Hill unperturbed by morning off

The ex-champion wound up 16th after sliding off on the final bend of the Hungaroring circuit with 10 minutes of practice remaining.

The session was his first return to action since walking away from the track just 14 laps into the German Grand Prix two weeks ago.

'I'm not too worried about the accident,' he said. 'It happened with 10 minutes remaining and not 40 or something like that so the damage in terms of set-up development was minimal.

'The car feels good and the split times are good.

'The accident happened because I was pressing on just as the rain started and I got caught out. I wasn't the only one.'

Hill retired from the German GP after just 14 laps complaining of brake problems but the team insisted the car was safe to drive.

His desire to drive appears to be diminishing by the day, and fate seems intent on denying him a dignified exit.

Yesterday in Hungary he apologised after elbowing a journalist out of the way after the race in Germany.

At the time he had complained the car's new fast-circuit braking system was not to his liking and he had two near-accidents and three lurid trips across the grass at high speed before deciding to call it a day.

Earlier in the weekend he had admitted that he was probably 'too old' for Formula One.

He has suffered for most of the season but briefly revived his fortunes with a fifth place in last month's British Grand Prix.

He had come very close to announcing his retirement after the race in front of his adoring fans but the desire to end the season on a high, and an improving car, persuaded him to carry on.

Now he is finding the results and motivation harder to come by than ever, but he is trying to change that this weekend in Hungary.

Budapest has always been good to him. It was the scene of his maiden grand prix victory in 1993 and he won again in 1995.

He nearly recorded one of the biggest upsets of recent times when he led the race in an uncompetitive Arrows in 1997 but had to settle for second - one of three runners-up results - when a £5 part broke.

'Hungary has always been kind to me,' added Hill. 'In some ways the circuit is similar to Monaco - slightly faster but without the barriers next to the track and you are always fidgeting with the car.'