Mad About Cars

For any car-mad youngster, there can be few greater thrills than watching their father compete and win in Formula One, and it has been the catalyst for many a young driver as they aim to follow in their father’s footsteps.

Unfortunately many of these young hopefuls will never fulfil their dream, but for a select few over the years, they have emulated their dreams to compete in Formula One. The concept of children following in their father’s footsteps is nothing new, with children immersed in the sport from an early age. ‘Racing families’, such as the Unser and Andretti families are nothing new in the United States, but in even in Formula One there have been a few shining examples.

One of the most famous of these was Damon Hill. Son of former world champion Graham Hill, Damon lost his father in a plane crash in 1975, with most of the family fortune being spent on compensation payouts. Therefore the young Hill had to scrape a living as motorcycle courier in his early years, showing some promise as a motorcycle racer before switching to cars. After a tentative start, his talent took him to Formula One with the Williams team, where following Ayrton Senna’s death in 1994 he was catapulted to team leader. During the mid-1990s Hill had a close (and often bitter) rivalry with Michael Schumacher, but took the world driver’s title in 1996, the first son of a Formula One world champion to do so.

Hill was joined by Jacques Villeneuve in 1996, another son of a famous driver. Gilles Villeneuve was considered by many as one of the most naturally talented drivers in Grand Prix history, his premature death in 1982 stopping him from realising his true potential. Jacques Villeneuve came to Formula One from a successful IndyCar career, and his arrival in Formula One was regarded with major anticipation. He came close to the 1996 title before clinching the title in 1997. Sadly, he was unable to re-create his early career form with the BAR team, founded in 1999 by his close friend Craig Pollock.

In recent years, two more drivers with world-champion fathers have entered Formula One. German driver Nico Rosberg has always enjoyed a close relationship with the Williams team, where his father Keke was the 1982 world champion. At just 17, Rosberg tested with the team and since 2006 has driven for the team (after winning the GP2 series in 2005). Rosberg has impressed many within the sport, and is signed to Williams until 2009.

Son of three-time world champion Nelson Piquet, Nelson Piquet Jr. signed for the Renault team for 2008. Despite a best finish of second in the German Grand Prix, many error-strewn races led to rumours he would be dropped. However, Piquet will continue with the team for 2009.

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