Liberty Media has announced the 2020 Formula 1 season will commence in Australia on March 15.
The race around Albert Park in Melbourne has been the traditional curtain-raiser since joining the calendar in 1996, having only given up the position twice to Bahrain in 2006 and 2010.
And though a shake-up of the schedule is expected, with the Dutch and Vietnamese Grand Prix’s joining and two events set to be cut, Oz will remain the place to get the party started.
“We are pleased to announce that, as has been the case for many years now, the next FIA Formula 1 World Championship season will get underway in Melbourne,” CEO Chase Carey said on Saturday.
“The Albert Park circuit is one of the most popular venues on the calendar, much appreciated by everyone who works in Formula 1. The enthusiastic reception from the Australian fans makes this round really unique and special.
“There can be no better place to start the 2020 season, which will be significant as the sport will celebrate its 70th anniversary.”
Another race that was expected to join but won’t was in Miami, as Liberty Media push for a second Grand Prix in the USA.
Original plans near the American Airlines Arena were scrapped due to local opposition, but that hasn’t stopped organisers looking at a new possible venue at the Hard Rock Stadium.
“We are taking a long-term view on it,” F1’s global director of promoters and business relations, Chloe Targett-Adams, told ESPN.
“Miami’s definitely a city we want to race in… it’s electric, it’s an awesome destination, it’s a hugely vibrant, dynamic, great city to add to the Formula 1 calendar.
“It’s a complex project getting a street race up and running when you’ve got multiple stakeholders and multiple community interests. You have to go about it in a way that minimises disruption to businesses and residents – quite rightly – but also that adds to that area.
“It seemed that when you’re looking at something on a long-term basis that’s quite a challenge to resolve.
“We are trying to work out how we can work out a race to Miami in locations that work, whereas there might still be a challenge or complex to work through but ultimately can deliver on a great race and is additive to the wider community and stakeholders.”
