Izzy Hammond's Terrifying 24G Formula E Crash in Jeddah
Izzy Hammond, the 25-year-old daughter of former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond, has spoken candidly about her serious crash during a Formula E Evo Sessions event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The incident occurred on Sunday at the modified Jeddah Corniche Circuit, where Izzy lost control of her car at Turn 13, slamming the right-hand side into a concrete barrier with a force measuring 24Gs.
Immediate Thoughts Turn to Father Richard
Despite the severity of the impact, which saw one wheel detach, a front wing destroyed, and debris scattered across the track, Izzy emerged physically unscathed. Her first words on the team radio were a repeated assurance: 'I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine.' However, in later reflections, she disclosed that her immediate concern was for her father, Richard Hammond, who was watching the event.
'My first thought when I was 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?!" Izzy recounted. 'It wasn't a small crash. If you're going to crash, you've got to really crash. I saw the wall coming and knew I was going to enter it at speed.'
Echoes of Richard Hammond's Near-Fatal Accidents
Izzy's crash evokes memories of her father's own harrowing experiences. In September 2006, Richard Hammond nearly died while filming a Top Gear stunt when a tyre on his Vampire jet car blew at 320mph, causing a crash that left him with serious head injuries and in a coma for two weeks. Former Top Gear producer Andy Wilman recalled the incident in 2024, describing it as a 'real wake-up' that prompted existential questions about the risks of television production.
Richard faced another life-threatening crash in June 2017 during filming for The Grand Tour 2 in Switzerland, where his £2 million supercar flipped and burst into flames, resulting in a fractured knee and other serious injuries. Thankfully, he recovered from both ordeals and has since been a supportive follower of his daughter's racing career.
Izzy's Post-Crash Response and Career
After the crash, Izzy took to Instagram to address her followers, explaining: 'Hey guys, I don't know if you saw but I crashed the f*** out of the car. Massive apologies to my team... I hit the wall with 24Gs. So my neck hurts a little bit, but I am absolutely fine... This stuff happens, and now I can say I'm a proper racing driver because I've had a monumental crash.'
Izzy, a University of Bristol graduate with a BA in English, has carved out a niche as a racing journalist and YouTuber, regularly appearing alongside her father. She joined DriveTribe in 2023, a platform founded by Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond, and is described as a 'cherished presenter' bringing a 'fresh perspective' to motoring content. With 279,000 Instagram followers, she also features on her father's Who We Are Now podcast, focusing on personal growth and mental health.
Formula E's Evo Sessions and Influencer Impact
The crash occurred during the Formula E Evo Sessions, an influencer-led event designed to broaden the sport's appeal. Izzy competed alongside notable content creators such as Joshua Larkin, William Lenney, and Khaby Lame. Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds emphasized the initiative's goal: 'The Evo Sessions are about bringing motorsport to places where it hasn't been before... opening up Formula E to hundreds of millions of new fans.'
Chief Marketing Officer Ellie Norman added: 'This is what the future of sport looks like. Content creators are how the new generation of fans discover and connect with sport... Evolving EVO to work with some of the world's biggest content creators is critical to our growth strategy.'
Prior to the crash, Izzy had expressed excitement during practice sessions, posting on Instagram: 'THAT WAS WILD (CAR IS THE RIGHT WAY UP AND NOT ON FIRE).' However, she also admitted to moments of fear, screaming 'F***, this is scary!' while on the track.
