(Motorsport-Total.com) – Only a few days left until the starting lights in Albert Park turn green again: The 2026 Formula 1 season (race calendar here) begins again with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. And the organizers are expecting a new attendance record this year.
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Attendance figures are expected to rise by 53 percent compared to the previous year – not least thanks to local hero Oscar Piastri, who is getting his own grandstand on the start-finish straight this year. Tickets for it were already completely sold out last August.
“We wanted to celebrate and honor Oscar, even if he isn’t a world champion yet,” says Tom Mottram, CEO of the Australian Grand Prix. “For us, he is already a champion with the races he has won. We have set up the Piastri grandstand directly opposite the McLaren garages.”
Thanks to the Australian’s popularity, the attendance record from the previous year, when a total of 465,498 spectators came, is likely to be broken. “We are on track to exceed that,” says Mottram. “We have slightly increased the capacity; on Sunday it is now at 141,000 spectators.”
New train station as a “game-changer” in Albert Park
“In doing so, we take into account things like sufficient catering, mobility on the grounds, and comfortable travel by public transport. In all these areas, we feel well-positioned.” A central factor is the new train station at Turn 6.
It relieves the main entrances on the start-finish straight as well as the tram line directly from the city center. “The new train station will be a real game-changer,” Mottram adds. “We have also tripled the capacity of our main bridge over the start-finish straight.”
“In addition, we have invested in infrastructure to support spectator movement – we don’t want to jeopardize the customer experience for the sake of attendance records.” Now the head of the Australian Grand Prix hopes that the race itself will be a spectacle.
New regulations as an opportunity instead of a risk
“It will be an exciting first year,” he is convinced. “Much is not in our control. We can control many things, but not the racing action on the track. I think even if there are few overtaking maneuvers, that alone would be an interesting story.”
Mottram does not see the current doubts about the new cars and energy management as a risk, but as an opportunity for an unforgettable season start. Accordingly, the Australian has no concerns that the opener could be a flop.
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“We adjusted and realigned the track in 2021, which significantly improved the racing,” the CEO adds. “Overtaking numbers have risen sharply. But who knows how it will go with these cars? That’s exactly what makes it appealing.”
Because of Cadillac: Pit lane speed limit reduced
Speaking of reconstruction: The garage and paddock areas also had to be adjusted compared to the previous year to make room for the eleventh team. Cadillac will celebrate its Formula 1 debut in Australia. “It is definitely a challenge,” Mottram reveals.
“Our pit area is among the smaller ones on the calendar, so we have worked with Formula 1 throughout the year to ensure additional hospitality, storage space, and pit wall space for the eleventh team. What we unfortunately cannot change this year is the garage space.”
“So it will be a slightly tighter year,” Mottram adds, not without mentioning the consequences: “That’s why we have reduced the speed in the pits from 80 km/h to 60 km/h. But we wouldn’t trade this restriction for the excitement that the eleventh team brings.”
Fans allowed to storm the track after the race
Another innovation is the partnership with Engineers Australia for International Women’s Day on March 8, which happens to be race day: As part of the “In Her Corner” campaign, Turn 6 will be named after Haas race engineer Laura Müller and Red Bull chief strategist Hannah Schmitz.
“That was a focus when we realized our race falls on International Women’s Day,” says Mottram. “Engineers Australia strongly supports the campaign. It’s fantastic to promote women in motorsport. In addition to many initiatives with Motorsport Australia and ‘Girls on Track’, naming the turns after these two engineers is something special.”
The so-called “track invasion” after the race, when fans are allowed to conquer the hallowed asphalt, will also take place again this year. “Last year it rained heavily, but otherwise everything went perfectly,” says Mottram. A year earlier, the event had to be suspended after fans stormed the track too early in 2023.
“We have adjusted barriers so that spectators can get on and off the track safely. All plans are in place to implement this again this year.” Now it remains only to hope that the Australians will be able to cheer for their favorite Oscar Piastri on the podium.
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