F1 News & Discussions > F1 History

Damon once courted to drive F1 for Ferrari - or was it all a dream?

(1/1)

John S:
Makes a most amusing tale and poor old Johnny Herbert knows all to well what it's like to be signed as a no 2.

Obviously we have to give Mr D Hill the full benefit of the doubt, both for ducking the offer, oh and the veracity of it being made.  :D

https://f1i.com/news/553652-damon-hill-reveals-the-ferrari-offer-he-had-to-refuse.html

Jericoke:
I would imagine Prost/Senna would still be front of mind for any team signing a 'super pair' of drivers.

If the offer was made, surely it couldn't have been made the expectation that the WDC would take a backseat, especially not to a WDC who beat in in questionable circumstances.

I am glad that teams seem to be more open to having 2 equal drivers these days

cosworth151:

--- Quote --- and tried to take on Schumacher in identical machinery.
--- End quote ---

Does anybody really think Ferrari would have give Hill a car anywhere near as fast as Schumacher's?

Jericoke:

--- Quote from: cosworth151 on November 17, 2025, 06:08:55 PM ---
--- Quote --- and tried to take on Schumacher in identical machinery.
--- End quote ---

Does anybody really think Ferrari would have give Hill a car anywhere near as fast as Schumacher's?

--- End quote ---

In 1996, when the deal would have been offered, 'reliability' wasn't really part of Formula One.  You needed two cars just to have a chance of one finishing.  Schumacher only finished 9 races that year!

In 1997, Schumacher and Villeneuve dominated, yet they didn't even share a podium once.

I don't know that Ferrari could afford to give Hill an inferior car when their goal was WCC

Dare:

--- Quote from: Jericoke on November 17, 2025, 08:27:33 PM ---
--- Quote from: cosworth151 on November 17, 2025, 06:08:55 PM ---
--- Quote --- and tried to take on Schumacher in identical machinery.
--- End quote ---

Does anybody really think Ferrari would have give Hill a car anywhere near as fast as Schumacher's?

--- End quote ---

In 1996, when the deal would have been offered, 'reliability' wasn't really part of Formula One.  You needed two cars just to have a chance of one finishing.  Schumacher only finished 9 races that year!

In 1997, Schumacher and Villeneuve dominated, yet they didn't even share a podium once.

I don't know that Ferrari could afford to give Hill an inferior car when their goal was WCC

--- End quote ---

Rueben's had a car equal to Michael's. How did that work out?

Navigation

[0] Message Index