For most of the past three decades, the Formula 1 season kicked off in Victoria, Australia, specifically in Melbourne. That changed with the pandemic, which shifted the opening race to Bahrain. But now, Melbourne is back in the spotlight as the host.
“I’m thrilled to see it as the opener once again,” said Oscar Piastri, an Australian driver for McLaren, in a group interview last month. “Growing up, that’s how I remember Melbourne. It’s great to see it reclaim round one.”
This year, the Albert Park circuit, stretching 3.28 miles, will host its 28th Formula 1 race since taking over the Australian Grand Prix from Adelaide in 1996.
Stefano Domenicali, the chief executive of Formula 1, remarked, “The race has always been a favorite for the fans, drivers, and teams,” when the event secured its new deal in 2022. “Melbourne is a vibrant international city that fits perfectly with our sport.”
“We are very excited about the future in Australia as our sport continues to grow.”
Michael Schumacher, the seven-time world champion, holds the record for the most wins here, with four, while Ferrari and McLaren hold the team record with 11 victories each. Notably, McLaren will run with one of Australia’s local talents, Oscar Piastri, alongside Jack Doohan from Alpine. Jack is gearing up for only his second Formula 1 race and is the son of Mick Doohan, the five-time MotoGP world champion.
While Melbourne has often been the curtain-raiser for 22 seasons, it ceded the spot to Bahrain in 2006 due to the Commonwealth Games. In 2010, broadcast schedules saw Melbourne pushed to the second race to align with European audiences. The pandemic further disrupted the tradition, with the 2020 race being canceled just days before it was scheduled, and 2021’s event was skipped due to lockdowns. It wasn’t until 2022 that it was back on the calendar, albeit as the third round.
The Bahrain Grand Prix had stepped up as the opener, while from 2022 to 2024, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix provided logistical benefits by being the second race. But with Ramadan extending into March this year, the F1 calendar has shuffled yet again.
“The choice of the season opener hinges a lot on when the season starts and when Ramadan falls,” said Travis Auld, the CEO of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation. “This year, it just aligned perfectly for us to kick things off.”
Melbourne’s track is uniquely set around Albert Park’s boating lake, adapting public roads into a racing circuit. “We’re essentially a big festival within a park,” explained Auld. “The setting is incredible, with 400 acres of parklands.”
The race’s infrastructure is both temporary and distinctive. Paddock personnel navigate pontoon bridges, while all grandstand seats are temporary structures. The sole permanent buildings are the paddock pit buildings, which double as the corporation’s offices, with the Paddock Club hospitality suite atop them.
“Back in 2019, we had around 29,000 grandstand seats,” Auld shared. “Now, that just shows how much we’ve grown.” Attendance for the 2024 event reached 452,000, up from 324,000 in 2019, contributing an estimated $170 million annually to Victoria from tourism. Looking ahead, there’s optimism for further growth, with Melbourne’s race calendar set until 2037.
Any future expansions “must be managed carefully,” Auld emphasizes, so as not to strain facilities like restrooms and concessions. Factors like being first on the calendar factor into the event’s increased pull. “There’s a fervor for F1 globally right now,” he added. “Melbourne thrives on huge events, as seen with the Australian Open.”
“There are countless F1 storylines this year,” Auld noted. “There’s excitement about Oscar Piastri’s prospects for a podium spot, and the return of the Doohan name in racing is monumental for Australia. Introducing Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari red also generates interest, especially among our substantial Italian community. Plus, it’s F1’s 75th anniversary.”
With a new Formula 1 contract set for 2026, Melbourne is poised to host the season opener at least five times. “There are elements in our contract about the number of opening races,” added Auld. “But, frankly, they’re influenced by numerous factors. Ultimately, we aim to excel when given the chance to launch the season.”
