Australian GP start marred by heartbreak for F1 rookies

Sunday's Australian GP began with a wave of heartbreak as treacherous wet conditions upended the race before it even started.

Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar suffered a gut-wrenching moment on the formation lap, spinning out at Turn 2 and crashing into the wall.

The impact shattered his rear wing, ending his debut race instantly.

Visibly devastated, the Frenchman trudged back through the paddock, helmet still on, only to be met with a consoling arm from Anthony Hamilton—father of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton—a gesture steeped in empathy from a man familiar with the sport’s highs and lows.

The misery didn’t end there. Once the race began, Alpine’s young Australian driver Jack Doohan fell victim to the same unforgiving conditions, losing control and slamming into the wall, his home Grand Prix over in a flash.

Meanwhile, chaos continued as the field lined up behind the Safety Car.

Last year’s Melbourne victor, Williams’ Carlos Sainz, spun off at Turn 14, adding to the early drama.

With teams and drivers untested on wet tracks in the 2025 cars - having only run in dry conditions prior to Sunday - the soaked circuit exposed their inexperience, turning the race’s opening into a brutal test of survival.

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