The Albert Park circuit in Melbourne has secured a two-year extension on its contract to hold the Australian Grand Prix, RaceFans understands.
The parkland circuit, which has held Australia’s round of the world championship since 1996, will remain on the schedule until at least 2037.
Its last contract extension was announced just six months ago. The extension to it has come about after the race promoters agreed to postpone its return to the coveted slot as the first event of the season, which was planned for 2024.
Melbourne last held the opening round of the world championship in 2019. It was due to do so in 2020 but the event was cancelled hours before practice began, due to rising concerns over the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Albert Park race is the third round on the 2023 F1 calendar but had agreed to open the following season. It has relinquished that place after the promoters of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian grands prix requested their 2024 races do not coincide with the observance of Ramadan, which will take place between March 10th and April 9th that year.
The 2024 season will therefore open with a race in the Middle East for the fourth year in a row. Australia is expected to take over the season-opening slot in 2025.
Extensive modifications were made to the Albert Park circuit for this year’s race. Next year Formula 2 and Formula 3 will join F1 as support races at the event for the first time.
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