Melbourne signs agreement to host F1 until 2025

David Bodapati July 19, 2019

392 2 minutes read

London, 18 July 2019: Formula 1 is delighted to announce that the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix will continue to be held in Melbourne until at least the end of 2025.

The agreement between Formula 1 and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation has been recently signed in London. Australia has an impressive motor sport history and has hosted a round of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship since 1985. It was held in Adelaide up until 1995, moving to the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in the heart of the Victorian state capital as from 1996.

Since then, apart from 2006 and 2010, the Australian Grand Prix has always been the World Championship season opener. In the more than two decades since, the race in Melbourne has consistently proved to be one of the most popular on the calendar. In the last three years alone more than 900,000 fans have attended the Grands Prix at Albert Park, guaranteeing that the Formula 1 season kicks off in an incredible festival-like atmosphere at the heart of the one the world’s most exciting cities.

And next year, the race will once get the season underway, from 12 to 15 March. There’s no better place to start the Championship, and with the sport celebrating its 70th anniversary and its 25th visit to Albert Park next year, the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2020 promises to be a spectacle unlike any other.

Chase Carey, Chairman and CEO, Formula 1, said: “We are pleased to have renewed our partnership with the city of Melbourne, which will now host the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix until at least 2025. The decision to extend the current relationship for a further two years stems from the fact this event has proved to be a resounding success for the capital of Victoria, for Australia and indeed around the world, proving immensely popular with fans and those who work in Formula 1. Working along with our partner, the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, we plan to make the Australian Grand Prix even more exciting and spectacular, as a sporting event and as a form of entertainment.

The announcement follows on from last week’s, relating to the British Grand Prix and is proof that more and more promoters are sharing our long-term vision for the future of Formula 1. We cannot wait to be back in Melbourne, from 12 to 15 March next year to celebrate the 25thanniversary of this race being held there and continuing a relationship which will also allow us to celebrate at least 30 years in the city in 2025.”

On Thursday, Martin Pakula MP, Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, said: “This is a fantastic vote of confidence from Formula 1 to continue racing in Melbourne until at least 2025. Victoria hosts major events better than anywhere else in the world and I’m excited that Formula 1 has chosen to exercise its option to extend the contract and enable the Victorian Government and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) to continue to deliver more world-class events for Victoria. The Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix has contributed significantly to Melbourne’s standing as a global sporting and major events capital and the event is a key pillar of Melbourne’s and Australia’s international sporting calendar. Beyond the direct benefits to Melbourne and Victoria arising out of Formula 1’s decision, the contract extension until 2025 also provides benefits and confidence for Victoria’s events industry and the associated supplier base to the AGPC. Additionally, it provides the AGPC with opportunities to further enhance and develop the event for the benefit of all fans and lovers of the sport of Formula 1.”