Editing Albert Park Circuit (section)

==Design==
[[File:Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, March 22, 2018 SkySat (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|A satellite view of the circuit just before race weekend 2018]]
The circuit uses everyday sections of road that circle Albert Park Lake, a small man-altered lake (originally a large lagoon formed as part of the ancient Yarra River course) just south of the Central Business District of Melbourne. The road sections that are used were rebuilt before the inaugural event in 1996 to ensure consistency and smoothness. As a result, compared to other circuits that are held on public roads, the Albert Park track has quite a smooth surface. Before 2007 there existed only a few other places on the Formula 1 calendar with a body of water close to the track. Many of the new tracks, such as [[Valencia Street Circuit|Valencia]], [[Marina Bay Street Circuit|Singapore]] and [[Yas Marina Circuit|Abu Dhabi]] are close to a body of water.

The course is considered to be quite fast and relatively easy to drive, drivers having commented that the consistent placement of corners allows them to easily learn the circuit and achieve competitive times. However, the flat terrain around the lake, coupled with a track design that features few true straights, means that the track is not conducive to overtaking or easy spectating unless in possession of a [[grandstand]] seat.<ref name="F1 Fansite" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/australia/motorsport/circuit/1318.html|title=Albert Park|website=ESPN UK|access-date=31 May 2017|archive-date=18 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018001729/http://en.espn.co.uk/australia/motorsport/circuit/1318.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://f1chronicle.com/australian-grand-prix-formula-1-calendar/#Where-is-the-Australian-Grand-Prix-circuit/|title=Where is the Australian Grand Prix Circuit?|date=19 January 2021|website=f1chronicle.com|access-date=19 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410163501/http://groupandpay.com/10-tips-for-organising-a-group-trip-to-a-formula-1-grand-prix/|archive-date=10 April 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Albert Lake Park Street Circuit in Melbourne, Australia.svg|thumb|left|Grand Prix Circuit layout between 1996 and 2020]]
Each year, most of the trackside fencing, pedestrian overpasses, grandstands, and other motorsport infrastructure are erected approximately two months before the Grand Prix weekend and removed within 6 weeks after the event. The land around the circuit (including a large aquatic centre, a [[golf course]], a [[Lakeside Stadium]], some restaurants, and rowing boathouses) has restricted access during that entire period. Dissent is still prevalent among nearby residents and users of those other facilities, and some still maintain a silent [[protest]] against the event. Nevertheless, the event is reasonably popular in Melbourne and Australia (with a large European population and a general interest in motorsport). [[Middle Park (stadium)|Middle Park]], the home of [[South Melbourne FC]] was demolished in 1994 due to expansion at [[Albert Park, Victoria|Albert Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/special/middle.php|title=Middle Park Stadium|access-date=20 June 2020|website=austadiums.com}}</ref>

The Grand Prix regularly draws crowds of over 270,000 spectators, with the 2024 drawing a record crowd of 452,055, including 132,106 on the main raceday.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://raceweek.com.au/news/2024/3/24/new-attendance-record-for-australian-grand-prix-at-albert-park|title=New Attendance Record For Australian Grand Prix At Albert Park|website=Raceweek.com|date=24 March 2024|access-date=24 March 2024|archive-date=3 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503095720/https://raceweek.com.au/news/2024/3/24/new-attendance-record-for-australian-grand-prix-at-albert-park|url-status=dead}}</ref> There has never been a night race at [[Albert Park, Victoria|Albert Park]], although the 2009 and 2010 events both started at 5:00&nbsp;p.m. local time. The current contract for the Grand Prix at the circuit concludes in 2035.<ref>{{cite web |title=Formula 1 to race in Melbourne until 2035 in new agreement |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.formula-1-to-race-in-melbourne-until-2035-in-new-agreement.7EeElN0gG4wOKY1OJwHV94.html |website=Formula 1 |access-date=16 June 2022}}</ref>

Following the postponement of the Australian Grand Prix in [[2021 Formula One World Championship|2021]], due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the track underwent layout changes, the most notable part was the modification of the turn 9–10 complex from a heavy right-left corner to a fast-sweeping right-left corner into turns 11 and 12. Further modifications included the widening of the pit lane by {{cvt|2|m|yd|abbr=on}} and the reprofiling of turn 13.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Albert Park F1 layout will change for 2021 Australian GP|url=https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/albert-park-layout-2021-australian-gp/5416110/|access-date=2021-02-20|website=motorsport.com|language=en}}</ref> Also, some corners were widened such as turn 1, turn 3, turn 6, turn 7, and turn 15. The 2022 pole position lap time was 2.6 seconds quicker than in 2019.{{cn|date=March 2024}}