After missing out in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic and travel restrictions, Melbourne was reintroduced to the calendar this year.
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Organizers said on Monday that nearly 420,000 people attended the Australian Grand Prix weekend, setting a new attendance record for the track and one of the highest in the sport’s history. After missing out in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic and travel restrictions, Melbourne was reintroduced to the calendar this year.
The four-day event drew 419,114 spectators, breaking the previous record of 401,000 set at Melbourne’s inaugural grand prix in 1996. Despite the fact that no Formula One cars took to the track on Thursday, a record 128,294 people watched the race on Sunday, with 55,107 people showing up just to soak up the atmosphere.
Read More – Australian GP 2022: First race where we controlled the gap, says Charles Leclerc
The 400,000 who attended last year’s United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, which was Formula One’s highest attendance in 2021, were surpassed in Melbourne. However, they fell short of the 520,000 who flocked to Adelaide for the 1995 Australian Grand Prix, the last time the race was held there before it was moved to Melbourne.
The 2022 Australian Grand Prix was won by Charles Leclerc, consolidating his and Ferrari’s championship lead, while Max Verstappen retired for the second time in three races. Sergio Perez of Red Bull finished second, with Mercedes’ George Russell rounding out the podium. Melbourne’s first Australian Grand Prix in 1,100 days drew a sell-out crowd to Albert Park. On Sunday afternoon, they were treated to another thrilling show after an action-packed free practice and qualifying session.
Read More – Australian GP 2022: Charles Leclerc takes dominating win as Max Verstappen retires
Leclerc, who was also named Driver of the Day, was able to keep his rival Verstappen at bay thanks to two Safety Cars: the first after teammate Carlos Sainz spun out from P14 on Lap 2 and the second after Sebastian Vettel’s crash on Lap 23. On Lap 39, the threat vanished when Verstappen came to a halt with his engine on fire, allowing the Ferrari driver to cruise to victory over Perez while also setting the fastest lap.
“In Formula 1, it’s the first race where we controlled a little bit the gap,” the Monegasque said. “Honestly, what a car today. Of course, I did [well] all weekend, but it was not possible without the car. And this weekend, especially in the race pace, we were extremely strong. Tyres felt great from the first lap to the last lap, we were managing the tyres extremely well, and I am just so happy.”
