McLaren F1 Australian Grand Prix - Presented by OKX 29.03.2023: Australian Grand Prix Albert Park, Melbourne 31 March - April 2nd 2023 “We’re determined to improve the car and unlock as much performance as possible” We’re stoked! That’s because we’re racing at the Albert Park Circuit, which takes a

Australian Grand Prix
Albert Park, Melbourne
31 March - April 2nd 2023





“We’re determined to improve the car and unlock as much performance as possible”



We’re stoked! That’s because we’re racing at the Albert Park Circuit, which takes a bunch of our favourite parts of a racing location and puts them all together in one place. A beautiful park, located on the beach, surrounded by high-rise buildings in the heart of Australia’s second-largest city. And it’s a city that absolutely adores motor racing.   



Whilst we make the (approximately) 16,911.96km-long trip from England to Melbourne – that’s around 3,206 laps of the Albert Park Circuit – we’ve prepared a fact file full of information on the Australian Grand Prix for you.




AUSSI RULES


Call us psychic, but in last year’s preview, we estimated that alterations to Albert Park would make the circuit around five seconds quicker a lap, and we were pretty much spot on, with the fastest lap in the 2022 Australian Grand Prix 5.32s quicker than in 2019.  



The 2022 layout changes – the first since F1’s debut at the track in 1996 – aimed to improve overtaking and make one of F1’s fastest circuits even faster: width was adjusted, corners were removed, and the notoriously bumpy surface was made smoother.  



Set around Melbourne’s Albert Park, the greenery surrounding the 5.275km temporary circuit gives it something of a purpose-built feel, unlike tracks such as Monaco and Azerbaijan, which are very much set within the streets of a city. However, it still retains many of the defining characteristics of a classic street circuit, such as the unforgiving nature of the barriers that enclose various parts of the track.  

Track evolution is another reminder that the tarmac is also used by road cars, with lap times improving throughout the weekend as debris is swept clear of the racing line and the cars lay down more rubber.  



Another reminder is the towering Melbourne skyline, which, combined with the stunning Albert Park Lake, makes for a great backdrop to racing.  




- McLaren also photo