Melbourne Misery: Hadjar Wipes Out on Formation Lap Drama

Isack Hadjar’s F1 debut ended in disaster as the French rookie crashed on the formation lap, leaving him “embarrassed and sorry” for his team.

French driver Isack Hadjar endured a heartbreaking debut in Formula 1, crashing out before even making it to the starting grid in Melbourne.

On a slippery Albert Park circuit, Hadjar lost control of his Racing Bulls VCARB 02 during the formation lap, spinning out and hitting the barriers rear-first. His race was over before it even began, delaying the Grand Prix start by nearly 15 minutes.

After a long, head-down walk back to the paddock, helmet still on, the young driver shared his disappointment with Canal+.

“I’m just embarrassed and really sorry for the team. During the laps to the grid, I could see the conditions were tricky, but I wasn’t expecting to end up in the wall. By the time we were set to go, things had actually improved.”

“The formation lap is where you need to build temperature in the tires… I just made a mistake. I can’t believe it.”

On his way back, Hadjar received a comforting pat on the back from Anthony Hamilton, father of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton—an emotional moment for the young Frenchman, who has long admired the British racing legend.

“He knows what tough moments feel like, and it was kind of him to come over. It hurts, but having someone there to support me meant a lot.”

A tough start for Hadjar, but a reminder that in F1, even the best have had their share of difficult days.