HINCHCLIFFE: Hadjar had a nightmare start to his first F1 season – but might end it as the most celebrated rookie on the grid

When this year’s Formula 1 season kicked off in Melbourne the grid featured a highly touted – and unusually large – crop of rookies. You had Kimi Antonelli, the Mercedes wunderkind tasked with taking up the seat previously occupied by a seven-time World Champion.

Liam Lawson had been promoted to the Red Bull A-team after impressive runs with VCARB last season. Ollie Bearman likewise got the nod from Haas off the back of some super-sub performances for both the American team and Ferrari.