The start of the Australian Grand Prix has been delayed following a formation lap spin for rookie Isack Hadjar.
With heavy rain battering Melbourne, the field took to the formation lap on the intermediate tyres, but Racing Bulls' Hadjar spun out at Turn 2, backing the car into the barrier and destroying his rear-wing.
The French-Algerian racer was unharmed by the low-speed spin, although was in tears and will now not make his F1 debut in Australia and must wait until China next time out.
As he trudged back into the paddock, the distraught Hadjar was consoled by Lewis Hamilton's father, Anthony.
The recovery of the stricken car meant the start was aborted, with an extra formation lap set to start at 15:15 local time.
As a result of the extra formation lap, the race will be reduced to 57 laps from the planned 58.
At the actual start, on the first lap, two separate incidents then befell Jack Doohan and 2024 winner Carlos Sainz.
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