Fans believe Hill did the right thing

Talking exclusively to AUTOSPORT Online at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, many people felt he had been dismissed unfairly as a driver, and did not blame him for deciding to quit the sport.

'I think it's very sad,' said 48-year-old Philip Hunter from Peterborough, 'He's still got some good years in him.

'I believe a lot of things have contributed to it - such as the tyre changes. I just think he doesn't have the car at the moment that he can drive to his full potential.'

'Many people have written off ever since he's been driving. Even though, at the start, he had a better strike rate in wins than Michael Schumacher.'

'It's typical of the British really,' claimed Hunter. 'If you're not winning, you're no good.'

Sarah Glager, 36, from London believed that the pressure placed on Hill since winning the world title in 1996 had eventually worn him down.

'I think it's sad that Damon [Hill] is retiring, but I can see his point. He's got four small children, he's given it a good run and I can't say I blame him. I'm sure his wife must be very relieved.

'He's probably lost the will. I don't think he's the driven person he was when he won the championship.'

Paul White, 40, of Plymouth, claimed Hill's retirement was an 'intelligent move by an intelligent man'.

'If he does well [during the rest of the season] and he's likely to have one or two good races, everyone will say 'fantastic'. If he does badly, he's already pre-empted his own circumstances.

'Although he won't be in the sport, he'll stay around it with his reputation intact.'