1996 F1 world champion Damon Hill has revealed why he turned down the prospect to drive for Ferrari.
Hill, who received 22 Grands Prix throughout his profession with Brabham, Williams, Arrows and Jordan between 1992 and 1999, claimed he had acquired a “very beneficiant provide” from Ferrari.
Nonetheless, the Briton refused the prospect to turn out to be F1 title rival Michael Schumacher’s teammate at Ferrari as he didn’t need to be the quantity two driver.
Requested by former F1 driver Johnny Herbert, co-host of the Keep On Monitor podcast, if he had ever pushed in a Ferrari, Hill replied: “Sure.
“So I had a primary rule and that was I needed to be in the very best automotive with the very best probability of success.
“So if it is the most effective automobiles…”
“I mentioned no as a result of I wanted a drive, however Jean Todt mentioned come and speak and we’ll speak slowly.
“So I really went to Italy and met him at a home and he mentioned, ‘I’ve to be Michael’s quantity two.'”
Hill added: “It isn’t a suggestion you’ll be able to’t refuse, proper? It is a suggestion you need to refuse.”
Hill concluded by claiming that former Ferrari supervisor and FIA president Jean Todt had forgotten the dialog had taken place.
“I imply, possibly I ought to have,” he joked. “Maybe it might have been higher if I had gone.
“Anyway, it does not matter, as a result of years in the past somebody requested Jean Todt about it and he denied that I ever went to speak to him. I should have dreamed it!”
After retiring from F1 on the finish of the 1999 season, Hill turned to work as a pundit.
Hill had been an everyday with the Sky Sports activities F1 group for the reason that broadcaster acquired the rights to broadcast F1 from the BBC forward of the 2012 season.
He left his function on the finish of 2024 and has since joined BBC Radio 5’s reside commentary and evaluation group.
