Albert Park

The Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit is a temporary street-style track laid out around a lake in inner-city Melbourne. It is not a permanent facility — the barriers, kerbs and pit complex are installed each year for a few weeks around the race weekend. That semi-permanent character, combined with a naturally low-grip surface at the start of the event, means the track evolves dramatically across practice, qualifying and the race.

A 2022 reprofiling widened several corners, removed the old Turn 9/10 chicane and added a third DRS zone, converting Albert Park from a qualifying-dominant venue into one of the more overtake-friendly races on the calendar. The circuit is fast and flowing, with several blind exits over the lake and walls pressed close to the racing line.

Australia first hosted a championship Grand Prix at Adelaide from 1985 to 1995 before the race moved to Melbourne in 1996, with Damon Hill winning the inaugural event at Albert Park. The track has served as the traditional season opener for most of its history and has been the backdrop for several championship-defining moments, including rookie debuts and surprise victories on shifting track conditions.