Australia looks unlikely to be brought forward in 2027 should the Middle Eastern races be cancelled. Image: XPB Images
Australia was confirmed yesterday as the third round of next year’s 24-race calendar, with the Albert Park event scheduled for April 1-4 after Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
However, questions remain about whether the championship’s planned opening sequence can proceed as scheduled amid continuing instability in the Middle East.
Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were both affected by the situation this season, with their original 2026 dates abandoned, while F1 has considered contingency options should similar disruption continue into next year.
Australia had been among the possibilities discussed for an earlier spot on the calendar, potentially even returning to the season-opening slot it occupied in 2025 and 2026.
But Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO Travis Auld told Speedcafe and other media on Thursday that Melbourne’s newly confirmed dates, combined with the ongoing redevelopment of the Albert Park pit complex, left little room for change.
“Our date’s been locked in now, April 1-4, and clearly we’ve got a big asset being built behind us that has some timelines attached to it,” Auld said.
“So we’re pretty much locked in at that April 1-4 date.”
Asked directly by Speedcafe whether there would be flexibility if Formula 1 requested the event be brought forward, Auld added: “I think it would be difficult for us to move that date now, yes.”
Other contingency options discussed should Bahrain and Saudi Arabia ultimately be unable to proceed include bringing forward the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix, which are currently scheduled immediately after Australia.
Under that scenario, Melbourne would retain its position as round three while China and Japan move ahead of it on the calendar.
The new pit building at Albert Park is scheduled to be partially operational for the 2027 event, with the ground level and much of the first floor due to be completed before the grand prix.
The full project is not expected to be finished until the 2028 race.
Although Australia will surrender the opening round next year under the published calendar, Auld said its contract allowed for the event to sit anywhere across the opening three races.
“Our contract with F1 has us as being somewhere between race one and three each year,” he said.
“We’ve had race one the last two years. I think what’s worked really well for us has been a race early in the season. The story of the season is still taking shape.
“And so this year it will be race three.”
Work on the new pit building remains ongoing at Albert Park. Image: Speedcafe/Ben Waterworth
Melbourne will also stage its first Formula 1 sprint in 2027 as the championship expands the format from six weekends this season to a record 10.
Australia is one of five new sprint venues alongside Bahrain, Japan, Monaco and Abu Dhabi, with Auld revealing the AGPC had pushed for the format during discussions with F1.
“I know we had lengthy conversations about our desire to have a sprint race,” he said.
“I think they’re awarding a sprint race to us is a sign they trust us as an event. But importantly, they trust us as a city to put on great events.”
Auld said the addition would strengthen the Friday and Saturday offering, pointing to Formula 1 figures showing increased viewing figures on sprint weekends.
“The stats say it brings more value to the event from a viewership point of view,” he said.
“I think the numbers say 10 to 12 percent increase in viewership. Fans enjoy the sprint qualifying three times more than they do enjoy free practice. And so from a fan point of view, it’s certainly way more compelling.”
The change will not come at the expense of Albert Park’s support categories.
Asked by Speedcafe whether the sprint format would affect the scheduling of championships such as Supercars and Formula 2, Auld said the overall amount of Formula 1 track time remained unchanged because competitive sprint sessions replace practice running.
He said the AGPC still intended to run a full support program as part of the four-day event.
Australia attracted 483,934 spectators across the 2026 weekend, setting another Melbourne-era attendance record.