Why Australian GP track invasion is back – but with a twist

There may be a lot wrong with the world, but for a whole generation of Formula 1 fans at least one thing will feel just right again this weekend as once again Albert Park provides the picturesque backdrop of the 2025 season opener.

The race, which first joined the calendar in 1996 after taking over the Australian Grand Prix from Adelaide, has grown into a beloved and vibrant stop on the F1 calendar, given its urban location a tram ride away from Melbourne CBD and the adjacent St Kilda beach.

But it is also a race with a point to prove. This weekend’s running is the first as a season opener since the fated Friday 13 March 2020, F1 – and soon the world at large – was struck by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Returning to its long-held status as the season opener, even if through external circumstances as the Ramadan has led to date shifts for Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, is a chance to banish the demons of 2020 that the organisers don’t want to miss.

“For us it’s obviously the first time we’re back at first race since 2020 and obviously, we all know what happened on Friday the 13th, believe it or not,” the race’s Chief Events Officer Mottram tells Autosport. “It’s the first time we’re back as the first race since Formula 1 has really exploded post-COVID and Drive to Survive.”

The event bounced back from the pandemic extremely well upon its return in 2022, setting consecutive attendance records up to 452,000 fans. But one popular feature of the race went out of hand in 2023 when throngs of spectators invaded the track at the end of a chaotic red-flag-affected race, while cars were still circulating. Some spectators were also able to reach the stranded Haas of Nico Hulkenberg.

The organisers were found in serious breach of the FIA’s sporting code and eventually fined €120,000, leading to a ban on the popular track invasions the following year. But having worked with F1 and the FIA on ways to prevent a repeat, post-race track celebrations are back on the menu in Melbourne, though the organisers would rather not hear the word ‘invasion’ any longer.

“First things first, it’s no longer called ‘track invasion’. It’s called a ‘track walk’,” Mottram says. “But we’re reintroducing it because we thought that was a really important crowd experience to have here, especially at the first race.

“We obviously had the issues in 2023, and we chose not to do it in 2024 while we worked through some track protection enhancement measures, and we work very closely with Formula 1, the FIA and other stakeholders around that. We’re very comfortable in what we’re reintroducing in 2025 for the end-of-race track walk.”

Solutions include new dedicated access points, while also working on better communication towards F1’s diversifying fanbase. “I guess it’s a double-edged sword of having a new kind of demographic come to our event where 43% are now aged between 16 and 34,” Mottram explains.

“As part of that there has also been a bit of an education piece on how those end-of-race procedures occur. We have also designed and installed 10 dedicated track entry barrier gates around the circuit, which are the only points through which you can come onto the track.”

In many ways the Australian Grand Prix is the archetype of the kind of event Liberty Media is looking for; held within the confines of a major destination city with easy access to public transport and a huge emphasis on off-track entertainment. The organisers are expecting another attendance record, while adding a downtown fan festival for those not so fortunate to secure a ticket, which will see appearances by Aussie drivers Oscar Piastri and Jack Doohan.

“Pre-pandemic we never really sold out and we have a massive public park, but once we had that explosion in interest in 2022 we actually started to see there is a limit to what you can do here,” adds Mottram.

“We could probably go higher in attendance, but we certainly don’t want to be tipping into that area where that customer experience is diminished. So, for the first time we have a fan festival to share F1 with fans that either missed out or that just want to get a taste of F1 without having to be part of the event. We’ve got Doohan and Piastri and other cool personnel making appearances out there and we’ll be showing the race there every day.”

Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team, signs autographs for fans

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images

One star attraction who won’t be making an appearance is Daniel Ricciardo, who continues to take a break from motorsport appearances after losing his F1 seat last year. While the Australian GP acknowledges the hyper popular Ricciardo is a big loss, it is confident Piastri can pick up the baton in a competitive McLaren, even if the pair are vastly different characters.

“We were hoping to see three Aussies on the line-up, and Daniel is a really marketable face and human to be around,” said Mottram. “But that’s okay. We know he’ll probably be back around the paddock with us sooner or later, and we’re launching his wine brand Enchante at our event this year, so we’ll always stay in touch with him and his team.

“But in saying that, Oscar has grown from strength to strength, and being a Melbourne boy just makes that extra special for us. We’re really excited about a really frontrunning contender here in Melbourne.”

The prospect of Piastri winning the race outright as the first Australian in F1 world championship history, which could well be on the cards given McLaren’s strong pre-season form, is another reason why reintroducing track walks could make such a difference. Melbourne’s passionate fans could well be cheering on one of their own on Sunday afternoon.

“We’ve been around a long time now, and to have an Aussie on any step, let alone winning, would be massive,” Mottram daydreams. “Having that celebration is another key part of why we wanted to bring back the end-of-race track walk. You see what that looks like when a Ferrari driver wins in Monza or any driver wins at their home track.

“Your mind does start to wonder whether he can be on the top step here in Melbourne. That would be pretty special – touch wood.”