Anthony Hamilton explains 'heart sank' reaction that prompted Isack Hadjar compassion

The father of Lewis Hamilton, Anthony, has shared what compelled him to console Isack Hadjar as the distraught driver returned to the F1 paddock in Melbourne.

The Frenchman crashed out on the formation lap of the Australian Grand Prix, his debut race in F1, after over-cooking his Racing Bulls car coming through Turn 2.

His VCARB 02 lost traction on the slippery white street markings of the temporary Albert Park Circuit, slamming backwards into the barriers and into retirement.

TV cameras picked up the tearful 20-year-old attempting to process the incident, keeping his helmet on to prevent the extent of his emotion being broadcast.

This caused Hamilton, whose son is Hadjar's racing hero, to greet him and give him some kind words of support, drawing from his personal experience of helping get the current Ferrari driver into F1.

"When I saw it happen, my heart just sank for him," he said to Sky Sports F1. "Not just for him, for his parents, for everything they've done to work hard to get to this one point, and it's like, snatched from you.

"I just felt terrible for him, so I thought you know what, I need to go and tell this kid: 'keep your head high, walk tall, you're gonna come back'.

"I think he's a phenomenal driver, I really do. I think there's more to come from Isack than we probably have seen this weekend."

Prior to the crash, Hadjar had fared well in Melbourne, growing into the weekend through the practice sessions before almost reaching Q3 during the grid-setting session. He was due to line up P11 for the race, on the cusp of the points positions.

However, not everyone was as sympathetic as Hamilton. Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko took exception to the Racing Bulls driver's reaction, labelling the emotional display "embarrassing" to witness.