P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Damon Hill clinched his only F1 drivers’ championship on this day — October 13 — in 1996, setting a record that would not be matched for two decades.
On 13 October 1996, Damon Hill made history by becoming F1’s first second-generation world champion at Suzuka. His victory at the Japanese Grand Prix followed in the footsteps of his legendary father, Graham Hill. Despite dominating the 1996 season and winning eight races, Hill’s future remained uncertain as Williams had already announced his replacement for 1997. This race marked Hill’s final appearance for Williams, with his next move to Arrows shrouded in uncertainty due to the team’s lack of a ready car. Jacques Villeneuve, Hill’s teammate, entered the race just nine points behind in the championship standings but faced a challenging race at Suzuka.
