F1 to One
with Bette Hill - Mum!
F1 Racing, December 1996.

Q: Do you normally watch all the Grands Prix?
A: Never. I just can't. I go berserk. I'm so nervous it's ridiculous. It's all right when you're there, but I can't watch them on TV.

Q: What do you do instead?
A:I go and play golf - terrible golf - and try not to see what the time is, so I don't realise when they are on the grid. When I'm driving home I often hear the result on the radio and Damon has won. Then I start celebrating. I'm quite happy to watch the highlights once I know the result.

Q: Did you watch the Suzuka race live?
A: I said I wasn't going to. Then I woke up at two, tried to go back to sleep but just lay there. At four I thought, ' this is utterly ridiculous. I've got to go and watch it'. Well, now of course, I'm very, very happy that I did.

Q: Did Damon ring?
A: Yes. A few hours later. I said to him: "Is this actually the new world champion?"

Q: Did you feel the support for Damon?
A: The whole nation were willing him to win. That's my impression. Everywhere. I was in Ireland for the race, helping to look after the children, and when I got back all the shops had posters and flags and newspaper cuttings in their front windows. When my little grandson Joshua saw two men waving the Union Jack on the news, he wanted to know why they were waving his daddy's flag.

Q: Has Georgie been crucial to his success?
A: Well of course. Any wife would be. And Georgie has been 100 per cent behind Damon. But I'm sure she's gone through some hellish moments, as we all have.

Q: How does this championship compare to Graham's?
A: It's quite different. I think it's been worse to experience. When Graham won I wasn't there - the races were too far and too expensive. And they weren't on television in those days, so you just carried on with your day. But I think that this particular one was more nerveracking than any world championship has ever been.

Q: Is Damon like his father?
A: They're both totally different characters. I think Damon is as determined as Graham was. I don't understand people who say he isn't.

Q: Do you think he's a good racer?
A: I've watched Damon overtake cars with my heart in my mouth because he's done it so brilliantly. Nobody mentions that, even though they always seem to mention that someone else does it brilliantly. I don't know whether it's because we're British, but we didn't help Damon along.

Q: Were you shocked when Williams dropped him?
A: I just couldn't believe it. It was very hard to take it. I think it was a shock to everybody.

Q: Has it changed the way you relate to Williams?
A: Well, I'm not part of it like I was with Graham. I'm on the outside looking in. With Graham, I was the timekeeper, part of the 'team'.

Q: Did you ever think Damon should retire?
A: Oh no. Good gracious me he's only a young man. For heaven's sake. They kept saying that to Graham - "give it up, give it up". You can't. I mean why? Why? He's enjoying it.

Q: Were you surprised he signed for Arrows?
A: Yes. At first I thought 'oh my God what has he done?' Now I think it was a brilliant move. He will feel so much more relaxed. This last six months I've had my suspicions he was unhappy. He wasn't the Damon we know. I mean, Damon's fun, and he wasn't fun.

Q: Will you watch his first race as champion?
A: Oh no, it's too far. I can't afford the flights. No way. I won't be there.

Q: Is he a good son?
A: He's brilliant.

Q: Does he send you flowers?
A: I had a birthday the other day and I had so many flowers I couldn't get in the front door. He's always, always good. When he first got his contract with Frank he said: "Now I can look after you and the girls". That's what he's done. And that's what he does.