Australian GP confident returning F1 race will go ahead as planned

F1 is set to race at Albert Park for the first time since 2019 after the grand prix was cancelled in the previous two years due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2020, the race was called off ahead of Friday practice with all the teams and drivers present at the circuit, while in 2021, the race was moved from March to November before being replaced by Qatar.

In an interview with Speedcafe, Australian Grand Prix Corporation boss Andrew Westacott revealed they’ve got a commitment from the Victorian Government and F1 that the race will go ahead in April.

“We’ve got a commitment from the Victorian Government, that the event’s going ahead,” he said. “We’ve got a commitment from Formula 1 that they’re coming here for Round 3.

“We’re selling tickets like hotcakes, and we’re 80 days away from the event. So everything is happening, everything is getting ready, and [I] can’t wait to host the best drivers in the world, in new cars, on a new track.”

Australia has been one of the strictest countries with its COVID-related policies and quarantine rules but Westacott is hoping to have “maximum crowds”.

“But having said that, what I say is we’ll be anything but normal – we’re going to have all new cars on track, we’ve got new entertainment and music across the four days,” Westacott explained.

“There will be the need for everyone to be vigilant from a safety point of view and for attendees to be 100 per cent vaxed, but we’re in a massive park, it’s predominantly outdoors, and we’ve been starved for major events.

“So we’re working with the government to make sure that everything we do allows us to have maximum crowds.”

Westacott admitted that he’s not even considered the prospect of running the race behind closed doors should the coronavirus situation worsen.

“I am not even contemplating that,” he explained. “I think Australia has moved on from that, and I think Victoria has moved on from that. You look at the current rates of cases and so on, I think we’re beyond doing those sorts of things behind closed doors.

“There’s been no evidence of any event throughout the country where you’re having to do that without crowds. That’s not even on our radar, it’s not even been discussed, whereas last year, and the year before, that was often the norm.

“That’s not even a consideration at the moment and I don’t think ever will be.”