defining moments of my career took place,” Hill said. “I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of this sport and to have achieved what I did, and returning as an Ambassador is a real privilege. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the team’s history and help to support its legacy and future.”
Williams Team Principal James Vowles expressed his enthusiasm for Hill's return: “It’s an honour to welcome Damon back to Atlassian Williams F1 Team as an Ambassador. Few individuals represent this team quite like him. Damon played a defining role in one of the most successful eras in our history, becoming a World Champion with Williams and leaving a legacy that continues to inspire the team today.”
Vowles also highlighted the broader ambassador group: “We’re also delighted that Jamie Chadwick and Jacques Villeneuve will continue with us as Ambassadors. Together, they form an impressive line-up that reflects everything Williams stands for: our history, our commitment to opening doors and developing talent, and our ambition to compete at the very highest level again. Having figures like them representing Williams as we move forward is something we’re immensely proud of.”
This appointment underscores Williams' dedication to its storied past while looking toward future competitiveness in Formula 1.