Timetable Australian Grand Prix
  • Friday 15 March 2019
  • Practice 1 12:00-13:30
  • Practice 2 16:00-17:30
  • Saturday 16 March 2019
  • Practice 3 14:00-15:00
  • Qualifying 17:00-18:00
  • Sunday 17 March 2019
  • Race 16:10

Albert Park Circuit - Australian Grand Prix

Albert Park Circuit

Albert Park Circuit, officially named Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, uses everyday sections of road that circle Albert Park Lake, near the central business district of Melbourne. The temporary street course is 5.3 kilometres long. A total of 16 corners with 10 right turns and 6 left turns. The direction is clockwise. Engines are running about 65 per cent of the lap at full throttle. The highest speed on the circuit is at the end of the start/finish straight with speeds over 300 km/h. The track offers few genuine overtaking opportunities, except if the driver ahead makes a mistake.

The track is fairly demanding and tricky for the drivers as it is quite fast and also contains many challenging corners. The secret of a good lap time depends not on peak power, but on good torque to help launch the car out of the slow corners that connect the succession of straights. Compared to other races that are held on public roads, the track has quite a smooth surface but there is no grip at all to start with. There are also a lot of road markings which reduce grip even further. The grip improves throughout the weekend as more rubber is laid down.

Albert Park Circuit is only used for the Australian Grand Prix, there are no other motorsport events during the year. Each year, much of the trackside fencing, grandstands, pedestrian overpasses, and other motorsport infrastructure are erected from approximately two months prior to the race weekend and removed within one month after the event. Melbourne has hosted the Australian Grand Prix since 1996 and the contract runs until 2023.

A virtual lap of Albert Park Circuit