It’s been nearly thirty years since the world of Formula 1 witnessed one of its most harrowing moments – the horrific accident involving Mika Hakkinen at the 1995 Australian Grand Prix. Traveling at a staggering speed of 200kph, the Finnish racing prodigy’s McLaren hit a wall, inflicting severe injuries that had him fighting for his life.
Mika Hakkinen, dubbed the ‘Flying Finn,’ was a strong contender for the race win. However, a dramatic crash during Friday’s qualifying rounds left him battling for survival. His McLaren MP4/10C encountered a sudden left rear puncture during the qualifying laps, causing Hakkinen to spin out of control. His car hit a kerb, took flight, and crashed into the tyre barrier at an alarming speed of around 200kph.
In his third season with McLaren, Hakkinen hit his head on the steering wheel, snapping it in half, before colliding with the cockpit edge. The impact fractured his skull, left him unresponsive and blocked his airway. In a stroke of luck, FIA doctor Sid Watkins, and an intensive care specialist who was in the crowd watching the qualifying rounds, rushed to the scene and performed an emergency tracheotomy, saving Hakkinen’s life.
Hakkinen later recounted his harrowing experience to MTV: “I remember sitting in the car, trying to move my hands, but I couldn’t. I tried again and again, realizing the severity of what had happened. I remember the pain, the inability to move, and knowing I needed to stay calm and let the medical team do their work.”
The hospital was just 200 meters from the accident site, another fortuitous circumstance on that fateful day. In the film ‘Motorsport Heroes’ for Motorsport.TV, Hakkinen touched on the aftermath: “I was in a coma for a few days. When I woke up, the reality hit me hard. The nerve damage from the impact had left one side of my face paralyzed. During my five-week stay, I underwent tests for taste and smell.”
Following his return to London a month post-crash and then to Monaco, FIA doctor Watkins played a significant role in Hakkinen’s rehabilitation program. Hakkinen recalled the struggle, both mentally and physically, to get back behind the wheel. Despite severe headaches and persisting issues with his face and hearing, his determination remained unshaken.
When Hakkinen finally got back in the car, he felt a sense of belonging. In a triumphant return, he clocked a time half a second faster than Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari the day before. Two years from that day in Adelaide, Hakkinen won his first Grand Prix for McLaren at the 1997 European Grand Prix, and went on to secure back-to-back world titles in 1998 and 1999.
The accident left a lasting impact on Hakkinen and all those involved. Ron Dennis, then McLaren team boss, considered it his “worst” moment ever in Formula 1. He was deeply affected by the possibility that a driver could have died in his car. This incident also impacted McLaren’s dynamics when David Coulthard joined as Hakkinen’s teammate in 1996. Coulthard noted a deep-rooted bond between Dennis and Hakkinen, which he perceived as preferential treatment.
Hakkinen never returned to the Adelaide circuit in Formula 1. His first race back was at the 1996 Australian Grand Prix, held at the Albert Park circuit. Hakkinen retired from his Formula 1 career at the end of the 2001 season, leaving an impressive track record of 20 wins, 50 podiums, and two World titles. His resilience and triumph over adversity continue to inspire.
