R.I.P. Phil Hill

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Phil Hill Rememberance Site
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America's first Formula 1 Champion has passed away, today.

A moment of silence for Formula 1 & LeMans losing one of its own.
:(
Some sad news today... one of the greatest race drivers in American history has passed away at the age of 81.

Phil Hill was the first American to win the Formula One World Driver's Championship, taking the title in 1961, and was also a three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner. He won both the first and the last races of his career, and despite racing during a time when safety equipment was almost non-existent, he never suffered a serious injury while racing.

Some of my fondest memories of attending the U.S. Grand Prix in Indianapolis the past several years was always running into Phil Hill walking around, just like a normal race fan. And when he got recognized, he was always nice and accommodating to the fans, signing an autograph, posing for a picture, or simply shaking your hand.

Hill is survived by his wife Alma, one son and two daughters.
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Only_in_f1
Ah man. 81 isn't a bad age. Was the oldest World Champion to be living bar Sir Jack.

Big shame, RIP.
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Jackie Stewart is 8 years younger than him. I guess this makes him the oldest F1 Champion now.
 
It's a shame, another link with F1 of the past has gone, but he had a good run. Rest in Peace Phil Hill.

Peter - Sir Jack Brabham is still going!
 
Another piece of Motorsport history gone but not forgotten.
81 , not a bad innings.
 
Mr. Phil Hill, you will be missed. :(

May he rest in peace, sitting in an aluminum fuel tank at 150+ mph, a driveshaft spinning by his legs, with drum brakes, no windscreen and no seatbelts.

Congratulations sir on living a wonderful life.
 
Mr. Hill was also a guest writer for several motoring publications.
He could still drive like he was 30, according to Sterlling Moss, and others.
He was funny. His stories in R & T were always entertaining.

Rest in Peace Mr. Hill. I hope God has a "Birdcage" Maserati and a great road waiting for you on the other side.
 
My F1 history is very poor. I didn't even know Phil Hill was American. He did one of the toughest feats to do- win Le Mans (as well as winning Le Mans three times outright in his career). He did one of the seemingly impossible feats- win the F1 World Championship. These two parts of his racing resumé are enough to note him as one of the finest in all of racing past or present.

Rest in peace, Phil Hill. Congratulations on an amazing career.
 
Even though I don't remember him as much or recognize his talent in F1, but he managed to live a normal life without major injuries or death. Must be amazing to be America's first F1 champion while fighting out with the Europeans. 👍

We will miss you Phil Hill. :(
 
R.I.P. Phil thanks for all the stories and memories (even if I didn't see your work in person), and for inspiring me when I was a teenager. My mental flag's at half-staff today.

← Avatar courtesy of Bernard Cahier, whose death was largely unnoticed (I didn't notice until now); was also born in 1927 and died in 2008.
 
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I've just heard about this today. It's a sad loss. Rest in peace Mr Phil Hill, World Champion in the real sense of the word.
 
I never would have thought that he'd die in the first place... the only truly American world champion. And yet, it was amazing that he really did have thoughts on his mortality every time he raced.

Rest In Peace.
 

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