Albert Park Circuit

Albert Park Circuit
Albert Park Circuit (2021–present)
Map
Interactive track map
LocationAlbert Park, Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
AEDT (UTC+11:00 DST)
Coordinates37°50′59″S 144°58′6″E / 37.84972°S 144.96833°E / -37.84972; 144.96833
Capacity~125,000 (44,000 seating)[1][2]
FIA Grade1
Opened20 November 1953; 70 years ago (1953-11-20)
Re-opened: 7 March 1996; 28 years ago (1996-03-07)
Closed30 November 1958; 65 years ago (1958-11-30)
Major eventsCurrent:
Formula One
Australian Grand Prix (1996–2019, 2022–present)
Former:
Australian Drivers' Championship (1957–1958)
Grand Prix Circuit (2021–present)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length5.278 km (3.280 miles)
Turns14
Race lap record1:19.813 (Monaco Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, 2024, F1)
Grand Prix Circuit (1996–2020)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length5.303 km (3.296 miles)
Turns16
Race lap record1:24.125 (Germany Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F2004, 2004, F1)
Original Circuit (1953–1958)
Length5.027 km (3.124 miles)
Turns9
Race lap record1:50.0 (United Kingdom Stirling Moss, Cooper T45, 1958, Formula Libre)

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.[3]

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.[4]

  1. ^ Andrew Rickart (3 April 2022). "Capacity crowd for Australian Grand Prix as ticket sell out". Highway F1. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022. Capacity for the venue is between 120,000 - 130,000, with organisers now expecting a crowd in excess of 100,000 on Saturday as well for Formula One qualifying.
  2. ^ "Record F1 crowd prompts Australian GP seating rethink". Motorsport.com. 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  3. ^ "List of FIA Licensed Circuits" (PDF). FIA. 6 February 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  4. ^ "The Albert Park Circuit". The F1 Fansite. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2020.