WHEN WILLIAMS GAVE MICHAEL A TITLE! How the 1995 Season was a DISASTER for Williams and Damon Hill 

The number of times Williams had their pants pulled down by Benetton on pit strategy in 94 & 95 is a video in itself.

Fun statistic, Damon finished on the WDC podium for his first four F1 seasons (3rd, 2nd, 2nd, 1st) and also had a win percentage of 32% (21/65) from 1993-96. A highly underappreciated driver, excellent development driver, great sportsman and gentleman.

Still remember Dc binning it at Adelaide in the pit entry. Murray: "Ooooooooooooooooohhhhh!!!!!"

Even with rule changes, the cars looked great in 95

Schumacher did pull off some awesome drives in 95, but what a hugely frustrating year that was to watch as a Hill/Williams fan.

more driver errors you could add to both Williams drivers that year. Coulthard got pit lane speeding penalties at San Marino and Silverstone when he was in with a chance of winning. Hill got pitlane speed in penalties in Spa and Japan. Both Williams drivers threw away so many points that year

Williams also never showed an ounce of faith in Damon outright refusing to back him as number one hence why his confidence was shot to bits in 95 Fun fact: Williams tried to sign Frentzen to replace Senna post-Imola but he turned it down. Frank had his eye on him from the start and probably signed him up for 1997 as early as the end of 1995.

Interestingly on a side note Ross Brawn declared the Benetton B196 as good enough to tchallenge Damon and Jacques in 1996 but said Berger and Alesi did a rubbish job with it.

Steve matchett said the one advantage Benetton had over the Williams that year was an component relocation on the Renault engine by Benetton that Williams missed and cause multiple mechanical failures for Williams. He mentioned it on F1 decade 1995 Canada on Speed TV

You've forgotten one very important fact about the 95 Williams. Although it was a clean sheet of paper car, it was actually designed to suit the specifications of one Mr N Mansell. Williams had told Adrian Newey that they were signing Mansell for the 95 season, so he designed the car around what he remembered Mansell preferred, and then perfected it when Mansell had finished with his Indy commitments. It was only when everything had already been signed off, and the car was well into the production stage, that Williams then decided to change their minds and go with DC instead That was one of the major reasons why Damon took a marked step between 95 and 96, as the 96 car was the first, and only, car Damon ever had that was 100% designed around him. He and Adrian Newey spent hours with a cockpit mock up, making sure that the car fitted him like a glove, especially his rather larger than average feet which he'd had to squeeze into every other car he'd ever driven

With 1995 too, it could be argued actually that the 412T2 had the best chassis on the grid that year. Michael said it handled very, very well.

Based on the final standings, 1995 looked like a dominant season for Schumacher, but that wasn't really the case. Hill was very much a threat for most of the season, until everything went wrong for him at the end. Hill lost a likely win in Brazil, where he was faster than Schumacher despite being on a heavier fuel-load. He annihilated Schumacher in Argentine and Schumacher then crashed out on a damp track on slicks at Imola. Hill then suffered a gearbox failure on the last lap in Spain, dropping him from second to fourth and then came the Monaco strategy disaster, although Hill's race pace was so poor that he would have finished behind Schumacher anyway. In Canada they both had gearbox issues and in France Schumacher was faster in the race once again. Then came Britain, where Hill was leading, while Schumacher was stuck behind a very slow Alesi. His 1-stop strategy somehow got him ahead of Hill, after which they had that collision. In Germany Hill had that weird crash, while Schumacher managed to beat Coulthard, despite having a worse strategy. In Hungary Schumacher's strategy got compromised by some refueling issue, and he would later retire from second, while Hill won quite convincingly. In Belgium Schumacher defended very hard from Hill and was able to win from 16th on the grid. In Italy they had their second collision. Portugal was Coulthard's first win. Hill went for an unconventional 2-stop strategy and ended up ahead of Schumacher, but was passed at the end of the race. Then at the European Grand Prix, Hill managed to overtake Schumacher, only to run wide a few corners later and lose the place again. After this, everything went wrong for him and he eventually crashed out, while Schumacher brilliantly overtook Alesi two laps before the end of the race. He then won the title at the Pacific Grand Prix, where both Hill and Schumacher lost out at the start. Schumacher managed to clear the Ferraris at the first round of pitstops, unlike Hill. Schumacher then reeled in Coulthard and beat him, despite having to make an extra stop. In Japan Schumacher won again, while both Williams drivers spun off. In the final race, Hill won in the most dominant way imaginable, lapping the field twice. Schumacher was taken out by Alesi when he tried to pass the Frenchman after his first pitstop. 1995 was possibly one of Schumacher's best and perhaps one of Hill's worst seasons, but even so, they should have been closer in the final standings.

Ooh option 13 is my favourite story... If you make a video on 3 more times we will still watch it

I was never a Hill fan while he was in F1, until his last couple of years, when I warmed to him. As I've aged my position has changed 180 deg. Especially after reading his autobiography.

Patrick Head said Williams were disappointed with Hill not winning the championship in 95, which is why he lost the Williams drive at the end of 96 after winning the title.

Hungaroring 1995 - Michael retired due technical issue and DC lost engine in finish line..

12:59 Hill also suffered a last lap car failure in Spain, he crossed the line but dropped from 2nd to 4th

I remember during that '95 season while shouting for Damon it felt like every race he and The Michael was getting tangled up. Damon is one of a group of drivers I would love to just sit and listen to them talk about their careers.

I class 1995 as MSCs best season, not even Senna would have beaten him that year. I'm sure when he tried the 95 Ferrari he actually said he'd have still won the championship in it

I was there at Aida at turn 1 with a view up the main straight. Damon was so determined to block Michael they both went wide (Damon pushing Michael wide) and let another car up the inside and overtake. It was laughable to watch. I always thought it was the difference between someone who drove a racing car (Hill) and a racing driver (Schumacher). Edited: Damon and Michael were fighting for 2nd place at turn 1 lap 1 and Damon pushed Michael wide allowing Alesi to overtake them both.

Damon's age is something that kinda gets me a bit off-guard even now because at the time I also had no clue how old he was, to me he was just was a guy who appeared in the early 90s and thought he was in his mid 20s. It's weird to think he's not even three years younger than someone like Belloff, who I only knew from magazines from before I started watching in the late 80s and his photo on the Mega Drive game.

Similar story to 2022, dominant car vs incompetent title contending car

1995 was the midst of a talent dark-age for F1. Yes, Schumacher was the #1 driver on the grid, but it felt still like a position he inherited rather than earned. Had Senna lived, 1995 could’ve been an interesting season with the battle between the established #1 and the guy trying to take his mantle…

Aidan, love your F1 coverage, close to my time 90s/00's, and getting back into to it again, but that intro music, always has me do a little head nod, bravo sir, bravo.

For some reason I find the 95 season fascinatig, I think those cars were the most balanced chasis-engine-electronics ever

Just one correction. Jim Clark wasn’t in the top 3 or 4 best of all time. He was in the top 1

I remember the 1995 pre-season media. They'd seen the testing times and predicted Williams and Hill would walk it. Except for the frustratingly expert Jonathan Palmer, who successfully predicted Hill would lead early on but Schumacher would come through to win.

10:13 and people though that he was an “arrogant piece of work.”?!

Thanks dude. I enjoyed this 'thing'. 👍 Keep up the good work.

Thanks Aiden. This is a really nice video, I enjoyed every second. So many distant memories.

It didn’t really dawn on me that both Hills were teammates to the G.O.A.T.s of their respective eras, ALSO both in British teams that were dominant at the time, only to end up eventually at the back of the grid!

I DID start watching in 1999 (aged 10), and that's exactly what I always thought about Hill

As a fan of "The Michael" I can say, I've always had great respect for Damon Hill and indeed Mika Häkkinen. All those glorious years would have been just sad without the rivalries. And here we are in 2024... teams now throwing points to their rivals because of some "rookie" whose feelings better not get hurt. Maybe I'm just "too old for this sh*t" (Danny Glover).

Schumachers 1996 season explained exactly why Ferrari didnt win more. Ferrari and Williams equally messed up great opportunities in 1995.

Hill should of finished much closer to Schumacher in the standings.

Can you do a video on 96?

"We'll get to that in a little bit." No we won't, piss off with that.

Hill & Coulthard in 1995 were very very inconsistent.

1:06 that fw14 with Rothmans colours is killing me

As much as I respect Damon Hill and David Coulthard, anyone who asks “Why was Damon let go after ‘96” and “Why did Coulthard win a title?”. The answer is “1995”. HOW the FW15 won neither the drivers or constructors championship is abysmal. It’s easily the best car never to win a world championship.

It was the difference between Michael and everyone else on the grid, nothing more nothing less.

9:47 that 1986 & 1987 Williams looked the part. Absolutely stunning!

13:38 sounds familiar

The Benetton was a good car and suited Schumacher driving style.

It wasn't all Hill's Fault it was partly Hill's fault he said he wasn't enjoying what he was doing so wasn't able to perform to his best ability.

Think the Alesi Schumi Adelaide wasnt in the Pit Lane, seem to remember Alesi turned into Schumi at he Adelaide hairpin and damage both cars too much to continue.

Even more humiliating fact that Schumacher beaten Williams with 3rd fastest car. Ferrari was also faster than Benetton.

Damn it, the bots beat me to it.

Michael was just something else

Well done as ever, Mr Millward!!

Tbh, Benetton had Ross Brawn, the brilliant mastermind of refueling pit strategy. Williams' pit work was sloppy like hell. As drivers, MS and DH were pretty equal (look the statistics).

Damon Hill is one of my favourite drivers - he was fast, smooth and decisive. 1995 was a hiccup for him, but 1994 and 1996 were great seasons (despite the tragedies in 1994). To put DH into perspective his race to win percentage of 19.13% is better than such legendary drivers as Vettel, Lauda, Mansell, Alonso, Hakkinen, Raikkonen, Piquet and many many others. His climb to F1 was unique but his talent is undeniable.

That was the year they started showing the full season live on Irish TV. So that was when f1 overtook soccer as my favourite sport to watch.

1995 was a clear example of Micheal just being pure better. All round quicker.... Hill needed a dominant car (1996) to win a championship. Same as Button (2009) when in close championship combat these drivers just fell short? Ps.... you forgot Msc gearbox failure at Catalunya whilst stuck in 5th gear finishing 2nd... hmmm incredible

Cool Walsall kit!!

I hear Alesi Canada 95 win. I like video

You could repeat this entire video for 2003 for Williams. Possibly even 2002 but I haven’t done the maths on whether an error-free Williams would have beaten Ferrari.

But Hill made mistakes the Benatton also had good race pace.

Yup ...😂one of those I am and happy . Sir 44 to Ferrari. Nice vid. Perfect amount of spice!!

Reliability, poor pit stop strategy, a few unforced errors

Poor Williams stragerity Pit Stops Reliability bad decisions by the team.

The big mistake Williams made is not honouring the contract that they had signed for '95 with Nigel Mansell. He was still quick, had bags of experience and Newey wanted him. Inexplicably, Williams went for DC, a driver who didn't want to be there anyway as he wanted to join McLaren. There was too much pressure on Hill, whereas Nigel would have got on with it in the true Williams mood set by Alan Jones. Even with Williams legendary adverse strategies, Mansell would have won that year.

So in other words, The Michaels only DNFs were KARMA

Hill choked in 95 but Williams effed up pit strategy almost every weekend. How Williams responded, by putting hh in the car, was stupid, considering how bad hh was in that car.

1995 was my first year back watching F1, started watching in 1981, lost interest in early 1988, (What? Senna is on McLaren!? Wow)....So I missed the epic Senna years, and those beautiful early 90's cars...SO ya, Senna had just died, Jacques Villeneuve was tearing it up in IndyCar (Big Gilles fan), my interest was piqued, I started watching racing again...I heard about the 1994 controversy, so I knew the context, these 2 new guys, I didn't realize Damon was over 30 until late in the season, battling out a grudge match from the previous season, Alesi won in Montreal with a #27 Ferrari, not long after Jacques won Indy, Silverstone and Monza were dramatic! Coulthard got his first win, apparently he was dating a girl from my Canadian city, cool, Mika had a bad accident and some kid named Jan Magnussen replaced him.....then Adelaide.....no Schumacher/Hill rematch this time....Coulthard blows it, well, all the top drivers/teams blow it except for Damon, who heads off in the distance and wins by a couple laps while the rest of the points positions are filled with the mid field and backmarkers.....and I was just excited that the next season a Villeneuve was in the top team.

AMAZING ❤ THANKS

Reminds me of Vettel and Ferrari in 2018

Could you please do a clip on Colin Chapman. Lord, I think Chapman and Lotus deserve a movie TBH.

Fantastic

But no doubt Hill should of finished much closer to Schumacher in the standings. Hill's attempted overtake on Schumacher at Silverstone was ridiculous.

execelent video

I don't think Damon Hill gets the credit he deserves on how he performed in 1993. I think he was very consistent then and got 3 wins in a row. And he was very unlucky in France, UK, & Germany. So he could have won 6 races.

Norris/McLaren are doing this exact thing now. They've had the fastest car almost every race since Miami. Norris has 1 lucky win, it's not good enough.

To be fair, the Michael gave it back in 1997

Williams never backed Damon up the way they should have. He'd have been a double world champion if they had. Though in my eyes, he is one anyway. I'm an unrepentant Damon fangirl 😅

Best car best driver won. Williams didn't hand Bennetton anything.

Goddamit youtube ....do something about your spambots

Senna would have won the championship in this car had Imola 1994 not happened.

Schumacher to good for Hill. 95 wasn't all Hill's Fault yes he made mistakes but the team also made mistakes in strategy and put stops. Partly Hill's fault partly the teams fault. And the Car had reliability problems.

Frank Williams was cheap and didn't want to sign Nigel Mansell. Even though Benetton had got Renault engines the Williams was by far the superior car but they were let down by driver mistakes and utterly woeful team strategy and management.

Hill drove like garbage all year, sadly, and I do like the guy.

I might be in the minority but I've held Hill in High regard. For me he was nothing more that an above average driver. His Championship win was purely down to having the superior car and even then it was struggle

2 more,2 more...Lewis Hamilton.

Hill could be fast... but more often than not: he wasn't. Overrated driver, mediocre talent, only won one title because the Michael moved to Ferrari and even then almost got beaten to it by a rookie! A rookie who did beat him next year, and who Michael in inferior machinery managed to compete with for a WDC. The results speak for themselves: Damon was never that good and can thank his lucky stars for the one fluke WDC he managed.

A lot of BS revisionism going on here. Typical english "fans".

Yup ...😂one of those I am and happy . Sir 44 to Ferrari. Nice vid. Perfect amount of spice!!