The Grand Prix has been held at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne since 1996; prior to that, Adelaide served as the venue.
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The Victoria State Government announced on Thursday that it had secured a two-year extension to the 10-year agreement it had earlier this year, ensuring that the Australian Grand Prix would continue at least until 2037. The Grand Prix has been held at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne since 1996; prior to that, Adelaide served as the venue. The race returned this year after taking a break due to the COVID-19 pandemic and attracted a record-breaking 419,000 spectators, an Australian sporting weekend.
“The Labor Government has secured Melbourne as host of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix for an additional two years, with the global racing event to be held in the nation’s sporting capital until at least 2037,” read a statement on State Premier Daniel Andrews’s website.
“The extension comes on top of the 10-year deal already secured by the Labor Government earlier this year. Part of the deal will see Melbourne host the first race of the Formula 1 season for at least four years between 2023 and 2037, with Saudi Arabia to host the first race of the 2024 Formula 1 season out of respect for Ramadan.”
Bahrain is slated to start the 2023 season as well. Australia will take part in a record-breaking 23-race schedule in 2019. If Formula One can find a replacement for the China Grand Prix, which was postponed earlier this month due to Covid, that number would increase to 24. Portugal and Turkey are potential replacements, but the choice will be made based on financial considerations. In 2020 and 2021, Portugal held a Grand Prix at Portimao. In 2021, Istanbul Park last hosted a Grand Prix.
