Australian Grand Prix

The opener

Albert Park hosts the first race of every F1 season — the Sunday morning when after months of testing speculation, you finally get to see what each car can really do. The venue is a public-park lake circuit a tram ride south of central Melbourne; for most of the year, it’s an actual park with joggers and dog walkers.

Why it matters

The reconfiguration in 2022 (faster, wider, fewer chicanes) turned Albert Park from a parade circuit into a genuine racing track. Fast sweeping corners through the Lakeside Stadium section and the long DRS zone down Lakeside Drive create real overtaking opportunities now.

What to watch for

• Turns 9–10 — the high-speed sweepers where confident drivers find half a second.
• Track evolution — the park surface gains grip dramatically through the weekend; what’s a top-five lap on Friday is a midfield lap on Sunday.
• The crowd — Australian F1 fans are the loudest of any opening race.