A first-ever ‘launch event’ will be held in Melbourne ahead of the 2019 Australian GP with all the F1 drivers and team officials in attendance.
In yet another move to bring F1 closer to the fans, Liberty Media has announced a collective launch event ahead of the 2019 Australian GP in Melbourne, where all the 20 drivers and 10 team principals will be present together for the first time.
The event is organised in partnership with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) and will take place on March 13 (Wednesday) in Federation Square, just two days before the cars hit the track for the first time in the 2019 season at Albert Park circuit.
It will be free to attend for the fans where the drivers will arrive and walk through the iconic square which will be re-created as the famous ‘Melbourne Walk’. The event will also feature some of the sporting legends and will be supported by music acts.
The F1 social channels will livestream the event too. “Since 1996, except on two occasions, Formula 1, the greatest racing spectacle in the world has kicked off its year in Melbourne and there really couldn’t be a location better than this fantastic city.
“The passion, knowledge and enthusiasm of the Melbourne crowd deserved a special thanks and this is why we have decided to organise the first ever Season Launch event in the history of the sport.
“We are incredibly excited to be putting on such a spectacle for our fans. It’s vital that we put them at the heart of everything we do, and this event provides us with a platform to engage with fans not just locally but also globally.
“The 2019 season also marks another historic moment for the sport as we celebrate our 1000th Grand Prix in China later this year and we are excited to see all the teams come together to kick off the season with a bang,” said Sean Bratches.
Martin Pakula MP, Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, added: “This is a once in a lifetime event for lovers of motorsport, and there is no better place to host the first-ever Formula 1 season launch event than Melbourne – Australia’s major events capital.
“We are excited to be hosting a fantastic event that will attract legions of supporters from around the world and give Victorian F1 fans a chance to meet their heroes.” The news comes amid the time when promoters has asked for more ‘collaborative approach’.