There’s nothing quite like the anticipation of a brand-new Formula 1 season – especially when it kicks off in Melbourne with the iconic Australian Grand Prix.
With new cars, rising stars and plenty of excitement, the 2025 Australian Grand Prix promises to be essential viewing. Keep reading as we look at everything you need to know about the season opener.
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When is the 2025 Australian Grand Prix?
Fortunately there’s not long to wait for the opening race of the season as the 2025 Australian Grand Prix takes place on Sunday, 16 March at Albert Park.
Here’s a breakdown of the schedule over the weekend:
Friday, 14 March: Practice 1 and 2
Saturday, 15 March: Practice 3 and Qualifying
Sunday, 16 March: Race
The afternoon race will start at 3 pm local time.
Need to know what time the Australian Grand Prix is around the world? Here’s the schedule:
United Kingdom (GMT): Race starts at 4 am on Sunday, 16 March
United States East Coast (ET): Race starts at 12 am on Sunday, 16 March
United States West Coast (PT): Race starts at 9 pm on Saturday, 15 March
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What can we expect from the Australian Grand Prix 2025?
After several seasons kicking off in Bahrain, Albert Park reclaims its spot as the season opener for the first time since 2019.
The 2025 edition of the Melbourne Grand Prix promises so much. Most notably, it’s the first race where we’ll see the legendary Lewis Hamilton decked out in red overalls and driving for Ferrari in what may be one of his last seasons in F1. Elsewhere, six newcomers are also set to make their debut, including Liam Lawson replacing Sergio Perez at Red Bull, Australia’s Jack Doohan for Alpine, and 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli for Mercedes.
With Red Bull’s dominance fading and McLaren’s resurgence in 2024, the field is wide open, making it a tough race to call. One thing is for sure: it’s set to be an electrifying opener.
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Local hopes: Oscar Piastri and Jack Doohan
The all-important question is whether we see an Australian victory. Strangely, since the Australian Grand Prix joined the World Championship in 1985, an Australian driver has never finished on the podium.
However, as the race rolls into Melbourne this year, two homegrown heroes will be out to change that particular record.
The biggest hope is Oscar Piastri. Born just a stone’s throw from Albert Park, the Melbourne native had a sensational 2024, ending the season fourth in the Drivers’ Championship table. This included eight podium finishes, with two victories in Azerbaijan and Hungary. His performance undoubtedly helped McLaren take the Constructors’ Championship and he played a key role in making 2024 such a highly entertaining F1 season.
Elsewhere, newcomer Jack Doohan will be driving for Alpine. Son of five-time Grand Prix motorcycle World Champion Mick Doohan, Jack was born and raised in Gold Coast, Queensland. It may be a big ask, yet the scenes would be spectacular if he took the podium in Australia during his first ever F1 Grand Prix.
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Australian Grand Prix facts and trivia: Fastest lap, circuit info and more
First taking place in 1928, then becoming an official part of the World Championship in 1985, the Australian Grand Prix has delivered plenty of twists and turns in the past century.
Here’s a little trivia about this fan-favourite race.
Albert Park Grand Prix circuit info
The Australian Grand Prix has had many homes since its inception, including Phillip Island (Victoria), Adelaide Street Circuit and, its current home, Albert Park in Melbourne.
After fending off a serious bid from Sydney, the Australian Grand Prix will continue to call Melbourne home until at least 2035.
The Melbourne F1 track in Albert Park is fast, entertaining and beautiful. It’s 5.278 km long with 14 turns, reduced from 16 in 2021. For the majority of the year, Albert Park is a roadway surrounded by gorgeous parkland – it takes six weeks and 290,000 man hours to construct the track.
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Australian Grand Prix fastest lap
Michael Schumacher was the most successful driver on the previous 16-turn Albert Park circuit. The German icon claimed three consecutive wins from 2000 to 2002 and again in 2004, where he recorded a fastest lap record of 1:24.125, which stood for more than 15 years.
Of course, in 2021, the track was changed to an arguably easier layout encouraging new records. Today, the fastest official race lap at the Albert Park grand prix circuit is 1:19.813, set by Charles Leclerc driving for Ferrari during the 2024 race.
Max Verstappen went a few seconds faster during qualification for the same race, recording a lap time of 1:15.915 – the fastest lap ever recorded at Albert Park.
Australian Grand Prix winners
In 2024, Max Verstappen qualified in pole position, yet the winner was Carlos Sainz driving for Ferrari, followed by Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris.
Over the decades, many F1 legends have claimed victory in the Australian Grand Prix including Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, Alain Prost, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, and Fernando Alonso.
Don’t miss out: Enquire now for 2026
With so much in store for the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, we can’t wait to return to Melbourne to enjoy what’s always an exhilarating weekend of racing.
Unsurprisingly, the 2025 race is sold out with a long waiting list – but you can now secure your place for 2026.
Since this race sells out almost immediately, don’t wait to book. With our ultimate hospitality package, you’ll enjoy enviable views of the track and the height of luxury from our private suite on the high-speed Walker Straight.
You can learn more about this experience and all our exclusive F1 events by speaking to our friendly travel concierge team today.
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