Melbourne ran its first Formula One race in 1996, after taking the Australian venue from Adelaide. With this maiden race, also came the shift of the Australian race to the beginning of the Formula One calendar.

The track is contained in a park, the layout smooth and flowing, with no 90 degree street corners to break the speed. It runs clockwise around a lake, and the scenery is breathtaking. All the drivers love racing there.

Melbourne is Australia's second-largest city after Sydney, with a population of almost 3.4 million. It lies at the eastern end of the continent's south coast and is the capital of the State of Victoria. The city lies at the point where the Yarra River empties into Port Phillip Bay. Melbourne has many faces and is extremely multicultural, its 21st-century profile shaped by immigrants and students from all over the world, as well as a fascinating architectural mix of historical and modern buildings. The St Kilda district offers a thriving beach- and nightlife, and Melbourne also boasts lush green sports grounds and public parks. The Formula One circuit is right in the middle of the city, running through the idyllic Albert Park and around its lake. The teams find the pit area rather too small, while to the observer it is relatively tranquil.