Australian Grand Prix facts for kids

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Australian Grand Prix
Race information
Albert Park Circuit (2022–present)

Number of times held	87
First held	1928
Most wins (drivers)	Lex Davison (4) Michael Schumacher (4)
Most wins (constructors)	Ferrari (14)
Circuit length	5.278 km (3.280 mi)
Race length	306.124 km (190.216 mi)
Laps	58
Last race (2024)
Pole position
Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT 1:15.915
Podium
1. C. Sainz Jr. Ferrari 1:20:26.843 2. C. Leclerc Ferrari +2.366 3. L. Norris McLaren-Mercedes +5.904
Fastest lap
Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:19.813

The Australian Grand Prix is a big annual car race in Australia. It's part of the exciting Formula One series, where the fastest cars and drivers compete. This race has a long history, starting way back in 1928 at Phillip Island.

Over the years, the Grand Prix has been held at many different places. It officially joined the Formula One World Championship in 1985. Since 1996, the race has mostly taken place at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne. However, the races in 2020 and 2021 were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before Melbourne, the race was held in Adelaide.

History of the Australian Grand Prix

Early Days of Racing

Arthur Waite won the first big race at Phillip Island in 1928, driving an Austin 7.

The Australian Grand Prix officially started in 1928. It was called the "100 Miles Road Race" back then. This first race happened at the Phillip Island road circuit. Arthur Waite won in a special Austin 7 car.

For eight years, races continued on the dirt roads of Phillip Island. The famous car brand Bugatti won four times in a row from 1929 to 1932. The Grand Prix then moved to other places. In 1938, it was held at the new Mount Panorama Circuit near Bathurst. An English driver, Peter Whitehead, won that race in a very fast ERA car. The last race before World War II was in 1939.

After the War: New Beginnings

Racing with Old and New Cars

After World War II, car racing slowly started again. Drivers used older cars because it was hard to get new parts like fuel and tires. The Mount Panorama Circuit hosted the first post-war Grand Prix in 1947. The race then moved around to different states each year.

Cars that were once regular street cars, along with special Australian-made racing cars, won these early races. In 1952, Doug Whiteford won in a new Talbot-Lago Formula One car. This showed that modern Grand Prix cars were the future.

Lex Davison won his first of four Grand Prix titles in 1954. The year before, Doug Whiteford won his last Grand Prix in 1953. This race was special because it was the first time cars raced around the streets near Albert Park Lake in Melbourne. This same area, much changed, is where the modern Formula One race is held today.

In 1955, Jack Brabham won his first Grand Prix. He was driving a Cooper T40, which was the first car with its engine at the back to win the race. This was a big change for racing! In 1956, famous European teams came to Albert Park. Stirling Moss won the Grand Prix in a Maserati. This race inspired many future events.

The Tasman Series Era

Two amazing drivers, Jack Brabham from Australia and Bruce McLaren from New Zealand, changed racing in the region. They brought new ideas and cars, like the Cooper-Climax cars, which were very popular. Soon, Brabham even started building his own cars.

From 1963 to 1969, top European Formula One teams and drivers came to Australia and New Zealand during their winter. This was called the Tasman Series. It was a golden age for racing in the area, and the Australian Grand Prix was a highlight. Many famous F1 drivers raced here, including World Champions like Jim Clark, John Surtees, and Jackie Stewart.

Jack Brabham won the Grand Prix three times during this period. Bruce McLaren won twice, and Jim Clark won twice, with his last big win being in 1968.

Formula 5000 Cars

After the Tasman Series, the Australian Grand Prix started using Formula 5000 cars in the 1970s. These were powerful cars, and local drivers like Frank Matich, Max Stewart, and Graham McRae became stars. Matich won two Grands Prix in cars he built himself.

In 1976, John Goss, a touring car racer, made history. He became the only driver to win both the Grand Prix and the famous Bathurst 1000 touring car race.

Calder Park Races

By the early 1980s, Formula 5000 cars were less popular. In 1980, the Australian Grand Prix was held at Calder Park Raceway. Alan Jones, who had just become the Formula One World Champion, easily won the race in his Williams car.

For the next four years, the Grand Prix used "Formula Pacific" cars. Brazilian driver Roberto Moreno was very successful, winning three of these races. In 1982, future four-time World Champion Alain Prost won the race.

Formula One World Championship Era

Adelaide (1985–1995)

A poster for the first Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide in 1985.

The Australian Grand Prix became an official part of the Formula One World Championship in 1985. It was the final race of the season and took place on a street circuit in Adelaide. This track was known for being tough and exciting, and the event was very popular with everyone.

The first F1 Australian Grand Prix in 1985 was also the 50th Australian Grand Prix ever. Ayrton Senna started from the front in his Lotus car. The race was a tough battle in hot weather. Keke Rosberg won, with Jacques Laffite and Philippe Streiff in Ligier cars finishing behind him. Three-time World Champion Niki Lauda raced his last F1 race here.

In 1986, the race was a championship decider between Nigel Mansell, Nelson Piquet, and Alain Prost. Mansell had a dramatic tire failure, which allowed Prost to win the race and the championship.

The 1988 race was dominated by McLaren-Honda, with Alain Prost winning. In 1989, the race was very wet. Many drivers, including Prost, didn't want to start because it was so dangerous. Senna, despite starting from pole, crashed out due to the thick spray. Thierry Boutsen won the shortened race.

The 1990 race was the 500th World Championship Grand Prix. It was a thrilling race, with Nelson Piquet winning after Senna had to retire. There was some tension before the race because of a crash between Senna and Prost in the previous race.

The 1991 race was the shortest F1 race ever, lasting only 14 laps due to extremely wet conditions. Ayrton Senna was declared the winner. This win helped McLaren secure the Constructors' Championship.

In 1992, Gerhard Berger won. In 1993, Ayrton Senna won his 41st and final F1 race, which was also his last race for McLaren. He shared the podium with his rival Alain Prost, who was also retiring from F1.

The 1994 race was a championship showdown between Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher. Schumacher crashed, and Hill also had to retire, which meant Schumacher won the championship. Nigel Mansell won the race, becoming the oldest Grand Prix winner since 1970.

In 1995, Mika Häkkinen had a serious crash during qualifying. He was badly hurt but was saved by quick medical help at the track. This incident led to more safety improvements in F1. Damon Hill won the final F1 race in Adelaide.

Melbourne (1996–2019, 2022–present)

The Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne (1996–2020 layout).

In 1996, the Australian Grand Prix moved to a new track in Albert Park in Melbourne. This move was a bit controversial. Some people protested, saying the race turned a public park into a private area and cost too much money. However, supporters said it brought many benefits to the state, like tourism and jobs.

Bernie Ecclestone, who used to run Formula One, said it only took 10 minutes to make the deal for Melbourne to host the race. Melbourne wanted to host a big international event after Sydney won the bid for the 2000 Olympics. The Adelaide race was always the last of the F1 season, but in Melbourne, it usually became the first race of the year.

The Albert Park circuit is 5.3 kilometers long and uses public roads within the park. It's known for being a fast and smooth track. The first race in Melbourne in 1996 had a huge crowd of over 400,000 people. Melbourne even won an award for being the best-organized Grand Prix in its first two years.

The first race in Melbourne quickly gained attention. On the first lap, Martin Brundle had a huge crash, but he was okay and even ran back to the pits to get a spare car! Damon Hill won that race.

In 1997, McLaren won a race after a long time. In 1998, McLaren drivers Mika Häkkinen and David Coulthard were so fast they lapped everyone else. Häkkinen won after Coulthard let him pass, following a team agreement. In 1999, Eddie Irvine won for Ferrari, his first victory. Michael Schumacher then won for Ferrari in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2004.

The 2001 race had a sad moment when a volunteer marshal, Graham Beveridge, was killed after a crash between Ralf Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve. This led to even more safety changes in the sport.

The 2002 race saw a big crash at the start, taking out many cars. Michael Schumacher won again, but Australian driver Mark Webber was the star of the day. He finished fifth in his small Minardi car, which was an amazing achievement for his first F1 race.

A demonstration event in Melbourne before the 2005 Grand Prix.

Nick Heidfeld and Nico Rosberg racing at Albert Park in 2008.

In 2006, Fernando Alonso won his first Australian Grand Prix. In 2007, Kimi Räikkönen won his first race for Ferrari, and Lewis Hamilton finished third in his very first F1 race. Hamilton then won the 2008 race.

In 2009, Jenson Button won for the new Brawn GP team, which was a big surprise. The race ended under a safety car. Button also won in 2010 and 2012. Sebastian Vettel won in 2011, and Kimi Räikkönen won again in 2013.

In 2014, with new V6 turbo hybrid engines, Nico Rosberg dominated for Mercedes. He won the race, and his team continued to be very strong in the following years. Hamilton won in 2015, and Rosberg won again in 2016. Vettel won for Ferrari in 2017 and 2018.

In 2020, the race was planned to go ahead despite the COVID-19 pandemic. However, after a McLaren mechanic tested positive for the virus, the race was cancelled just hours before practice was due to start. The 2021 race was also cancelled.

The Australian Grand Prix returned in 2022 after two years. The track at Albert Park had some big changes, including removing two corners to make it faster and easier to overtake. Charles Leclerc won the 2022 race for Ferrari, achieving a "grand slam" (starting from pole, leading every lap, setting the fastest lap, and winning). This race set a new attendance record for Melbourne, with over 419,000 people attending the weekend.

The 2023 race, won by Max Verstappen, broke that attendance record again with over 444,000 fans. It was a very exciting race with three red flags (meaning the race was stopped temporarily) due to many incidents.

In 2022, Melbourne's contract to host the Grand Prix was extended until 2035. This means the Australian Grand Prix will continue to be one of the first three races of the F1 season for many years.

When the Race Happens

The move of the Australian Grand Prix to Melbourne changed when the race takes place. In Adelaide, it was always the last race of the F1 season, usually in October or November. But in Melbourne, it has usually been the first race of the season.

Because it's often the first race, many drivers have made their Formula One debut in Melbourne. These include famous names like World Champions Jacques Villeneuve (1996), Lewis Hamilton (2007), Max Verstappen (2015), Fernando Alonso, and Kimi Räikkönen (both in 2001). Australian F1 driver Mark Webber also started his F1 career there in 2002.

To celebrate 10 years of the event in Albert Park in 2005, Mark Webber drove his Williams F1 car over the Sydney Harbour Bridge! The streets of Melbourne also hosted a parade of F1 cars and Supercars, which are Australia's top domestic racing cars. Supercars have raced at the Australian Grand Prix for over 30 years, and since 2018, their race has counted for championship points.

Economic Impact

The Australian Grand Prix brings a lot of discussion about its economic impact. Supporters say the event helps tourism, creates jobs, and brings money to the state of Victoria. Opponents argue that it costs taxpayers a lot of money and causes disruptions.

Recent studies show that the Grand Prix does bring significant benefits. For example, the 2022 event brought an estimated $92 million in direct spending to Victoria. It also helped boost hotel bookings and local businesses. The 2023 Grand Prix contributed even more, with an estimated $268 million to the Victorian economy and creating over 1,100 full-time jobs. A large part of this money came from the many international and interstate visitors who attended the event.

However, other reports have suggested that the costs of hosting the event sometimes outweigh the benefits for taxpayers. The event does require a large investment to stage each year.

How Many People Attend

The Celebrity Challenge race at the 2008 Grand Prix.

Jenson Button, who won the Australian Grand Prix three times.

Since moving to Melbourne, the number of spectators has been very high, reaching a record of 452,055 people in 2024. However, it has not yet reached the attendance of the last Adelaide race in 1995.

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation doesn't release exact crowd numbers for security reasons. They believe this information could be sensitive. However, they do provide official attendance figures, which are estimates.

Here are the estimated attendance numbers since 1995:

1995 (Adelaide) – 520,000 (210,000 on race day)
1996 (Melbourne) – 401,000 (150,000 on race day)
1997 – 289,000
2004 – 360,885 (121,500 on race day)
2005 – 359,000 (103,000 on race day)
2006 – 301,800
2007 – 301,000 (105,000 on race day)
2008 – 303,000 (108,000 on race day)
2009 – 286,900
2010 – 305,000 (108,500 on race day)
2011 – 298,000 (111,000 on race day)
2012 – 313,700 (114,900 on race day)
2013 – 323,000 (103,000 on race day)
2014 – 314,900 (100,500 on race day)
2015 – 296,600 (101,000 on race day)
2016 – 272,300 (90,200 on race day)
2017 – 296,600
2018 – 295,000
2019 – 324,000 (100,000 on race day)
2022 – 419,114 (128,294 on race day)
2023 – 444,631 (131,124 on race day)
2024 – 452,055 (132,106 on race day)

Winners of the Australian Grand Prix

Drivers with Multiple Wins

Drivers in bold are currently racing in Formula One.
A pink background means the race was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

Alain Prost is the only driver to win the race in both the older, local format (in 1982) and as part of the Formula One World Championship (in 1986 and 1988).

Australian driver Lex Davison and German driver Michael Schumacher have won the most Australian Grands Prix, with four wins each. The Italian team Ferrari has won the most times as a constructor, with fourteen victories.

Wins	Driver	Years won
4	Lex Davison	1954, 1957, 1958, 1961
4	Michael Schumacher	2000, 2001, 2002, 2004
3	Bill Thompson	1930, 1932, 1933
	Doug Whiteford	1950, 1952, 1953
	Jack Brabham	1955, 1963, 1964
	Graham McRae	1972, 1973, 1978
	Roberto Moreno	1981, 1983, 1984
	Alain Prost	1982, 1986, 1988
	Jenson Button	2009, 2010, 2012
	Sebastian Vettel	2011, 2017, 2018
2	Les Murphy	1935, 1937
	Bruce McLaren	1962, 1965
	Frank Matich	1970, 1971
	Max Stewart	1974, 1975
	Gerhard Berger	1987, 1992
	Ayrton Senna	1991, 1993
	Damon Hill	1995, 1996
	David Coulthard	1997, 2003
	Kimi Räikkönen	2007, 2013
	Lewis Hamilton	2008, 2015
	Nico Rosberg	2014, 2016
Sources:

Winning Car Brands (Constructors)

Teams in bold are currently racing in Formula One.
A pink background means the race was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

Wins	Constructor	Years won
14	Ferrari	1957, 1958, 1969, 1987, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024
12	McLaren	1970, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2012
6	Williams	1980, 1985, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1996
5	Cooper	1955, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1965
4	Bugatti	1929, 1930, 1931, 1932
	MG	1935, 1937, 1939, 1947
	Lola	1974, 1975, 1977, 1979
	Ralt	1981, 1982, 1983, 1984
	Mercedes	2014, 2015, 2016, 2019
2	Talbot-Lago	1952, 1953
	Maserati	1956, 1959
	Brabham	1963, 1964
	BRM	1966, 1967
	Matich	1971, 1976
	McRae	1973, 1978
	Renault	2005, 2006
	Red Bull	2011, 2023
Sources:

Winning Engine Manufacturers

Manufacturers in bold are currently competing in Formula One.
A pink background means the race was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

Wins	Manufacturer	Years won
14	Ferrari	1957, 1958, 1969, 1987, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024
11	Mercedes *	1997, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019
10	Ford **	1950, 1951, 1968, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1993
8	Renault	1989, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2013
7	Chevrolet	1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979
5	Climax	1961, 1962, 1963, 1964 1965
4	Bugatti	1929, 1930, 1931, 1932
	MG	1935, 1937, 1939, 1947
	Honda	1985, 1988, 1991, 1992
3	Maserati	1956, 1959, 1960
3	Repco/Holden	1970, 1971, 1976
2	Talbot-Lago	1952, 1953
2	BRM	1966, 1967
Sources:

* Between 1997 and 2003 built by Ilmor

** Between 1968 and 1993 designed and built by Cosworth, funded by Ford

Winners by Year and Location

The Adelaide Street Circuit, used for Formula One from 1985 to 1995.

The Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, used in Formula One from 1996 to 2019, and again from 2022.

A map showing all the locations where the Australian Grand Prix has been held.

A pink background means the race was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

* From 1932 to 1948, the winner was chosen based on a handicap system.
+ The 1937 event was called the "South Australian Centenary Grand Prix" and held on December 26, 1936.
# The 1928 event was officially known as the "100 Miles Road Race".

Year	Driver	Constructor	Location	Report
1928 #	Arthur Waite	Austin	Phillip Island	Report
1929	Arthur Terdich	Bugatti		Report
1930	Bill Thompson	Bugatti		Report
1931	Carl Junker	Bugatti		Report
1932	Bill Thompson *	Bugatti		Report
1933	Bill Thompson *	Riley		Report
1934	Bob Lea-Wright *	Singer		Report
1935	Les Murphy *	MG		Report
1936	Not held
1937 +	Les Murphy *	MG	Victor Harbor	Report
1938	Peter Whitehead *	ERA	Bathurst	Report
1939	Alan Tomlinson *	MG	Lobethal	Report
1940 – 1946	Not held due to World War II
1947	Bill Murray *	MG	Bathurst	Report
1948	Frank Pratt *	BMW	Point Cook	Report
1949	John Crouch	Delahaye	Leyburn	Report
1950	Doug Whiteford	Ford	Nuriootpa	Report
1951	Warwick Pratley	GRS-Ford	Narrogin	Report
1952	Doug Whiteford	Talbot-Lago	Bathurst	Report
1953	Doug Whiteford	Talbot-Lago	Albert Park	Report
1954	Lex Davison	HWM-Jaguar	Southport	Report
1955	Jack Brabham	Cooper-Bristol	Port Wakefield	Report
1956	Stirling Moss	Maserati	Albert Park	Report
1957	Lex Davison Bill Patterson	Ferrari	Caversham	Report
1958	Lex Davison	Ferrari	Bathurst	Report
1959	Stan Jones	Maserati	Longford	Report
1960	Alec Mildren	Cooper-Maserati	Lowood	Report
1961	Lex Davison	Cooper-Climax	Mallala	Report
1962	Bruce McLaren	Cooper-Climax	Caversham	Report
1963	Jack Brabham	Brabham-Climax	Warwick Farm	Report
1964	Jack Brabham	Brabham-Climax	Sandown	Report
1965	Bruce McLaren	Cooper-Climax	Longford	Report
1966	Graham Hill	BRM	Lakeside	Report
1967	Jackie Stewart	BRM	Warwick Farm	Report
1968	Jim Clark	Lotus-Cosworth	Sandown	Report
1969	Chris Amon	Ferrari	Lakeside	Report
1970	Frank Matich	McLaren-Repco/Holden	Warwick Farm	Report
1971	Frank Matich	Matich-Repco/Holden	Warwick Farm	Report
1972	Graham McRae	Leda-Chevrolet	Sandown	Report
1973	Graham McRae	McRae-Chevrolet	Sandown	Report
1974	Max Stewart	Lola-Chevrolet	Oran Park	Report
1975	Max Stewart	Lola-Chevrolet	Surfers Paradise	Report
1976	John Goss	Matich-Repco/Holden	Sandown	Report
1977	Warwick Brown	Lola-Chevrolet	Oran Park	Report
1978	Graham McRae	McRae-Chevrolet	Sandown	Report
1979	Johnnie Walker	Lola-Chevrolet	Wanneroo	Report
1980	Alan Jones	Williams-Cosworth	Calder	Report
1981	Roberto Moreno	Ralt-Ford		Report
1982	Alain Prost	Ralt-Ford		Report
1983	Roberto Moreno	Ralt-Ford		Report
1984	Roberto Moreno	Ralt-Ford		Report
1985	Keke Rosberg	Williams-Honda	Adelaide	Report
1986	Alain Prost	McLaren-TAG		Report
1987	Gerhard Berger	Ferrari		Report
1988	Alain Prost	McLaren-Honda		Report
1989	Thierry Boutsen	Williams-Renault		Report
1990	Nelson Piquet	Benetton-Ford		Report
1991	Ayrton Senna	McLaren-Honda		Report
1992	Gerhard Berger	McLaren-Honda		Report
1993	Ayrton Senna	McLaren-Ford		Report
1994	Nigel Mansell	Williams-Renault		Report
1995	Damon Hill	Williams-Renault		Report
1996	Damon Hill	Williams-Renault	Albert Park	Report
1997	David Coulthard	McLaren-Mercedes		Report
1998	Mika Häkkinen	McLaren-Mercedes		Report
1999	Eddie Irvine	Ferrari		Report
2000	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari		Report
2001	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari		Report
2002	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari		Report
2003	David Coulthard	McLaren-Mercedes		Report
2004	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari		Report
2005	Giancarlo Fisichella	Renault		Report
2006	Fernando Alonso	Renault		Report
2007	Kimi Räikkönen	Ferrari		Report
2008	Lewis Hamilton	McLaren-Mercedes		Report
2009	Jenson Button	Brawn-Mercedes		Report
2010	Jenson Button	McLaren-Mercedes		Report
2011	Sebastian Vettel	Red Bull-Renault		Report
2012	Jenson Button	McLaren-Mercedes		Report
2013	Kimi Räikkönen	Lotus-Renault		Report
2014	Nico Rosberg	Mercedes		Report
2015	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes		Report
2016	Nico Rosberg	Mercedes		Report
2017	Sebastian Vettel	Ferrari		Report
2018	Sebastian Vettel	Ferrari		Report
2019	Valtteri Bottas	Mercedes		Report
2020	Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic			Report
2021	Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	Albert Park	Report
2023	Max Verstappen	Red Bull-Honda RBPT		Report
2024	Carlos Sainz Jr.	Ferrari		Report
Sources:

Images for kids

Arthur Waite won the 1928 100 Miles Road Race at the Phillip Island road circuit driving an Austin 7
Promotional poster for the first Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide in 1985.
Demonstration event held in Melbourne just before the start of the 2005 Grand Prix
Nick Heidfeld and Nico Rosberg at Corner 6 of the Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne
2008 Race Winner Lewis Hamilton on the Podium with Nick Heidfeld
Celebrity Challenge, 2008 GP
Jenson Button, winner of the 2009, 2010 and 2012 Australian Grands Prix
Adelaide, used in Formula One from 1985 to 1995
Melbourne, used in Formula One in 1953, 1956, 1996–2019, 2022
A map of all the locations of the Australian Grand Prix.