On the occasion of his father’s birthday, Damon Hill, the former F1 world champion and current TV presenter, took to Instagram to pay tribute to Graham Hill OBE, who was a highly accomplished British racing driver and team owner.
In a heartfelt message, Damon shared a black and white carousel post featuring him as a child with his father.
Damon wrote: “Graham Hill OBE. Happy Birthday, Dad. It was revealed to us by Lord Mountbatten that Dad would have received a Knighthood sometime in the new year, 1976. Sadly he didn’t live to receive it. I’m not sure it would have suited him anyway. He was a bit of a rascal! But it would have been well deserved. He contributed massively to other people’s well-being and the sport he loved. Perhaps the Knighthood would have made him behave himself? And who would have wanted that!”
Damon expressed how he always admired his father in a post that melted the hearts of F1 fans.
The former F1 driver also revealed, in a rather humourous manner, that had his father known that he would be honoured by the royal family, it may have changed the manner in which he conducted himself.
Unfortunately, though, Graham passed away in a tragic plane crash before he could receive the honour.
Graham Hill was known for his notorious personality and it was perhaps one of the things that fans loved most about him as it defined his character.
His achievements are part of racing folklore, having won the F1 world championship twice in 1962 and 1968.
Apart from this, he was runner-up on three occasions (1963, 1964 and 1965).
Nicknamed ‘Mr. Monaco’, Graham Hill was the only driver to have won the Triple Crown at the time, famously winning the Monaco Grand Prix five times in the 1960s.
Despite his untimely death, Graham Hill’s legacy continues to inspire and influence the sport of Formula 1.
It is always touching to see such heartfelt messages and it was a fitting tribute to one of the finest drivers and one of the most distinguished personalities to have graced the sport.
Graham Hill’s life and legacy continue to inspire and influence the sport of Formula 1, and his memory lives on through the countless lives he touched.