MOTORSPORT: Australian Grand Prix locked in until 2035
Support race program to receive major overhaul under 10-year extension of AGP dealThe future of the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park has been locked in until 2035, following the 10-year extension of the deal between Formula 1, the Australian Grand Prix Corporation and the Victorian government.
In revealing the fresh contract, F1 noted the extensive changes made to the venue in recent years, plus the promise of further improvements to enhance the fan experience and facilities, including to the pitlane and paddock.
“I am delighted to confirm that Melbourne and the Albert Park circuit will continue to be on the Formula 1 calendar until 2035,” said Formula 1 president and CEO, Stefano Domenicali.
“The race has always been a favourite for the fans, drivers and the teams and Melbourne is an incredible and vibrant international city that is a perfect match for our sport.
“This year we saw huge crowds and passionate fans at the Grand Prix, and we are very excited by the future in Australia as our sport continues to grow.”
From a local perspective, the announcement adds a level of certainty against a world F1 championship calendar that is near capacity, with this year’s record-breaking 23-event schedule paring back to 22 races following the cancellation of the Russian Grand Prix.
“This is a sensational announcement that is simply great for Melbourne and Victoria,” said Andrew Westacott, CEO of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.
“It builds on our rich motorsport history as well as Melbourne’s love of big sporting events and provides aspiration to the next generation of Aussie racing stars.
“Everyone at the Australian Grand Prix Corporation looks forward to taking the Formula One Australian Grand Prix to new levels over the course of the next 13 years.”
The other significant portion of the announcement is that from 2023, F1’s primary support classes, F2 and F3, will make the journey to Australia for the first time.
Both categories have experienced an antipodean flavour in recent times, with Aussie Oscar Piastri claiming the F3 title in 2020, before being victorious in F2 last year, with the current rumour mill placing him in a seat at Williams F1 from the upcoming British Grand Prix.
This season, F2 features Australians Jack Doohan and Calan Williams, plus New Zealanders Liam Lawson and Marcus Armstrong.
Uniquely, the Australian Grand Prix undercard has typically been filled with local categories, which this year included Supercars, Carrera Cup and S5000, with details of the ongoing participation of these classes still to be confirmed.
Only once previously has a major F1 support act raced at Albert Park, when in 1999 the global Porsche Supercup visited the venue.
Albert Park has a rich motorsport heritage dating back to the 1950s, when the venue hosted a series of notable races, including a pair of non-world title AGPs that were won by Doug Whiteford and Sir Stirling Moss.
The facility returned to prominence in 1996 when Victoria claimed the hosting rights for the local F1 round from South Australia.
A run of 24 events followed, with the Friday morning cancellation of the 2020 meet the first major event to be cancelled at the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc won the Australian Grand Prix for Ferrari in front of 419,000 fans, a weekend attendance record.
The F1 season continues this weekend with the Canadian Grand Prix.
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