Carlos Sainz was one of many casualties at the Australian GP, uncharacteristically spinning out on lap 3 under Safety Car conditions. Another victim of the uncertain conditions was Isack Hadjar, who crashed out in the formation lap.
Having qualified better than any other rookie in P11, the Frenchman was understandably devastated after committing such an error.
Following the race, however, Red Bull’s Helmut Marko described Hadjar’s tears after the incident as “a bit embarrassing.”
Speaking to the media in China, Carlos Sainz has come to the 20-year-old’s defence.
Sainz, Hadjar amongst Australia casualties
With five rookies on the grid, mistakes are likely to be a recurring theme over the coming weeks and months.
This is not to suggest rookies cannot deliver strong results, as evidenced by Kimi Antonelli’s phenomenal rise from P16 to P4 in Melbourne.
Still, drivers are constantly learning in their debut campaigns – especially in wet conditions such as those in Australia.
15.03.2025. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 1, Australian Grand Prix, Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia, Qualifying Day.
Isack Hadjar was caught out unexpectedly at round one, though he certainly wasn’t the only casualty of Albert Park’s unforgiving conditions.
Even hugely experienced drivers like Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz – albeit due to varying factors – found themselves in the wall.
Like any young driver, the 20-year-old is under significant pressure to establish himself as an F1-calibre driver.
As part of the notoriously unpredictable Red Bull driver programme, Hadjar is arguably in a less forgiving environment than many of his peers.
Perhaps because of this, the public response to Helmut Marko’s “embarrassing” remarks was relatively strong.
Carlos Sainz: “Those emotions are always there”
Several drivers across the field were at one stage part of the Red Bull academy, including Carlos Sainz.
The Spaniard has spoken candidly in previous years about the pressurised environment at the Milton Keynes set-up.
His experiences are not just limited to his years with Toro Rosso, but also his time as a junior driver in Formula 2.
15.03.2025. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 1, Australian Grand Prix, Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia, Qualifying Day.
This perhaps makes Sainz better qualified than most to speak about the mental strain drivers experience – particularly as rookies.
The 30-year-old was asked by the media in Shanghai whether Hadjar’s tears were ’embarrassing’ or understandable:
“Understandable, completely understandable. You have so many other drivers going through the same emotions.
“Some choose to show it publicly, others don’t. But the reality is those emotions are always there
“It’s just a matter whether you want people to see it or not.
“In this case, Isack I guess couldn’t avoid everyone seeing it because of the situation he was in.”
Sainz raises an important point in this scenario, given that Isack Hadjar could not prevent the cameras from following him in the paddock.
Regardless, his reaction to the incident is hardly something new, as Carlos Sainz underlines:
“He tried I guess by keeping his helmet, which is a reaction that we’ve seen many drivers do in the past.
“And yeah, I’ve never heard it being criticised.”
