Sainz, who won the Australian Grand Prix last year driving for Ferrari, slid off the track at the final turn of the opening lap, which also claimed Alpine rookie Jack Doohan who lost grip at the exit turn five. The incidents brought out the safety car.

Carlos Sainz 's Williams F1 debut ended on the first lap of the Australian Grand Prix with a shocking safety car crash. Following only one lap of racing in Melbourne, three drivers on the grid had already crashed and were unable to compete in the rest of the grand prix as they struggled with the wet conditions.

Carlos Sainz believes he has “work to do” to extract the full potential of Williams’ 2025 Formula 1 car on soft tyres and secure a Q3 berth in qualifying.