Dramatic start at Australian Grand Prix as Hadjar, Doohan, and Sainz crash out

Dominika Jordan
Mar 16, 2025, 06:04 AM ET

The Australian Grand Prix began with chaos as Isack Hadjar, Jack Doohan, and Carlos Sainz all crashed out within the first lap. Treacherous weather conditions, including rain, limited running in support categories, setting the stage for a dramatic start.

Isack Hadjar, starting from 11th on the grid, spun into the barriers at Turn 2, damaging the rear wing of his Racing Bulls entry. This led to a delay before the race officially began. Hadjar explained the mishap, saying, “Early in the lap, you try to warm the tires and I overdid it. It’s the tiniest mistake you can make and the car is just unsavable. It feels terrible.” A visibly distraught Hadjar received comfort from Lewis Hamilton's father, Anthony, who offered encouraging words.

After a 15-minute delay and an additional formation lap, the race resumed only for further incidents to occur. Jack Doohan was the next driver to crash, losing control of his Alpine on the run to Turn 6 due to rear tire spin. Adding to the drama, Carlos Sainz lost control of his Williams at the final corner and collided with the wall.

Reflecting on his early exit, Doohan stated, “I didn’t really understand what happened until I got back. Whether it was the white line or the inters not up to temperature, it just spun out as I upshifted to fourth. Lesson learned. We’ll regroup for the Shanghai race next weekend.”

The early chaos demonstrated that the challenging conditions affected not just rookies but experienced drivers as well, setting a dramatic tone for the race.