F1 champion opens up on 'interesting' motivation issues

F1 News & Gossip

F1 champion opens up on 'interesting' motivation issues

Damon Hill reveals struggles of motivation as F1 drivers get older

Originally written by Shay Rogers. This version is a translation.

Monday 1 April 2024 21:00

Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill has been discussing the struggle that drivers suffer towards the end of their careers as their time in the sport comes to an end.

Hill retired from F1 at the end of the 1999 season, just three years after winning his first title with Williams.

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Fascinatingly, he was 32 before he got the chance to make his debut with Brabham, before going on to make an impressive career for himself throughout the rest of his 30’s.

If the Brit had arrived on the grid a few years sooner, could we have seen him win more championships, or would he have retired even sooner?

Damon Hill during his final F1 season with Jordan

Damon Hill is a pundit for Sky Sports F1

How did Damon Hill struggle?

Discussing motivation on the F1 Nation podcast, Hill revealed how he found it harder to psych himself up for grands prix.

“As I got towards the end of my career, I definitely found it harder to motivate myself because you’ve got it in your mind that there’s another life afterwards.

“When you’re younger, all you see is [that] the future is F1 – that's all you see.”

Now enjoying a career as a pundit, it appears that everything fell into place just fine for the 1996 world champion, who helps to provide analysis for Sky Sports F1 at some events throughout the Formula 1 season.

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