HISTORY OF THE CIRCUIT

The Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, Australia, has a rich history and has undergone significant changes since its inception.

The original Albert Park Circuit hosted local races from 1953 to 1958, running in an anti-clockwise direction. It was revived in the early 1990s as part of a plan by then-state premier Jeff Kennett to boost Melbourne's profile through major international events, including securing the F1 Australian Grand Prix from Adelaide.

The modern circuit, which opened in 1996, incorporated many of the original roads, although it now runs clockwise. It features a mix of public roads and purpose-built sections, including a permanent pit area. The layout has been updated several times, most notably in 2021, when several corners were reprofiled or removed to enhance overtaking opportunities and improve the flow of the circuit. The most recent changes also included widening the pit lane and resurfacing the track.

Throughout its modern history, the Albert Park Circuit has hosted numerous memorable races:

• 1996: The inaugural Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit saw Damon Hill win for Williams-Renault, marking the start of Melbourne's stint as the host city, taking over from Adelaide.
• 2004: Michael Schumacher won his last race at Albert Park Circuit.
• 2009: The race saw a dramatic finish with Jenson Button winning in the debut race for the Brawn GP team, which emerged from the ashes of Honda's F1 team.
• 2010: Jenson Button won again, this time with McLaren, in a race marked by challenging weather conditions and strategic tyre changes.
• 2014: The introduction of the turbo-hybrid engines marked a new era in F1, with Nico Rosberg winning for Mercedes. This race also saw Daniel Ricciardo finish second, only to be disqualified later for a fuel flow rate infringement.
• 2016: The race featured a massive crash involving Fernando Alonso and Esteban Gutiérrez, from which Alonso walked away unscathed. Nico Rosberg took the victory in a season that would see him win his only World Championship.
• 2020: The Grand Prix was cancelled at the last minute due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marking an unprecedented event in the race's history. This cancellation underscored the global impact of the pandemic on major sporting events.
• 2022: After two years of cancellations due to COVID-19, the Grand Prix returned with new track modifications aimed at improving overtaking opportunities. Charles Leclerc won the race for Ferrari, showcasing the team's resurgence.

The circuit is known for its picturesque setting around Albert Park Lake and for drawing large crowds, with a record attendance of over 450,000 in 2024.

When the Grand Prix is not being held, most of the track is open to the public, allowing everyday drivers to experience a piece of Formula 1 history, albeit at much lower speeds.

The winners of the F1 Grand Prix races held in Melbourne:

1996: Damon Hill (Williams)
1997: David Coulthard (McLaren)
1998: Mika Häkkinen (McLaren)
1999: Eddie Irvine (Ferrari)
2000: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
2001: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
2002: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
2003: David Coulthard (McLaren)
2004: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
2005: Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault)
2006: Fernando Alonso (Renault)
2007: Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari)
2008: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2009: Jenson Button (Brawn)
2010: Jenson Button (McLaren)
2011: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2012: Jenson Button (McLaren)
2013: Kimi Räikkönen (Lotus)
2014: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2015: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2016: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2017: Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
2018: Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
2019: Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
2020: Cancelled due to COVID-19
2021: Cancelled due to COVID-19
2022: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
2023: Max Verstappen ​(Red Bull)
2024: Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)