@Gigidag77 It could've been though, I remember seeing somewhere that Martin Brundle said after testing each car, amazingly the best handling cars were the Arrows and the Benetton. So maybe with the Mugen engine that Arrows were supposed to get, it probably would've been much more competitive, seeing the the Yamaha engine was a full 100BHP down on the Mercedes engine.
@blainyrules Unreliable too, and Walkinshaw's management was also dubious (witness the Australia 2002 debacle and the mid-season collapse of TWR companies). In spite of that, 1 pt in 1996 v 9 pts in 1997 heralded a drastic improvement.
@CHABBO Because Damon asked someone to ask Frank Williams for a pay rise, Frank thought it was an insult that Damon didn't ask himself so he left Williams in 1996. Apparently though he could have gone to either Jordan or McLaren instead of Arrows.
@DC322 Yeah and did a hell of a lot better than at Arrows too. Then again the A18 wasn't exactly the most reliable of cars, and Belgium '98 was a bit of a fluke...
Martin Brundle tested the 1997 cars prior to the 1998 season (For F1 Racing Magazine) and reckoned the Benetton and *gasp* the Arrows as the best handling cars on the grid. If there was a Mugen-Honda engine in there it'll be dynamite, but for some reason TWR failed to deliver on that part. So the potential of that chassis was obvious.
Had Hill stayed in Williams in 1997 I believe he could have been champion again. After all Villeneuve kept throwing away easy wins and podiums left and right (witness Montreal 1997), and with Hill with nothing to prove (having already been champion) he could have had a very good 1997.
And all you who say that Hill had the best car. Yes, because he was a really good development driver (that's why Frank Williams hired him as a test driver first in 1992) who developed the Williams into a winner.
@McLarenMercedes I think if you have any issues with Damon as a driver think of his win in the wet at Suzuka in '94 or his final win at Spa. In that race he did he whole 44 laps in the wet in a car set up for the dry
Anyway, why did Damon Hill go to Arrows for 1997? I never understood that move, although I can only think of money as a reason. But up until 1997 he's been a successful driver, I assume he's had enough money then. So why would the reigning F1 champion drive a car like the 97 Arrows?!
@WhenWorldsCollide91 He was concerned that people would think his success was down to Williams being the superior car, that was probably one reason. He also thought McLaren's offer was poor for a top team upon winning the championship (pay per drive).
@WhenWorldsCollide91 In addition to darthbandon's point I think that Williams announced they wouldnt be renewing Damon's contract quite late in the season leaving very few decent seats available. Jordan and Prost were the only other real alternatives to Arrows.I think he signed for Arrows on the understanding that Tom Walkinshaw would get the Mugen Honda engine for 1997.When that didn't happen you can kind of see why he didn't re sign for a second year.
@DnylF1 I don't there's an age limit, 30 isn't too old but I think 19 is a bit too young for F1 (granted as I say there is no age limit, well to any particular career unless it required you to work your way up).
Mind you, Damon did Bikes before Cars if you see the BBC Doc from 1996 about Damon Hill (unfortunately Part 3 got muted by YouTube).
Hill was an awesome driver, but as soon as Villeneauve got into the Williams-Renault team, he started winning along side his more experienced teammate.
Many people believe that it was the car and not the driver that gave Hill the world championship.
The fact that Villeneauve was able to outpace his teammate, in only the fourth race of his first season, shows that those people may have had a point...
I read Damon Hill´s book and one of his greatest fears was that people would think that he is an untalented driver because of the williams cars.
But remember hungary 97 when he left Villeneuve behind in an arrows ! And remember Spa 98. I think Hill was a very good driver. Otherwise Villeneuve´s career faded fast after 97.
@Nocito87 Spa 98? C'mon he won cause Coulthard destroyed Schumis race. And without teamorder Ralf would have been the winner because he was way faster than Hill...
@jonahmoffatt I think with Villeneuve, it was too much too soon. I mean Williams was a fast car when he joined, then after 97 they lost it before they picked up in 2001 (while Villeneuve just went completely backwards).
Well that's my theory, having so much so soon doesn't do well later in a career (plus you don't always appreciate as much).
@Fuckdencio I think Hill getting the sack at the end of 96 wasn't a good idea, and I don't disrespect Frank Williams in anyway but Frentzen was rubbish for Williams with only 1 win in what was a good car in 97 (plus I think Williams probably expected too much from Frentzen, while with Jordan he felt comfortable and led the team well in 99).
@blainyrules Hill wasn't offered a spot at McLaren for 1997. He was offered a one year deal at McLaren for 1998 on a pay per win basis which is why he refused it and went to Jordan.
F1 sold the world champion down the river ,a world champion with no drive the following year....Only pay per drive from Maclaren and Arrow.........HIll had two more F1 crowns at least.Frank Williams youre a muppet mate
It wouldn't be the first time. Williams has a history of losing their championship winning drivers to other teams. Rosberg, Piquet, Mansell (he went to IndyCars for '93), Hill and Villeneuve.
Jones and Prost retired.
Frentzen might have had the raw speed, but was awfully inconsistent in his entire career, save for maybe in '99.
Not taking anything from Damon at all, but this chassis was actually good, it sacrificed aero efficiency for downforce so it was quick on the slower twisty circuits. The bridgestone tyres were in a league of their own at hot races that year too.
@rich1701 The Yamaha/Judd engine was not up to par, and reliability was a major issue for Arrows in the early parts of the season. If there was a Mugen-Honda in there they'd prolly be the best of the Brigestone-shod boys. Panis was brilliant until he broke his legs in Canada, but Hill in a better-engined Arrows would have gave Panis and Prost a run for its money.
Indeed and he nearly put it on Pole for this race if he hadn't been blocked slightly on his last run from what I remember... Never seen in-car from the Arrows in this year. Great upload!!
Coulthard wasted the second McLaren seat for years, if anyone deserves ire for cruising in a good car it's him not DH.
darthbandon10 1 month ago
Damon was on for pole that weekend, but a yellow flag in the last corner cost him and he ended up 4th.
cjsnowdon 2 months ago
That Arrows looked FANTASTIC !, even if it wasn't on a competitive basis
Gigidag77 4 months ago
@Gigidag77 It could've been though, I remember seeing somewhere that Martin Brundle said after testing each car, amazingly the best handling cars were the Arrows and the Benetton. So maybe with the Mugen engine that Arrows were supposed to get, it probably would've been much more competitive, seeing the the Yamaha engine was a full 100BHP down on the Mercedes engine.
blainyrules 2 months ago
@blainyrules Unreliable too, and Walkinshaw's management was also dubious (witness the Australia 2002 debacle and the mid-season collapse of TWR companies). In spite of that, 1 pt in 1996 v 9 pts in 1997 heralded a drastic improvement.
darthbandon10 1 month ago
Possibly with a better engine, he could have done a lot more with the car in '97
Denilson24 6 months ago
hill had offers from williams again mclaren and ferrari so he chose the wrong team it was his fault
SCOTTYHG1 7 months ago
I forgot the reason for why Damon joined Arrows..!?!?
CHABBO 9 months ago
@CHABBO There wasn't much in the way of seats left when Williams let him go. Still think he should have tried Jordan or Prost though...
darthbandon10 8 months ago
@CHABBO money?? :D
minihulk69 6 months ago
@CHABBO Because Damon asked someone to ask Frank Williams for a pay rise, Frank thought it was an insult that Damon didn't ask himself so he left Williams in 1996. Apparently though he could have gone to either Jordan or McLaren instead of Arrows.
blainyrules 6 months ago
@blainyrules Hill eventually went to Jordan the next year.
DC322 4 months ago
@DC322 Yeah and did a hell of a lot better than at Arrows too. Then again the A18 wasn't exactly the most reliable of cars, and Belgium '98 was a bit of a fluke...
blainyrules 4 months ago
Martin Brundle tested the 1997 cars prior to the 1998 season (For F1 Racing Magazine) and reckoned the Benetton and *gasp* the Arrows as the best handling cars on the grid. If there was a Mugen-Honda engine in there it'll be dynamite, but for some reason TWR failed to deliver on that part. So the potential of that chassis was obvious.
mauownage 9 months ago
@mauownage Reliability was pretty bad though. They only got both cars to the finish three times in the entire 17-race season.
darthbandon10 8 months ago
@darthbandon10
aha, I see.. I thought he was planning to help bring the team up the grid a bit. A shame though, I miss Arrows.
especially the more recent Orange Arrows, that was a pretty nice looking package.
CHABBO 8 months ago
Had to wait about a year to get on the power at every corner exit
Lynxtro 10 months ago
Had Hill stayed in Williams in 1997 I believe he could have been champion again. After all Villeneuve kept throwing away easy wins and podiums left and right (witness Montreal 1997), and with Hill with nothing to prove (having already been champion) he could have had a very good 1997.
And all you who say that Hill had the best car. Yes, because he was a really good development driver (that's why Frank Williams hired him as a test driver first in 1992) who developed the Williams into a winner.
McLarenMercedes 1 year ago
@McLarenMercedes I think if you have any issues with Damon as a driver think of his win in the wet at Suzuka in '94 or his final win at Spa. In that race he did he whole 44 laps in the wet in a car set up for the dry
reptongeek 11 months ago
Anyway, why did Damon Hill go to Arrows for 1997? I never understood that move, although I can only think of money as a reason. But up until 1997 he's been a successful driver, I assume he's had enough money then. So why would the reigning F1 champion drive a car like the 97 Arrows?!
WhenWorldsCollide91 1 year ago
@WhenWorldsCollide91 He was concerned that people would think his success was down to Williams being the superior car, that was probably one reason. He also thought McLaren's offer was poor for a top team upon winning the championship (pay per drive).
darthbandon10 1 year ago
@WhenWorldsCollide91 In addition to darthbandon's point I think that Williams announced they wouldnt be renewing Damon's contract quite late in the season leaving very few decent seats available. Jordan and Prost were the only other real alternatives to Arrows.I think he signed for Arrows on the understanding that Tom Walkinshaw would get the Mugen Honda engine for 1997.When that didn't happen you can kind of see why he didn't re sign for a second year.
dave41184 1 year ago
Shame the gearbox gave in during the race...
darthbandon10 1 year ago
never like this guy
TheDANGERADRIAN 1 year ago
Now these where real F1 racing cars!
rapperzondernaam 1 year ago
these cars just seem so much better than the cars today, more mechanical and not computer, which everyone agrees is best
floobadoo 1 year ago
Hill Qualified 3rd for this race.
hofsteveO 1 year ago
That is just impossible. I remember Villeneuve, Michael Schumacher and HH Frentzen qualifed whit the exactly time.
sixtolojunior 1 year ago
@sixtolojunior
Sorry, Hill actually QF'd 4th 0:0005 behind schu, HH, Vil....
hofsteveO 1 year ago 5
@hofsteveO you mean villeneuve-schummi-frentzen ;-)
villeneuve2fast4you 1 year ago
@sixtolojunior I saw that qualifying session too and people shat bricks!
mauownage 9 months ago
Damon's problem was that he started F1 as a 30 year old.
DnylF1 1 year ago 7
@DnylF1 I don't there's an age limit, 30 isn't too old but I think 19 is a bit too young for F1 (granted as I say there is no age limit, well to any particular career unless it required you to work your way up).
Mind you, Damon did Bikes before Cars if you see the BBC Doc from 1996 about Damon Hill (unfortunately Part 3 got muted by YouTube).
jivio 1 year ago
Hill was an awesome driver, but as soon as Villeneauve got into the Williams-Renault team, he started winning along side his more experienced teammate.
Many people believe that it was the car and not the driver that gave Hill the world championship.
The fact that Villeneauve was able to outpace his teammate, in only the fourth race of his first season, shows that those people may have had a point...
skynet0912 2 years ago
if i remember rightly villeneuve out paced hill in his first race at melbourne and would of won if it wasnt for a engine problem
jonahmoffatt 2 years ago 3
I read Damon Hill´s book and one of his greatest fears was that people would think that he is an untalented driver because of the williams cars.
But remember hungary 97 when he left Villeneuve behind in an arrows ! And remember Spa 98. I think Hill was a very good driver. Otherwise Villeneuve´s career faded fast after 97.
Nocito87 2 years ago 3
@Nocito87 Spa 98? C'mon he won cause Coulthard destroyed Schumis race. And without teamorder Ralf would have been the winner because he was way faster than Hill...
Morthelion 1 year ago
@jonahmoffatt I think with Villeneuve, it was too much too soon. I mean Williams was a fast car when he joined, then after 97 they lost it before they picked up in 2001 (while Villeneuve just went completely backwards).
Well that's my theory, having so much so soon doesn't do well later in a career (plus you don't always appreciate as much).
jivio 1 year ago
This car looks pretty good
ArieLuyendyk 2 years ago
Hill deserve a better car in 97
Fuckdencio 2 years ago 59
@Fuckdencio I think Hill getting the sack at the end of 96 wasn't a good idea, and I don't disrespect Frank Williams in anyway but Frentzen was rubbish for Williams with only 1 win in what was a good car in 97 (plus I think Williams probably expected too much from Frentzen, while with Jordan he felt comfortable and led the team well in 99).
jivio 1 year ago
@Fuckdencio he was offered a spot at mclaren. he went to arrows because they offered better pay.
blainyrules 1 year ago
@blainyrules Hill wasn't offered a spot at McLaren for 1997. He was offered a one year deal at McLaren for 1998 on a pay per win basis which is why he refused it and went to Jordan.
dave41184 11 months ago
@Fuckdencio Hill wanted that car in 97....
ReLax232 11 months ago
F1 sold the world champion down the river ,a world champion with no drive the following year....Only pay per drive from Maclaren and Arrow.........HIll had two more F1 crowns at least.Frank Williams youre a muppet mate
RogueBrit 2 years ago 3
Williams made the decision in the middle of 1995, and I think most would of agreed with him at the time, Hill was very poor in 1995.
rich1701 2 years ago 2
@RogueBrit
It wouldn't be the first time. Williams has a history of losing their championship winning drivers to other teams. Rosberg, Piquet, Mansell (he went to IndyCars for '93), Hill and Villeneuve.
Jones and Prost retired.
Frentzen might have had the raw speed, but was awfully inconsistent in his entire career, save for maybe in '99.
McLarenMercedes 11 months ago
i know he was on an in-lap but it looks like he had little grip...
f1baker 2 years ago
he was amazing in a car that wasent up to it
sexygirl1678 2 years ago 6
damon ist der beste!
iphone3g-unlock. de
Bonoman7719 2 years ago 2
Not taking anything from Damon at all, but this chassis was actually good, it sacrificed aero efficiency for downforce so it was quick on the slower twisty circuits. The bridgestone tyres were in a league of their own at hot races that year too.
rich1701 2 years ago 2
@rich1701 The Yamaha/Judd engine was not up to par, and reliability was a major issue for Arrows in the early parts of the season. If there was a Mugen-Honda in there they'd prolly be the best of the Brigestone-shod boys. Panis was brilliant until he broke his legs in Canada, but Hill in a better-engined Arrows would have gave Panis and Prost a run for its money.
mauownage 9 months ago
Where the hells that? Buenos Aires?
maidenslayer 2 years ago
That's Jerez, Spain
ReJ40 2 years ago 5
Jerez, European GP.
intheflesh1977 2 years ago
that car sounds mega underpowered compared to the renault videos of that yr!!
gazzaman1986 3 years ago 2
Hey it almost won a race that year.
FerrariFan2010 2 years ago 2
Indeed and he nearly put it on Pole for this race if he hadn't been blocked slightly on his last run from what I remember... Never seen in-car from the Arrows in this year. Great upload!!
Senna4Ever94 2 years ago
just imagine what he coulda done in the williams that year
Scaura90 2 years ago 4
Yeah that Yamaha was bleedin awful :(
dave41184 2 years ago
Hungary 1997 proved why Hill was the World Champion in 1996...
LDis1 3 years ago 73
..iF Schumi had done that race, people would still be crowing about it now...
hofsteveO 2 years ago
In the beginning the commentator sounds like a French-speaking Microsoft Sam xD
JackRover 3 years ago
This is brilliant
Old videos of Hill never really capture his brief time at Arrows
mikeloveshishand 3 years ago
Thanks for uploading this :)
FunkadelicMover 3 years ago
Nice add! Great to see.
94070 3 years ago
great!!i was looking for onboard of mid-field teams in 1996/1997!!thanks and continue posting much of these!!
benisharmon 3 years ago