Watch: Isack Hadjar's crash at Australian Grand Prix as Lando Norris wins

Isack Hadjar’s crash on the formation lap of the Australian Grand Prix set the stage for a dramatic and incident-packed race, as the rookie’s misfortune triggered a series of events that reshaped the race in Melbourne.

The Racing Bull driver, in his first full season, lost control of his car at Turn Two, damaging the vehicle and forcing him to retire from the race before it even began. The Frenchman stood in disbelief on the track, reportedly in tears, as his F1 debut was cut short.

The crash resulted in a 15-minute delay as the recovery operation took place, but it was just the beginning of a chaotic race. Hadjar’s misfortune was followed by another rookie error, as Australian Jack Doohan crashed his Alpine shortly after the race resumed, while multiple other incidents—including crashes by Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso—saw the deployment of several safety cars throughout the race.

Despite the early setbacks, McLaren’s Lando Norris seized the opportunity to take control, eventually holding off Max Verstappen for his fifth career victory. Meanwhile, Hadjar’s team, Red Bull, had to contend with the unpredictable conditions that brought about the crashes and chaos, highlighting the risks faced by rookie drivers in Formula 1.

Hadjar’s early exit from the Australian GP will undoubtedly serve as a tough learning experience for the young driver as he aims to recover in the coming races. The Australian GP, already one of the most unpredictable races of the season, showcased the pressures that rookies face in their first full season in F1.

F1 heads straight to China for the next round, a sprint weekend featuring a shortened race on Saturday at 03:00 GMT, followed by the main event on Sunday, 23 March, at 07:00 GMT.