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TOM HEVEZI/AP/Press Association Images
familiar face

Flashback: Damon Hill behind the wheel of an F1 car at Barcelona

The former world champion got a chance to drive the Red Bull RB6, following in the footsteps of Alain Prost last month.

DAMON HILL WAS back behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car for the first time since retiring in 1999, completing a number of laps in the Red Bull RB6 at Barcelona on Sunday.

The 1996 world champion was attending the World Series by Renault event as his season Josh raced in the Formula Renault Eurocup.

“I spoke to Renault and said I’d be coming down because Josh was racing, and it kind of snowballed from there and I’ve ended up driving the Red Bull!

“You can’t really say no to that, can you? So a big thanks to Renault and Red Bull.”

Alain Prost was another legend of the sport to try out the RB6 at Paul Ricard last month, and Hill said it must have been strange terrain for the Frenchman.

“I spoke to Alain after he drove it,” Hill added. “Things have moved on a bit from when he stopped in ’93, but these cars are quite similar to what I had in ’99.

“Things like the hand clutch were already on the Jordan by then. The cars have changed subtly, but fundamentally they are the same.

“It’s not a competition, there’s no challenge, and I’m not being tested. It’s purely for my own experience and it’s fun.”

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