Izzy Hammond, the 25-year-old daughter of Top Gear star Richard Hammond, has publicly addressed the aftermath of a severe crash she experienced during a Formula E racing event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, over the weekend. The incident occurred just one minute into her lap when her vehicle collided with a track-side bollard, resulting in debris scattered across the circuit.
Izzy Hammond Walks Away from High-Speed Collision
Despite the dramatic nature of the accident, Izzy was able to exit the car independently and underwent a medical evaluation on-site. She later reassured fans via social media that she was "fine," though she has since disclosed suffering from concussion as a result of the impact.
Social Media Update Details Crash Aftermath
In an Instagram post, Izzy provided a candid account of the crash, expressing remorse to her team, Lola, for the extensive damage to the vehicle. She wrote, "Hey guys, I don't know if you saw, but I crashed the f*** out of the car. Massive apologies to my team [Lola]. They've been so amazing, and I return the favour by putting my car into a wall sideways, and destroying it. So that's not great!"
Explaining the technical mishap, she attributed the crash to insufficient tyre heat, stating, "How did I do it? I don't think I had enough heat in my tyres, so I was trying to brake and I was trying to turn with no heated tyres so it all went a little bit t*** up and I hit the wall with 24Gs."
Injuries and Recovery Plans
Izzy confirmed that her neck was sore from the force of the collision but reiterated her well-being, saying, "So, my neck hurts a little bit, but I am absolutely fine so thank you everyone that is concerned." She added humorously about her concussion, "I'm fine, this stuff happens, and now I can say I'm a proper racing driver because I've had a monumental crash. I'm gonna go to bed now, and sleep off my concussion!"
In a separate statement to Lola's social media team, she admitted the race "didn't really go to plan in the end," apologising profusely for the incident. "I crashed in quite dramatic fashion. And I'm sorry!" she said, further noting, "I want to officially state on the record that I'm so sorry Lola, I really didn't mean to ruin your car!"
Family History of Racing Incidents
The crash evokes memories of a near-fatal accident involving her father, Richard Hammond, two decades ago. While filming Top Gear, he suffered brain injuries after crashing a jet-powered dragster at high speed, leading to a two-week coma that shocked the nation.
Reflecting on this, Izzy revealed her immediate concern post-crash was reassuring her father. She told reporters, "My first thought when I was sat in that wall was, 'Oh my god, everyone's watching, my dad's watching. He's going to cry or something. Can someone just tell him I'm ok?'"
Despite the concussion and vehicle damage, Izzy remains positive, emphasising her safety and gratitude for the support received. The incident highlights the inherent risks in motorsport, even as she continues to pursue her racing career with resilience.
