Damon Hill Elaborates How Alain Prost Was as a Teammate and How He Behaved Differently Around Ayrton Senna
Follow Us
Not many drivers can claim to have raced with the likes of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. Even fewer can claim to have been their teammates. Damon Hill had the privilege of racing and teaming up with F1 legends Prost and Senna. Hill recently disclosed the differences between Prost and Senna as teammates.
Damon Hill opens up on eminent teammates
Hill debuted for Williams in 1993 alongside Alain Prost- who himself was returning to the sport following a sabbatical. Prost would go on to win a 4th and final World Championship, before retiring from F1. At the same time, Hill finished an impressive third in only his first full F1 season.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“I can’t judge Alain on the experience I had with him because he’d had a year off [from F1] and then he came back in, but he was quiet,” said Hill, speaking to Auto Motor und Sport.
Trending
Liam Lawson’s Surprise Contract Clause Threatens Daniel Ricciardo’s RB Seat
April 24, 2024 11:15 AM EDT
Daniel Ricciardo To Be Replaced by Liam Lawson After Miami, F1 Pundit Dishes Out Harsh Verdict After Australian’s “Amateur Mistake”
April 17, 2024 11:14 AM EDT
F1 Rumor: Christian Horner and Wife Geri to Publicly Reveal All Details on Leaked Chat Scandal
April 22, 2024 04:10 PM EDT
Max Verstappen Sabotaged Daniel Ricciardo’s Only Chance of Getting the Red Bull Seat for 2025
April 21, 2024 11:59 AM EDT
Miami GP 2024: Max Verstappen Embraces the American Spirit With Helmet Design
April 23, 2024 06:15 PM EDT
Get instantly notified of the hottest F1 stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
“He very quietly got on with things, he played very gently with things. He got on with his job and he basically ran out there and did laps, learned about the car, found a balance, found what he wanted.
Hill went on to add that Prost was very respectful and pleasant to work with.
Ayrton Senna, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. Senna was feared and admired by many for his no-nonsense attitude. The triple world champion was a hardcore racer who never backed down from a fight.
The professor and the fighter
While Prost was clever and calculating, Senna was frighteningly quick and had a penchant for winning. These fusions of attributes gave birth to one of the greatest rivalries in F1 history.
Prost retired after the 1993 season, opening up a seat at Williams. Senna, who was hungry for a championship-winning car was quick to make the switch.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
In 1994, Damon Hill partnered Senna for a brief period before the latter’s demise. May 1, 1994, will forever remain a black day in motorsport history. Senna, who was leading the race at Imola suffered a tragic accident.
Hill also opened up on what it was like teaming up with Senna, albeit for a brief duration.
“With Ayrton, [he was] a little bit more difficult to get to know. [He was] a big name and a star, quite formal, I would say, and intense. He often had a frown on his face. He was learning [about] Williams, a different team for the first time in a long time.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Senna’s switch to Williams proved to be unfruitful. The Brazilian wasn’t at ease with the car throughout the season. Sadly, Senna wouldn’t finish the year and his death was a grim reminder on the dangers of motorsport.
Hill concluded by highlighting the primary difference between the two drivers. “Different characters. I think [Senna was] more aggressive in driving style than Alain.”
Written by: