LEGENDS: Mika Hakkinen’s 1995 crash + incredible recovery

F1 Beyond The Grid

karenellenbevan

Leisure, Sports News, News, Sports, Technology, Automotive

4.8 • 5.2K Ratings

🗓️ 29 October 2025

⏱️ 38 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

30 years ago, a 120mph puncture sent Mika Hakkinen’s car spinning over a high kerb and into a wall of tyres. His McLaren did not have many of the safety devices modern F1 cars have. Mika suffered serious injuries which left him in hospital, unsure if he would ever race again.

Mika tells Tom Clarkson he thinks about his crash at the 1995 Australian Grand Prix every day, and he remembers the moment he lost control of the car and hit the wall vividly. He talks about his physical and mental recovery and the nerves he felt the first time he got back into a Formula 1 car after the crash.

Hakkinen returned to Formula 1 for the 1996 season, but says the crash had a lasting impact. He recalls how he shook off his doubts, rediscovered his speed and became strong enough to win the Formula 1 World Championship in 1998 and 1999.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is brought to you by Bit Defender, team partner of Ferrari.
0:04.6	Visit BitDefender.com to learn more about how BitDefender supports Ferrari to stay ahead of cyber threats
0:10.5	and how you can make your digital life safer.
0:25.8	Bicker Hackettan, world champion of 19 and 19th.
0:33.9	Mika Hakenan, achieving his dream of winning the Formula One World Championship and completing one of the sports greatest recoveries.
0:38.1	Because three years earlier, he suffered a crash which threatened more than just his
0:42.8	racing career.
0:44.5	I couldn't lift my arms.
0:46.8	I couldn't move my legs.
0:48.8	And I realized this is serious.
0:52.5	Serious enough to make him question his future.
0:56.7	I was looking all those years back.
1:00.5	What I have done in motor racing started when I was six years old, little boy.
1:05.2	I thought, I got so far in my career now.
1:08.7	I'm in a great team McLaren.
1:10.7	And it's no way I can just now give up.
1:13.5	I cannot. I cannot give up. This is F1 Beyond the Grid. I'm Tom Clarkson.
1:24.9	It's 30 years since that day in Adelaide when a puncher at 120 miles an hour sent Micah's
1:31.5	McLaren spinning over a high curb and into a wall of tyres. The crash and Micah's injuries
1:37.4	led to safety improvements which F1 drivers still benefit from today. Mika remembers the accident
1:43.8	and his recovery in hospital vividly.
1:47.0	We talked about the difficult decision on whether he would return to racing,
	...

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