Damon Hill dismissed claims today, made by Jordan GP Team officials, that he retired from the German Grand Prix on lap 14 for no reason other than him simply giving up. "The team wanted me to continue but I am in the cockpit and I took the decision that it was not safe for me to carry on," he said.

"There was a very good chance of me not being able to stop the car. I nearly went into the back of (Alexander) Wurz a couple of times. We have changed completely to a different system which I cannot use. As a result of me going over the chicane three times my feet had gone dead. It was just impossible for me to carry on." He further added: "That's what happens when things are going badly. I would have liked to have scored points and am very frustrated to have another race weekend without winning points."

Hill retired when he drove into the Jordan pits unexpectedly. After the race, team boss Eddie Jordan said there was no apparent reason why Hill had to retire. "I need to speak to Damon to see what actually happened and why did not want to continue," said Jordan.

Following a disastrous race at the French Grand Prix, Hill indicated that he would want to retire from Formula One racing effective immediately. Later, he announced that he will participate in the British Grand Prix and the Jordan team had made official statements that the Silverstone race would be his last. However, having scored a 6th finish in the British race Hill yet again had a change of heart and announced that he would see out the entire 1999 season.

This weekend, however, Hill once again seems to have a change of heart, telling reporters at Hockenheimring that he might retire before the end of the season after all, as he gets no pleasure from racing. "I'm just too old," Hill told the reporters. "I still thrive on the pressure. I got my best result at Silverstone under pressure but I just don't need that kind of pressure anymore.

"The things you do when you're younger you do instinctively, and you lose it as you get older. It's something you lose. Age is the only thing you can put it down to. I know when I was racing bikes there were things I did instinctively and then, when I was in the early stages of my car career, there were things I did instinctively - but not now."