About Albert Park
The Albert Park Circuit is a motorsport street circuit around Albert Park Lake, only a few kilometres south of central Melbourne. It is used annually as a racetrack for the Formula One Australian Grand Prix, the supporting Supercars Championship, and other associated support races. The circuit has a valid FIA Grade 1 license. Although it is a street circuit, the track is quite fast and flowing, utilizing public roads that are closed for the event.
The track was first used for Formula One in 1996, replacing Adelaide as the host of the Australian Grand Prix. It is known for being a semi-permanent venue; the infrastructure is erected and dismantled each year. The circuit rewards cars with good change of direction and high downforce, but the dusty surface at the start of the weekend often leads to a high degree of track evolution.
The lakeside setting provides a picturesque backdrop unique in the F1 calendar. Over the years, the layout has seen modifications to increase overtaking opportunities, including widening several corners and removing the chicane at Turns 9 and 10 in 2021. It remains a favorite among drivers and fans alike for its festival atmosphere and challenging nature.
The venue is managed by the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, a statutory body of the Victorian state government, under a contract that runs until 2037 following a 2022 extension announced by Premier Daniel Andrews. Because the circuit uses public roads through a working urban park, roughly 2,700 trees and 43 hectares of lawn are protected under a special environmental covenant that forbids permanent kerbing or grandstands more than 12 metres tall. The Adelaide-to-Melbourne switch of the Australian round in 1996 was itself decided by a single vote inside the state's Sports and Recreation Committee, and the losing South Australian bid team famously left the meeting without shaking hands. Race weekend generates roughly 448 million Australian dollars in economic activity for the wider Port Phillip region according to the Corporation's 2023 audited figures.