Jacques Villeneuve replaced Damon Hill as a driver for Williams in the 1996 Formula 1 season. Hill had won the World Drivers' Championship in 1996, but was unable to come to an agreement with the team for the following season. This opened the door for Villeneuve, who had been the team's test driver in 1996.

Replacing a World Champion like Hill was no easy task, but Villeneuve proved himself to be up to the challenge. In his first season with Williams, he won four races and finished second in the Drivers' Championship, just one point behind Michael Schumacher. The following year, in 1997, Villeneuve went one better and won the World Drivers' Championship, becoming only the second Canadian to do so after his father, Gilles Villeneuve.

Villeneuve's time with Williams was short-lived, as he moved to the newly-formed BAR team for the 1999 season. However, his impact on the team and the sport as a whole was significant. His aggressive driving style and never-say-die attitude made him a fan favorite, and he remains one of the most popular drivers in Formula 1 history.

Today, Villeneuve's legacy lives on in the achievements of current drivers who were inspired by his success. His battles with the likes of Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen are the stuff of legend, and his name will always be associated with the golden era of Formula 1 in the 1990s.

In conclusion, Jacques Villeneuve replaced Damon Hill as a driver for Williams in 1996, and went on to have a successful and memorable career in Formula 1. His time with the team may have been short, but his impact was long-lasting, and he will always be remembered as one of the greats of the sport.

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