Albert Park Circuit winds around a lake in the middle of Melbourne, Australia, and it is home to the Australian Grand Prix.
The race has a long history in the country. For example, Phillip Island hosted the first Australian Grand Prix in 1928, when organisers called it the ‘100 Mile Road Race’, and the Adelaide Street Circuit held the Formula 1 round from 1985 to 1995. Fans, teams and drivers loved Adelaide because it was so demanding, so Albert Park had a lot to live up to when the race moved there in 1996.
Damon Hill won the first Grand Prix at Albert Park, and the park had already staged motor races in the 1950s, including Stirling Moss’s win in the 1956 Australian Grand Prix. For many years the race opened the Formula 1 season, until 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the event in 2020 and 2021, but it returned in 2022 as a later round. Apart from those two years, Albert Park has been the home of the race ever since.
The Albert Park Circuit Track
The track is a bumpy street circuit around Albert Park Lake. It uses public roads, yet its medium-speed and high-speed corners feel more like those of a purpose-built circuit, and organisers build run-off areas, safety zones and concrete barriers every year to support the event. In short, it is very fast and demands concentration, but it has no real long straights to help overtaking.
The layout has changed in several places since 2021. Turns 9 and 10 are now a fast sweeping turn into Turns 11 and 12 instead of the previous heavy right-to-left corner, so the lap dropped from 16 corners to 14. Turn 1 is 2.5 metres wider, Turn 3 is 4 metres wider on the driver’s right-hand side and Turn 6 is 7.5 metres wider. Engineers also reworked Turn 7 and Turn 15, widened the pit lane by 2 metres and widened Turn 13 to stop drivers defending their positions.
On top of that, the whole circuit has a new surface, which helps both the Formula 1 event and the usual road traffic that uses these streets for the other 51 weeks of the year. Besides, the lap combines several roads, including Aughtie Drive and Lakeside Drive.
Each lap of the Albert Park Circuit covers 5.278 kilometres (3.280 miles) and has 14 corners, and the race runs for 58 laps.
Albert Park Circuit Fast Facts
| Albert Park Circuit Fast Facts | |
|---|---|
| Detail | Information |
| Grand Prix | Australian Grand Prix |
| Circuit | Albert Park Circuit |
| Location | Melbourne, Australia |
| Lap Length | 5.278 km (3.280 miles) |
| Number Of Laps | 58 |
| Race Distance | 306.124 km (190.217 miles) |
| Number Of Corners | 14 |
| First Grand Prix | 1996 |
Conclusion
In short, Albert Park stands out as a fast, bumpy lakeside street circuit with few long straights, so it rewards drivers who stay sharp for the whole race. Then, for race times, session times, results and official notices, visit our Formula 1 section, the Formula 1 website and the FIA website.
Questions People Ask
Where Is Albert Park Circuit?
It is in Melbourne, Australia, because the lap runs around Albert Park Lake.
How Long Is Albert Park Circuit?
One lap is 5.278 km (3.280 miles), so a full race of 58 laps adds up to 306.124 km (190.217 miles).
How Many Laps Does the Australian Grand Prix Have?
The race lasts 58 laps, which is 306.124 km (190.217 miles) in total.
How Many Corners Are There at Albert Park?
The lap has 14 corners, but only a few of them offer a real chance to overtake.
When Did Formula 1 First Race at Albert Park?
The first Formula 1 race here took place in 1996, so Damon Hill became its first winner.
Which Circuit Hosted the Australian Grand Prix Before Albert Park?
The Adelaide Street Circuit hosted it from 1985 to 1995.
