Circuit Profile: Australia Melbourne - Albert Park

Lap Distance: 3.295miles/5.2720km

Lap Record: Michael Schumacher 1m24.125s

Race Distance: 191.110miles/305.7760km

Number of Laps: 58

 

Melbourne has become a firm favourite of the Formula 1 fraternity since it took over from Adelaide as the home of the Australian Grand Prix in 1996.

The switch caused consternation, for Adelaide had been hugely popular both as a venue and a racetrack.
In its end-of-season position, it played host to two unforgettable championship climaxes: Nigel Mansell’s spectacular tyre blow-out in 1986 and Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill’s controversial clash in ’94.
For ’96 the race not only moved to Melbourne and a picturesque new lakeside track in Albert Park, but to the other end of the calendar, becoming the season-opener – although it is date number two on this year's calendar.
Melbourne soon proved that it could match Adelaide for thrills and spills, as the inaugural race saw Jacques Villeneuve take pole position for his first GP, and Martin Brundle escape a massive first-lap crash in which his Jordan was launched into a terrifying sequence of barrel rolls.
The high-speed layout punctuated by chicanes and dusty surface often leads to unpredictable and dramatic races, and punishes the slightest mistake with a trip into one of the ever-present concrete walls.
The safety car traditionally gets a lot of mileage at Albert Park...

Source: ITV F1