Monday, 17 May, 2021 - 08:45
Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland, bottom, leads the rest of the pack during the start of the F1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Australia, March 17, 2019. (AP) Asharq Al-Awsat
Australian Grand Prix chief Andrew Westacott said on Monday he was confident the race would go ahead in November but poured cold water on the idea that Melbourne could host back-to-back rounds of the Formula One championship.
The 2020 edition of the Australian Grand Prix was cancelled at the last minute as the COVID-19 pandemic took a hold on the world and the 2021 race has been moved from its traditional season-opening spot to November.
In an effort to promoting faster and more competitive racing, Australian Grand Prix organisers are using the opportunity of laying down a new track surface to also tweak the layout in time for the race later this year.
Last month we reported that the changes were in store, now the work has begun on-site; they announced on their website today:
The Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix will undergo its biggest change since the race moved to Melbourne in 1996, offering a brand new on-track spectacle for fans in 2021.
Seven of the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit’s corners are being modified – with two removed entirely – enabling more overtaking opportunities and promoting faster and more competitive racing.