Isack Hadjar, Jack Doohan and Carlos Sainz all crash out after less than a lap as Australian Grand Prix gets off to dramatic start

The Australian Grand Prix got off to a chaotic start, with Isack Hadjar, Jack Doohan and Carlos Sainz all crashing out before the end of lap one.

The formation lap began in treacherous conditions after rain had caused limited running in the support categories, with only F3 completing any racing laps.

LIVE: Australian Grand Prix lap-by-lap coverage

Hadjar followed the pack through Turn 1 from his 11th place grid slot, but lit up his rear Pirelli tyres in Turn 2 and spun into the barriers, causing significant damage to the rear wing of his Racing Bulls entry.

Such was the damage that his day came to an end before the Australian Grand Prix had even begun, with the start delayed as a result.

‘It feels terrible’ – Distraught Hadjar explains his formation lap crash

“Usually, I take it step by step and we were keen on having the best out-lap possible for the race start,” said Hadjar afterwards. “Early in the lap, you try to warm the tyres and I overdid it. It’s the tiniest mistake you can do and the car is just unsavable and you’re just a passenger. It feels terrible.”

Visibly distraught trackside and walking back through the paddock, Lewis Hamilton's father Anthony was seen approaching Hadjar to put a comforting arm around the 20-year-old.

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Asked what he had said to him, Hadjar added: “Just ‘keep your head high’. I think he knows what tough times are and I think he sees a rookie putting it in the wall on not even lap one and he knows how tough it feels. He came to comfort me and I think it was a really nice gesture from him.

“Nevertheless, it feels really hard and I feel really sorry for the team.”

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 16: Isack Hadjar of France driving the (6) Visa Cash App Racing Bulls — Jack Doohan crashed out on the first racing lap of the race

Following the 15-minute delay and an additional formation lap, the race soon got underway in Melbourne but more drama was to follow.

The Safety Car was soon called out to the track after only a single lap, with Jack Doohan the next driver to find the barriers on the run to Turn 6 as the rear tyres of his Alpine appeared to spin up with a gear shift.

With the field neutralised, Carlos Sainz proved that conditions weren’t tricky only for the rookie drivers, as he lost the rear end of his Williams at the final corner and collided with the wall.

Explaining his exit, Doohan said: “I didn’t really understand what happened, to be honest, until I got back. Just looking at it, whether it was the white line, the inters not up to temperature, it just seemed as I upshifted to fourth I lost the car.

“Lesson learned and I made sure that I spent some time with the boys to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.

“We have a race weekend already next weekend in Shanghai, so we’re going to regroup, keep our heads high. We’ve had a strong package this weekend, very strong yesterday afternoon, so we need to keep strong and bounce back next weekend.”