With McLaren having secured a front row lock-out for today’s Australian Grand Prix, F1Technical’s senior writer Balazs Szabo takes a look at the history of the races Down Under.
This weekend sees the 39th edition of the Australian Grand Prix: the first 11, from 1985 to 1995, all took place in Adelaide, after which from 1996 onwards, it has always been held in Albert Park with the exception of 2020 and 2021, when the race was not held because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Adelaide was traditionally the final race of the year, while Melbourne has always staged the race early in the season, mostly as the season-opener, which is once again the case this year.
Michael Schumacher tops the list of all-time winners here on four, followed by Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel, equal on three. A further 20 drivers have won in Australia, making it one of the races with the highest number of different winners. However, only 15 have ever started from pole, with Lewis Hamilton leading the way on eight, followed by Ayrton Senna on six.
McLaren and Ferrari are the most successful teams, with 11 wins apiece. The Scuderia has won twice in the past three years, in 2022 with Charles Leclerc and last year with Carlos Sainz, while the reigning world champions have not tasted victory in Melbourne since Button won for them in 2012. By finishing first and second in 2024, Ferrari is now the team with the most podium finishes (28) overtaking McLaren (27).
