F1 has signed a new long-term deal with Australian GP to keep the Melbourne race on the calendar, as F2 and F3 is to join the bill.
Amid speculations of Sydney and other regions trying to take away the Australian GP from its Melbourne venue, F1 has confirmed a new long-term deal of 10 years with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation starting from 2025 season.
The current deal amid COVID-19 runs until 2024 as the new 10-year contract will now see the Australian GP stay on the F1 calendar until the 2035 season. The date of the 2023 race will be revealed in due course after the approval from World Motor Sport Council.
But in another big news, F1 has confirmed the joining of F2 and F3 as the support events from 2023 itself – for the first time in the grand prix’s history – which adds excitement to the Australian GP weekend which already features Supercars series.
“I am delighted to confirm that Melbourne and the Albert Park circuit will continue to be on the Formula 1 calendar until 2035,” said Stefano Domenicali. “The race has always been a favourite for the fans, drivers and the teams and Melbourne is an incredible and vibrant international city that is a perfect match for our sport.
“This year we saw huge crowds and passionate fans at the Grand Prix, and we are very excited by the future in Australia as our sport continues to grow. I want to thank the Victorian Government, Daniel Andrews, Premier of Victoria and Martin Pakula, Minister for Tourism, Sport & Major Events for their tireless support for the event in Melbourne, as well as Andrew Westacott and Paul Little from the AGPC for making this already long-term partnership secure for the future. We are all looking forward to being back in Melbourne next season with all our fans.”
At the same time, Andrew Westacott, CEO of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, said: “This is a sensational announcement that is simply great for Melbourne and Victoria. It builds on our rich motor sport history as well as Melbourne’s love of big sporting events and provides aspiration to the next generation of Aussie racing stars.
“We’re proud of our strong relationship with Formula 1 and together we will grow the sport in Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Everyone at the Australian Grand Prix Corporation looks forward to taking the Formula One Australian Grand Prix to new levels over the course of the next 13 years.”
And Martin Pakula, Minister for Tourism, Sport & Major Events, Victorian Government, added: “The Australian Grand Prix has never been bigger, with more than 419,000 people flocking to Albert Park for this year’s race. We know how important this event is to our economy and that’s why we’ve delivered the longest extension for the race since it has been held in Melbourne.”