Martin Brundle sends support to Lindsey Vonn after Olympic injury

Sky Sports F1 commentator Martin Brundle has publicly expressed his support for skiing legend Lindsey Vonn after she suffered a serious leg fracture during a crash at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. The incident occurred during the women’s downhill event, leading to Vonn being airlifted to a hospital for surgery. Brundle, a figure well-known to the F1 community, praised Vonn's bravery and determination in a social media post, highlighting the crossover of respect between elite athletes from different sporting worlds.

Why it matters:

While not a direct F1 story, the public support from a central figure like Brundle underscores the interconnected community of top-tier global sports. Vonn's presence at Grands Prix in recent years and her past considerations of a switch to motorsport create a tangible link to the F1 paddock, making her well-being of interest to its followers. Brundle's tribute also showcases the human side of the sport's personalities beyond their on-screen analysis roles.

The details:

• Lindsey Vonn, 41, crashed during the women's downhill competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics, resulting in a fractured left leg that required surgical intervention.
• Her participation had been under scrutiny, as she had ruptured ligaments in the same knee just nine days prior to the Olympic event.
• Brundle's Tribute: On social media, Brundle wrote, "Heal well Lindsey Vonn. What an incredibly brave, determined, and relentless competitor, you have my absolute respect."
• F1 Connections: Vonn has been a frequent guest at F1 races. In a 2020 interview, she revealed she once explored a potential move to Formula 1 but was dissuaded by the stringent multi-year commitment requirements, which included clauses about life decisions like pregnancy.
• Other Motorsport Links: The Olympics also feature former Sauber F1 test driver Simona de Silvestro, who is competing for Italy in the bobsleigh event, further connecting the winter games to the motorsport world.

What's next:

Vonn's focus will now be entirely on her recovery from the significant injury. The incident highlights the extreme risks athletes face at the highest level of competition, regardless of their sport. For the F1 community, it serves as a reminder of the shared respect among elite competitors and the intriguing 'what-if' scenarios, like Vonn's potential racing career, that occasionally link different sporting disciplines.