Australian GP Venue

[Dashy902]

After the absolute procession that was the Australian GP 2018, how likely is it that we might see a change in venue for next season and the ones beyond? It seems obvious that with the width and cornering speed of the current machines, we've outgrown the track. No straight is long enough, there aren't any real hairpins so no long braking zones etc. I think I counted maybe 4 on-track passes over the entire 58 laps.

If we were to keep Australia and not change country entirely, I could see a few tracks that would either instantly or quickly be suitable, but all have a few issues that need to be sorted out first.

1. Adelaide - previous AUS GP venue. Could see issues with public road closures, cost of building temporary facilities every year, boring layout (a chicane into 5x90°corners, and easy flat from T12-T16) and length of circuit (1993 cars were in the 1:13's in qualli). Pros: Brabham straight into T11 would provide passing opportunities.

2. Bathurst - Premier Australian race track. Could see issues with building in enough safety on the mountain, building enough spectator facilities to turn a profit, lack of camera density, and public road closure. Pros: Excitement of layout, especially on the mountain, various passing locations (Griffens, Forrest's Elbow, The Chase)

3. Melbourne - Current AUS GP venue. Sees issues with public road closures, cost of building temporary facilities, lack of passing locations/opportunities, mickey mouse layout (out of 16 corners, a grand total of 2 aren't part of chicanes), and suboptimal pit lane exit. Pros: Procedures well laid out, large run-off areas.

From what I can see, scheduling the 2019 F1 AUS GP at Bathurst would be the best course of action moving forward, and it seems to me that Bathurst should have been the venue of choice from the very beginning. What am I missing?

[zac510]

I feel it's only the last 2 or so years that we've had boring races. In years prior we've had many exciting races and often the driver's championship winner does not win in Australia. It also rains often in Melbourne, but it didn't rain at the right time this year
IMO the track is not solely to blame.

[3jawchuck]

After the absolute procession that was the Australian GP 2018, how likely is it that we might see a change in venue for next season and the ones beyond?

There won't be a new venue until the current contract is over (2023): http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12515/ ... until-2023

I believe that Albert park is the only FIA grade 1 circuit in Australia. Mount Panorama (Bathurst) is only FIA grade 3, I think it'd take some major alterations to use that for F1. Eastern Creek and Surfers Paradise are grade 2, so in theory would require much less alteration than Mount Panorama.