“No longer willing to risk killing myself”
During the 1961 Formula 1 season, American Phil Hill won the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa in his Ferrari 156, and with two races left, trailed only his team mate Wolfgang von Trips in the season standings. A terrible crash during the Italian Grand Prix killed von Trips and 15 spectators. Hill won the race and clinched the world championship, but the triumph was bittersweet.
When he returned for the 1962 F1 season, his last with Ferrari, Hill said: “I no longer have as much need to race, to win. I don’t have as much hunger anymore, I am no longer willing to risk killing myself.”
Picture above: Phil Hill, Ferrari 156, at the Nürburgring 1962. He qualified in twelfth, behind team mate Ricardo Rodriguez (10th), and far from poleman Gurney in his Porsche. The race was won by Graham Hill (BRM), who narrowly beat John Surtees (Lola-Climax) and Dan Gurney (Porsche). Phil Hill was forced to retire his Ferrari, when his suspension failed.
Although the Ferrari 156 “Sharknose” was not as competitive in 1962 as it has been the year before, Phil Hill scored three consecutive podium finishes; at Zandvoort (picture below), Monaco and Spa, but could not do better than sixth and 14 points in the final standings.
