Although the pandemic has shut down the Australian Grand Prix for the second straight year, alterations to the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit have now been completed, with the aim of spicing up the racing when the Formula 1 circus eventually returns to these shores.

All told, the changes are estimated to take 230 meters, two corners, and five seconds off lap times for F1 cars, with organisers hopeful the resdesign will add the possibility of an additional DRS zone.

The circuit realigment also alters the spectator and corporate areas come event time.

The renovation also opens up extra parkland space for use 51 weekends of the year, with an improved flow resulting for the peloton of cyclists who frequent the Park.

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Turn One

The track into the opening turn has been widened by 2.5meters, which gives the impression that the mid-apex kerb has been tightened up.

Turn Three

…ditto turn three, with the widening of the road on entry sharpening the inside kerb.

Turn Six

Conversely, the ripple strip at turn six has been significantly pushed back, opening up the corner.

It is expected that the F1 mid-corner minimum speed will increase by 70km/h to 219km/h – it will be interesting to see if there are changes to the runoff in this area to deal with the higher speeds.

Turn Seven

In line with the opening up of turn six, the kerb on the inside of the seven has been extended.

TurnS 9-10

Now the gentlest of the turns of the portion of track constituting the back “straight”, this flat out blast replaces the former hard stop at turns 9-10.

The spectator bank on the outside has been re-modelled and brought up to the edge of the track, meaning that this will be a tight alleyway come race weekend.

The realignment of the circuit in this area means it now more closely follows the original Albert Park layout, albeit that iteration ran anti-clockwise from 1953-’58.

The iconic photo from the top-right with the cityscape framing the race track is likely to be no longer in play.

Turn 13

The flat-out turn 11-12 switchback remains unchanged (although cars will arrive there significantly faster), but there has been a large modification at 13.

The corner entry has been straightened and widened, the kerb tightened, with the exit of the corner now a gently bending left rather than the previous straight.

Camber in the corner has also been added, with the hope it will create multiple race lines.

Turn 15

A wider approach and a tighter radius on the kerb, the corner has also had camber added.

The Rest

As alluded in our latest On the Grid Podcast by Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO Andrew Westacott, the remaining sections of track that have not recently received attention, are due for an imminent repave for the first time in 25 years, all with a highly abrasive track compound.

Granted, the blacktop has an annual birthday prior to race weekend, it is looking very tired in places, and noticeably lumpy and bumpy, and that is from a comfy SUV touring the roads at the posted 40km/h.

The Pit Lane

The actual first step in the changes to the facility was the widening of the pit lane by two metres, well and truly eating into the grass verge on driver’s right of the main straight.

This has been completed in the hope of raising the pit lane speed limit.

The COVID of Things

Is there a level of irony in the fact that the pandemic has shut down the Grand Prix for two successive years, yet the area behind the pits is being used as a drive-through COVID testing site?