The 1993 season was an unexpected promotion to Williams for Damon Hill, not least because of the exit of defending world champion Nigel Mansell and the arrival of Alain Prost.
Mansell had won the title in 1992 with the Williams FW14B led by Adrian Newey, but after a contract dispute with team owner Frank Williams, he would end up leaving F1 to join IndyCar.
Prost was always due to race for the team and Mansell’s teammate Riccardo Patrese had already signed with Benetton for the 1993 season.
Hill was promoted from being a test and reserve driver because he had better knowledge of their 1993 car, one of the most technologically advanced F1 cars of all time, and with it he generated an opportunity to do something no other driver had achieved at the time.
Damon Hill became the first son of an F1 world champion to win a race in 1993
The season started off strongly for Hill with two second places at the Brazilian and European Grands Prix, then three other podium finishes at Monaco, Canada and France.
Despite disappointment at the British GP with a retirement and a 15th place at the German GP, Hill went into the 11th round of the season at Hungary optimistic.
Although Prost qualified on pole, the Frenchman stalled on the formation lap and was required to start the race from the back of the grid. Hill, who started from second, led the pack away and would go on to control the race.
It was a seminal moment for the Briton, considering he is the son of Graham Hill, a three-time F1 world champion who was also known for being a Monaco master, apt considering Hungary is often referred to as Monaco without the walls due to the narrow track.
As he crossed the line, Hill became the first world champion’s son ever to win a Grand Prix, finishing 71.915s clear of Patrese’s Benetton.
How Damon Hill emulated his father Graham Hill at Williams
The win became the first of three in a row for Hill as he took victories at the Belgian and Italian Grands Prix, all of which came at an important point for the Briton.
Ayrton Senna had already signed a contract with Williams for the 1994 season and both Frank Williams and Patrick Head were considering who should partner the Brazilian.
The answer stood right in front of them, with Hill taking on the role of Senna’s teammate for four races the following year before the Brazilian’s fatal accident at Imola.
In a way, the victory kickstarted the journey Hill made in emulating his much-loved father in 1968 when Jim Clark died.
Graham Hill had acted as the leader of the Lotus team as they mourned the loss of Clark, while Damon Hill had to effectively do the same for the rest of 1994 with Williams.