This weekend, the Australian Grand Prix kicks off the 2015 Formula One season. Here are 13 facts you may, or may not, know about the race down under.
- 1985: Although a Grand Prix race has been held in Australia since 1928, it wasn’t incorporated into the official Formula One season until 1985.
- Adelaide: The capital of South Australia held the Australia F1 race from 1986 until 1995.
- Melbourne: Victoria’s capital has held every F1 GP race in Oz since 1996.
- Street circuit: The races in both Adelaide and Melbourne have been held on temporary street circuits.
- Most constructor wins: In the F1 era, McLaren has won the Aussie GP 11 times. Ferrari trails in second place with 7 wins.
- Most individual wins: Michael Schumacher, with his 4 wins, has won the most Australian F1 races.
- Foreigners only: No Australian driver has won the Australian Formula One Grand Prix.
- Most successful nation: Drivers from the UK have won the Aussie F1 GP 10 times. Winners include Damon Hill, David Coulthard, Eddie Irvine, Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton and Nigel Mansel.
Adelaide
- #50: The first Formula One race in Australia was the 50th Australian Grand Prix.
- Last!: Every F1 race held in Adelaide was the final event in that year’s Formula One calendar.
Melbourne
- First!: While the Adelaide race finished off the F1 year, the Melbourne event has kicked off every season except for 2006, which was delayed due to Melbourne’s hosting of the Commonwealth Games, and 2010.
- Albert Park: The Melbourne F1 race is held in the suburb of Albert Park, with a temporary street track constructed around Albert Park Lake, which is surrounded by a golf course and other facilities.
- Prince Albert: The suburb and lake are named after the Prince Consort, Queen Victoria’s husband.
