Hill takes paternal '49' for a spin in Shanghai

Damon Hill was reunited with his father's Monaco-winning Lotus 49 in Shanghai on Friday, taking the venerable car for a spin as part of F1's celebrations for its 1000th world championship race.

The 1996 F1 world champion found himself in familiar territory when he slotted himself behind the wheel, having driven his father's car on a number of occasions.

The R10 chassis was also once raced by Jochen Rindt and Emerson Fittipaldi, and indeed enjoyed its last competitive outing in the hands of the great Brazilian in Austria in 1970.

"It was great fun," Hill told Motorsport.com.

"I’ve driven 49s before, but I’ve never pushed them, although you’ve got a bit of space here.

"It’s very odd getting in – the way you get into them is very unique, because the steering wheels don’t come off.

"I can remember watching my dad getting in, and I’m putting my hands behind me and sliding in just like he did.

"So I have a little bit of a giggle to myself about that. However, he would have been 40 when he was driving it, and I’m a bit older than that now!"