It's time! Time for my personal favorite Grand Prix of the year, and it just happens to be the very first race of the season. For the first time in what seems like ages too. And while Melbourne will inevitably lose it's slot back to Middle-Eastern carparks very soon again, let's enjoy this one for now.
For 2025, the exit kerbing has been modified, artificial turf behind the kerbing itself removed, and barriers moved and realigned. The line of TecPro barriers has also been extended. “There’s about a 90-metre kerb along there,” Mottram said of the exit of Turn 6, which feeds into the entry of Turn 7. What it’s been in the past is about 50-odd metres of that was a bevel kerb, which is more on the entry to [Turn] 7. What we’ve done now is actually just agree with the FIA that we change that whole kerb to a negative kerb the whole way, so you’re not having that kind of accelerating off that kerb once you hit the bevel. We added in half a metre of concrete verge before the gravel trap, again, just to allow a little bit of leeway there before getting into the gravel trap. And we’ve also moved back the barrier line there, the tyre bundles, the TecPro barriers, by two metres and actually added in more TecPro barriers at the end of that run and smoothened the taper to try and avoid that kind of bounce back into the track incidents that we’ve seen.”
Also "track invasion" has also been allowed again.
Cars hit track for the first time on Friday with Thursday, opening day of the four-day event, given over to local support categories, headlined by Supercars. Current forecasts predict cool but dry conditions to start proceedings, with an expected top of 23. Things will warm and brighten up on Friday, with a top of 29 on the cards as F1 heads out on track for the first time. The warmer conditions are expected to remain on Saturday, though there is a 40 percent chance of showers according to the Bureau of Meteorology. That is largely expected overnight and, while potentially making the Albert Park circuit greasy, forecasts suggest it should not otherwise interrupt proceedings for the first F1 qualifying session of the year.
However, the threat of rain during the day is real moving into Sunday. Temperatures are expected to fall slightly while the chance of any rain in Melbourne increases to 70 percent, with estimates of up to eight millimetres over the day. That is predicted to hit Melbourne in the afternoon, with the chance increasing from noon. The Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix begins at 15:00 local time and could, therefore, be the only wet running of the weekend.
Always expect something like the two Stewart’s on fire on the grid… in my mind Australia as the first race was always eventful. Probs rose tinted specs, but I’m cracking them open this weekend
Middle of the night too with the clocks not changing yet…. Even more special!
Nothing beats being up at silly o'clock for the first race of the season
More than a few years ago, we used to build the Australian GP into the weekend drinking session - start later than usual, night in a club, taxi out at about 3am back to whomever's house was hosting and then watch the F1 - both Friday and Saturday night in my more adventurous (read better at staving off a hangover) days....
Weather could play a major role here. But I'd rather have a boring weather to see the real pecking order.
Melbourne tends to produce an outlier order these days though. And I don't think there will be a generic pecking order this year - teams are so close it will likely change on circuits/temperatures/tyres/etc.
Lot of expectation here in Melbourne for this year's race - & good to be back in pole position to start the season off again, just feels right.
I won't be going this year due to some other commitments, but will be watching it live.
Tickets were sold out in something like 2 hours after going on sale - there really is a buzz around the event. Last year's crowd was something like 450,000 over the 4 days (similar to Silverstone) and they've added grandstands and viewing ares this year - could be a lot of people there.
In the meantime, there are local events that run all week as part of the build up, such as the weekend Porsche cars & coffee in South Melbourne, and the Stars of Karting race at Todd Road Kart track - both very close to Albert Park:
Weather looking good although possible showers forecast for Sunday - anyone who knows Melbourne however, knows that all that could change (& often does).
Weather looking good although possible showers forecast for Sunday - anyone who knows Melbourne however, knows that all that could change (& often does).
n the meantime, there are local events that run all week as part of the build up, such as the weekend Porsche cars & coffee in South Melbourne, and the Stars of Karting race at Todd Road Kart track - both very close to Albert Park:
Look at that. A real place with real people and real fans and real enthusiasm in a real city.
Despite Albert Park not being the venue that hosts exciting racing in Formula One, it is one of the best venues on the calendar in terms of fan attraction and being everything that a Grand Prix should be. Every year this race gets me excited.
Was a Public Holiday here yesterday, so I thought I would head to Albert Ppark before they closed it t the public at 12am. Was able to walk around the park and walk on some of the track which was open to pedestrians. Everything was looking awesome. There was a hive of activity with workers still tinkering around various parts of the track.
Bring it on! Had been planning to be there, but life got in the way . Will be home in front of the big screen when the lights go out though, hoping for some action and a good result for the local heroes!
Back in the day(late 90’s- 2000’s) 3AW would broadcast race week info and happenings 24/7. I sat in for a late night 30 minute session there with Crompo’s brother and we talked about the wild outfits some of the ladies wore along with where the Daily Planet had their annual “meet and greet”. After that we made a joke about the Pay and Display car park in the pit lane and got a bunch of irate calls to the station about it.
I don't know what you guys love about this track it's usually not that great.
Melbourne has thrown up some absolute crackers more often than not. It's maybe not the best for wheel to wheel racing, but it sure does give us an eventful race a lot of the time and a winner you weren't expecting before the weekend started.
Plus the fact that it was for a lot of time the season opener, with "green" cars, it usually has a high rate of attrition and high drama, contributing to its aura.
I've missed it maybe a handful of times, last year managed to snag last minute GA tickets and I was shocked at the size of the crowds, it's never been bigger
Looking forward to it, a beautiful and enjoyable place to start the season. I was going to say that very few circuits look as good in the sunshine as Melbourne, but having seen the forecast I'll not tempt fate.
Speaking of which, anyone have any memories of waking up mid-race to anything shocking, surprising or bewildering? For me it was Alonso's gigantic accident in 2016.
Speaking of which, anyone have any memories of waking up mid-race to anything shocking, surprising or bewildering? For me it was Alonso's gigantic accident in 2016.
Not mid-race but I remember back in 1999 when 15 year old me got up in the middle of the night, got some snacks and settled on the sofa. Drama straight away with the two Stewart’s on fire and I was psyched to see BAR win their maiden Grand Prix…
Fell asleep after a few laps and woke to the ITV news bulletin where they were saying how Eddie Irvine had won…
Had to wait til the afternoon to rewatch it after reading the race report on Teletext.
Speaking of which, anyone have any memories of waking up mid-race to anything shocking, surprising or bewildering? For me it was Alonso's gigantic accident in 2016.
This was the exact one I instantly thought of. I got the start time wrong and therefore when I switched on in the aftermath, I already knew he was okay because I saw that before the replays but it’s always a horrifying thing when you realise what you are looking at a scene and realise that what you’re seen isn’t *part* of a car but the whole thing twisted and compacted beyond belief.
Plus the fact that it was for a lot of time the season opener, with "green" cars, it usually has a high rate of attrition and high drama, contributing to its aura.
1999 was a classic example of this. That was a bonkers race.
Will Rui Marques again take care of everything?
. Will be home in front of the big screen when the lights go out though, hoping for some action and a good result for the local heroes! 
