Under-pressure Formula 1 rookie Jack Doohan suffered a dramatic early exit at the Australian Grand Prix, crashing out in the opening moments of the race. The Alpine F1 driver lost control coming out of Turn 5 after touching the wet painted lines, sending his car into the barriers and triggering a Safety Car deployment.
Adding to the chaos, Carlos Sainz—last year’s Australian GP winner—also crashed out under Safety Car conditions, spinning into the wall at the final corner. Their incidents contributed to a turbulent start in Melbourne, which had already seen rookie Isack Hadjar spin out on the formation lap, forcing an aborted start.
Early Setback for Jack Doohan in Home Race
Doohan’s crash is a significant setback at his home race, as pressure mounts on the Australian to secure his seat at Alpine F1. With speculation that Franco Colapinto—signed as a reserve driver—could replace him if results don’t improve, Doohan’s early exit only intensifies scrutiny over his performance.
Sky Sports’ Martin Brundle commented on Doohan’s crash, stating, “That would have shocked him. He’s accelerated gently, but the torque has loosened the rear axle and boom—he’s gone.”
With three drivers out by the end of Lap 1, the Australian Grand Prix 2024 got off to a chaotic start before resuming on Lap 8.
