Sources in one of Jordan's largest sponsors have revealed tonight, that Damon Hill has decided to quit Formula One racing, effective immediately. According to these sources, Hill has announced his decision to Jordan Grand Prix officials and to some of their main sponsors. However, it remains to be seen when Hill will make the public announcement.

Hill's decision comes as little surprise, after his comments following his retirement from the French Grand Prix. Immediately after he parked his Jordan car in the garages, Hill told reporters that "this may well have been my last race".

Furthermore, speculations that Hill might be better off ending his career after his home Grand Prix at Silverstone in a fortnight, were somewhat diminished by Hill himself who was quoted today as saying: "I would like to go to Silverstone and put on a good performance but the question is whether I can. At the moment, I don't know. I wouldn't go to Silverstone just for the fans. I have to think of myself and my family before I think about the fans.

"I appreciate that the fans have supported me and been with me all the way and I appreciate that at Silverstone there will be people wanting to see me race. But those fans will also understand that they would not want to see me tugging around at the back. That would be too much. I couldn't handle it."

The Grand Prix of France was Damon Hill's 107th Grand Prix start. In the seven seasons that he participated in Formula One, Hill has won one World Championship (1996) and 22 races. Hill also had 20 pole positions, 42 podium finishes and 19 fastest laps. He will most likely remain, for a long time, one of the most successful British Grand Prix drivers in Formula One history.