HILL: I'M JUST A JEALOUS GUY!

Troubled Damon Hill last night confessed to jealousy as he watches old rival Michael Schumacher's drive towards his world crown.

But - as Jacques Villeneuve grabbed pole position for today's British Grand Prix - Hill insisted he was NOT envious of the little Canadian who grabbed his number one seat at Williams.

Hill, who could only make 12th on the grid, also apologised to his British fans for not giving them another Championship fight to remember.

World champion Hill firmly laid the blame for his current predicament at the door of his old Williams-Renault employers.

Yesterday he opened up old wounds by pointing an accusing finger at team boss Frank Williams on the eve of the British Grand Prix.

The world champion is still hurt and angry at being kicked out of the team after giving them the title.

Twelve months ago Hill was the toast of Silverstone when he took pole position for his home race on the way to securing his first world crown.

But yesterday, as Williams men Villeneuve and Heinz-Harald Frentzen dominated qualifying, Hill was left struggling in his TWR Arrows-Yamaha.

Hill desperately wanted to take on Villeneuve and his old title rival Schumacher in another championship battle in front of his home fans.

But Hill said: "There are two current world champions - Michael Schumacher and me - and the public is being deprived of a confrontation which might have interested them.

"I'm not looking to arouse pity. I simply think that somewhere in Formula One there are things that are hard to understand.

"I miss not being able to defend my title against Michael. He has the same effect on me as the cape to a bull. I consider him the best driver in Formula One. He's the target for everyone else.

"I admit I have watched him with envy. He won a very fine victory in Monaco - but a year ago it was me leading the Monaco Grand Prix in the rain and him on the rails on the first turn."

Hill then took his frustrations out on Williams for dumping him last season during his moment of glory.

Said Hill: "I find it strange that our partnership should have stopped just when I became really good.

"I think Frank made a little error at a given moment and he wasn't able to get out of it afterwards.

"Also Frank has a principle not to pay his drivers very well, which in my opinion is false economy.

Some observers say that Hill priced himself out of a Williams drive by asking for a pounds 10million contract.

Others believe Williams had already signed up Frentzen to take Hill's place even before negotiations came to a sudden halt.

Hill, who has watched Williams struggle in recent races, has little sympathy for Villeneuve or Frentzen.

He said: "I knew a similar situation in 1995 when we had a difficult start to the season with mechanical breakdowns and reliability problems.

"It was hard in those conditions to battle for the title and against one's own team-mate. But that's the way Williams functions."

Meanwhile David Coulthard has turned down a multi-million drive with Ferrari because he didn't want to partner Schumacher.

Scotsman Coulthard, winner of two Grand Prix, was recently offered the lucrative seat with the championship leaders.

Coulthard would have replaced Eddie Irvine for the 1998 season in a move that would have given him the biggest pay-day of his career.

But Coulthard, the McLaren- Mercedes driver, didn't fancy playing second fiddle to Schumacher.

He said: "I believe I can beat anybody - even Michael Schumacher.

"Given the equipment and opportunity, I can win the championship. And I want to do it with McLaren."

It is an unbelievable decision by Coulthard. Ferrari are the most famous team on the grid and are now showing signs that they possess real championship potential.

Schumacher has even out-driven and out-manoeuvred Villeneuve and Frentzen to lead the championship by 14 points. But Schumacher dictates all the terms at Ferrari - and that doesn't endear him to other drivers.

Team-mate Irvine is happy to take a back seat as he coins in a pounds 4million deal, but his days look numbered.

But Coulthard wants to be number one in his team to give himself the best opportunity to become world champion.

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