Formula One season first race to be held at Albert Park

Formula One Management on Friday night announced that the Albert Park race would be the season opener next year for the first time since 2020, which was cancelled last minute due to a Covid outbreak.

The 2025 launch will be the first time since 2019 that Albert Park has staged the coveted season opener, with new F1 cars and drivers to be unveiled from March 13-16.

And as the first race in 2025, Melbourne will launch the Ferrari debut of seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton following his bombshell move from Mercedes.

Australian Grand Prix Corporation chief executive Travis Auld said: “After the resounding success of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix 2024, we are already looking forward to 2025 and the opportunities we have to continue to grow and improve the fan experience.”

“We know fans are excited for Melbourne to be the season opener, and the debut of Lewis at Ferrari will make it an even more highly anticipated race.”

Albert Park previously hosted the season opener from 1996 through to its final race before the pandemic in 2019.

In a deal to extend the length of its Melbourne contract, the state government agreed to relinquish its grip on exclusive status as the first race of the season.

But there is a clause in Melbourne’s current contract that it must host a season opener at least four times between 2025 and 2037.

Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said: “We’re proud that Melbourne will be launching the Formula 1 season in 2025.

And he said the record estimated crowd of more than 452,000 who packed Albert Park last month proved how popular the event was.

“Melbourne is the sporting and major events capital, and our unique city is what makes this race unlike any other on the calendar so we look forward to welcoming visitors from across Australia and around the world next March,’’ he said.

Melbourne will be the first of 24 races on the F1 calendar next year, with the travelling circus heading to China the week after Albert Park opens the year.

Races will then be staged in Japan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Miami.

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The season will close under lights at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December.

Mr Auld said having the eyes of the world on Melbourne for the first race of the season would take next year’s event to another level.

“We know fans are excited for Melbourne to be the season opener and the debut of Lewis at Ferrari will make it an even more highly anticipated race.’’

Originally published as Formula One season first race to be held at Albert Park