Season Status Season 12 · Complete
Drivers' Champion Pascal Wehrlein
Teams' Champion Jaguar TCS Racing
Manufacturers' Champion Porsche
Next Season Starts December 18, 2026 (121 days)
Formula E

TheBurntChip triumphs at Formula E EVO Sessions in Jeddah as Izzy Hammond walks away from high-speed crash.

By Courtland Fugère · February 15, 2026 · 4 min read
STORY CHARGE — ANALYSIS

The line between digital content creation and professional motorsport temporarily blurred this afternoon in Jeddah, as Formula E’s EVO Sessions returned for a dramatic second season.

In the event, TheBurntChip (Josh Larkin) claimed the crown, narrowly edging out Sidemen star Behzinga (Ethan Payne). However, the day was marked by high drama as Izzy Hammond, the daughter of The Grand Tour and Top Gear star Richard Hammond, walked away from a heavy collision with the barriers.

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 15: A mechanic pushes the car of Behzinga of Team Senor Frogs and DS PENSKE into the garage during the Jeddah Formula E EVO Sessions at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on February 15, 2026 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Jed Leicester/LAT Images).

Following a successful debut in Miami last year, Formula E returned with a bigger, faster iteration of EVO Sessions. The event saw two creator-led teams, Team Señor Frogs, led by Calfreezy, and Team QuickStars, led by Vikkstar, go head-to-head.

This saw the celebrity representatives put into the Formula E Gen3 Evo car, the same car used by the professional racers.

The competition followed Formula E’s knockout qualifying structure, culminating in a tense final between TheBurntChip in a Jaguar TCS Racing Car, and Behzinga driving a DS Penske.

While Behzinga put in a good lap, it was Chip who held his nerve. Having spent weeks analyzing braking zones and studying telemetry from Jaguar driver Mitch Evans, Larkin crossed the line with a winning time of 1:28.212, beating Payne by just over four tenths of a second.

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 15: Burnt Chip of Team Senor Frogs and Jaguar TCS Racing celebrates with his team mates in the Pitlane during the Jeddah Formula E EVO Sessions at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on February 15, 2026 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Jed Leicester/LAT Images)

I have been working very hard for it. It does mean a lot. Honestly, I put so many hours watching Mitch [Evans] and looking at videos of braking zones on my phone. I think it paid off in the end.

Josh Larkin (TheBurntChip)

The most heart-stopping moment of the broadcast occurred during the Duels. Izzy Hammond, driving for the Lola team, lost control heading into Turn 13.

Despite a strong start to her lap, Hammond was unable to slow the car sufficiently, resulting in a significant impact with the wall. The session was red-flagged, and thankfully, Hammond was cleared by medical staff and was able to joke about the incident, referencing her father Richard Hammond’s history of high-speed accidents.

My first thought was, ‘everyone’s watching, my dad is watching, he’s going to cry or something. Can someone just tell him that I’m okay!It wasn’t a small crash. If you’re going to crash, you’ve got to really crash… Richard did it, now I’ve done it. So now we’re even!

Izzy Hammond

She was not the only driver to struggle with the Jeddah street circuit. TikTok superstar Khaby Lame went off during his lap after appearing to forget the corner was coming up, while JUCA collided with the wall, forcing his retirement from the competition.

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 15: The car of Izzy Hammond of Team Senor Frogs and Lola Yamaha ABT Formula E Team after it was recovered during the Jeddah Formula E EVO Sessions at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on February 15, 2026 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Simon Galloway/LAT Images)

The EVO sessions continue to be a pivotal part of Formula E’s strategy to engage younger demographics. By putting the world’s biggest creators, with a combined reach of hundreds of millions, into the cockpit of the world’s fastest accelerating single-seater race car, the series is redefining how motorsport is consumed.

Images in this article are kindly provided by Formula E.

Courtland Fugère

Courtland Fugère is a lead writer and senior analyst at MotorWatts, specializing in the high-stakes world of Formula 1. With a keen eye for race strategy and championship dynamics, Courtland provides in-depth coverage of Grand Prix weekends, focusing on the tactical decisions that define the title fight. His reporting goes beyond the grid, offering critical analysis of team performance, driver rivalries, and the technical developments shaping modern F1. Whether dissecting Max Verstappen’s title charges or analyzing mid-field battles, Courtland brings a sharp, analytical perspective to the MotorWatts editorial team.

Join the discussion

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

In memory of Cyril Blais (1982–2026), Team Principal of Citroën.