The Albert Park Circuit is a motorsport street circuit around Albert Park Lake in the suburb of Albert Park in Melbourne. It is used annually as a circuit for the Formula One Australian Grand Prix, the supporting Supercars Championship Melbourne SuperSprint and other associated support races. The circuit has an FIA Grade 1 licence.[1]
Although the entire track consists of normally public roads, each sector includes medium to high-speed characteristics more commonly associated with dedicated racetracks facilitated by grass and gravel run-off safety zones that are reconstructed annually. However, the circuit also has characteristics of a street circuit's enclosed nature due to concrete barriers annually built along the Lakeside Drive curve, in particular, where run-off is not available due to the proximity of the lake shore.[2]
The circuit uses everyday sections of road that circle Albert Park Lake, a small man-altered lake (originally a large lagoon formed as part of the ancient Yarra River course) just south of the Central Business District of Melbourne. The road sections that are used were rebuilt before the inaugural event in 1996 to ensure consistency and smoothness. As a result, compared to other circuits that are held on public roads, the Albert Park track has quite a smooth surface. Before 2007 there existed only a few other places on the Formula 1 calendar with a body of water close to the track. Many of the new tracks, such as Valencia, Singapore and Abu Dhabi are close to a body of water.
The course is considered to be quite fast and relatively easy to drive, drivers having commented that the consistent placement of corners allows them to easily learn the circuit and achieve competitive times. However, the flat terrain around the lake, coupled with a track design that features few true straights, means that the track is not conducive to overtaking or easy spectating unless in possession of a grandstand seat.[3] [4]
Each year, most of the trackside fencing, pedestrian overpasses, grandstands, and other motorsport infrastructure are erected approximately two months before the Grand Prix weekend and removed within 6 weeks after the event. The land around the circuit (including a large aquatic centre, a golf course, a Lakeside Stadium, some restaurants, and rowing boathouses) has restricted access during that entire period. Dissent is still prevalent among nearby residents and users of those other facilities, and some still maintain a silent protest against the event. Nevertheless, the event is reasonably popular in Melbourne and Australia (with a large European population and a general interest in motorsport). Middle Park, the home of South Melbourne FC was demolished in 1994 due to expansion at Albert Park.[5]
The Grand Prix regularly draws crowds of over 270,000 spectators, with the 2024 drawing a record crowd of 452,055, including 132,106 on the main raceday.[6] There has never been a night race at Albert Park, although the 2009 and 2010 events both started at 5:00 p.m. local time. The current contract for the Grand Prix at the circuit concludes in 2035.[7]
Following the postponement of the Australian Grand Prix in 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the track underwent layout changes, the most notable part was the modification of the turn 9–10 complex from a heavy right-left corner to a fast-sweeping right-left corner into turns 11 and 12. Further modifications included the widening of the pit lane by and the reprofiling of turn 13.[8] Also, some corners were widened such as turn 1, turn 3, turn 6, turn 7, and turn 15. The 2022 pole position lap time was 2.6 seconds quicker than in 2019.
During the nine months of the year when the track is not required for Grand Prix preparation or the race weekend, most of the track can be driven by ordinary street-registered vehicles either clockwise or anti-clockwise.
Only the sections between turns 3, 4, and 5, then 5 and 6, differ significantly from the race track configuration. Turn 4 is replaced by a car park access road running directly from turns 3 to 5. Between turns 5 and 6, the road is blocked. It is possible to drive from turn 5 on to Albert Road and back on to the track at turn 7 though three sets of lights control the flow of this option. The only set of lights on the actual track is halfway between turns 12 and 13, where drivers using Queens Road are catered for. The chicanes at turns 11 and 12 are considerably more open than that used in the Grand Prix, using the escape roads. Turn 9 is also a car park and traffic is directed down another escape road.
The speed limit is generally 40km/h, while some short sections have a speed limit of 50km/h, which is still slower than an F1 car under pit lane speed restrictions. The back of the track, turns 7 to 13 inclusive, is known as Lakeside Drive. Double lines separate the two-way traffic along most of Lakeside Drive with short road islands approximately every which means overtaking is illegal here. Black Swans live and breed in Albert Park, and frequently cross the road causing traffic delays, sometimes with up to five cygnets (young swans).
Approximately 80% of the track edge is lined with short parkland-style chain-linked fencing leaving normal drivers less room for error than F1 drivers have during race weekend. There is however substantial shoulder room between the outside of each lane and the fencing, which is used as parking along Aughtie Drive during the other nine months.
Prior to World War II, attempts were made to use Albert Park for motor racing. The first was in 1934 but failed due to opposition, and a second attempt for a motorcycle race in 1937 similarly failed. Finally in 1953 the Light Car Club of Australia were able to secure use of the circuit for that year's Australian Grand Prix.[9]
Albert Park is the only venue to host the Australian Grand Prix in both World Championship and non-World Championship formats with an earlier configuration of the current circuit used for the race on two occasions during the 1950s. During this time racing was conducted in an anti-clockwise direction[10] as opposed to the current circuit which runs clockwise.
Known as the Albert Park Circuit,[11] the original 3.125miles course hosted a total of six race meetings:[12]
The November 1958 meeting was the last on the original incarnation of the circuit, as it closed shortly after.[9]
As of March 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Albert Park Circuit are listed as:[26] [27] [28]
| Category | Driver | Vehicle | Time | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix Circuit (2021–present): 5.278 km | ||||
| 1:19.813 | 24 March 2024 | |||
| 1:30.712 | 2 April 2023 | |||
| 1:34.405 | 2 April 2023 | |||
| 1:40.3696[29] | 8 April 2022 | |||
| 1:46.006[30] | 9 April 2022 | |||
| 1:47.9868[31] | 1 April 2023 | |||
| Grand Prix Circuit (1996–2020): 5.303 km | ||||
| 1:24.125 | ||||
| 1:49.246 | March 1998 | |||
| 1:50.8640[32] | 30 March 2006 | |||
| 1:54.6975[33] | 28 March 2010 | |||
| 1:54.7311[34] | 22 March 2018 | |||
| 1:55.541 | 17 March 2013 | |||
| 1:55.7280[35] | 15 March 2019 | |||
 Cooper Murray | 1:58.3294[36] | 16 March 2019 | ||
| Renaldi Hutasoit | 2:00.0713[37] | 25 March 2018 | ||
| 2:00.685[38] | 8 March 2003 | |||
| 2:02.1683[39] | 17 March 2019 | |||
| 2:03.547 | 8 March 1997 | |||
| 2:04.4805[40] | 27 March 2010 | |||
| 2:05.9644[41] | 15 March 2019 | |||
| Terry Lawlor | 2:07.9622 | 15 March 2015 | ||
| James Small | 2:16.0196[42] | 15 March 2008 | ||
| 2:17.7962 | 29 March 2009 | |||
| Milton Seferis | 2:18.9539[43] | 14 March 2015 | ||
| Grant Johnson | 2:22.3877[44] | 1 April 2006 | ||
| Original Circuit (1953–1958): 5.027 km | ||||
| 1:50.0 | 30 November 1958 | |||
| 1:55.8[45] | 25 November 1956 | |||