F1 – Circuits – Australia

	Australian GP	Date: 17 Mar 2013
Circuit Name	Albert Park (Melbourne)
Type of Circuit	Semi Street Circuit
Inaugurated	1996
Circuit Length	5,303 Km
Race Distance	307,574 Km
Number of Laps	58
Total Number of Turns	16
Right-Hand Turns	10
Left-Hand Turns	6
Direction of the Circuit	Clockwise
Lap Record	1:24.125 – M Schumacher (2004)
2012 Fastest Race Lap	1:29.187 – Jenson Button
2012 Pole Position	1:24.922 – Lewis Hamilton
2012 Race Winner	Jenson Button
The Australian Grand Prix exists since 1950 but didn’t form a part of the Formula 1 World Championship calendar until 1985 when it took place at the Adelaide Street Circuit. In 1996 the race moved to Melbourne, specifically to Albert Park, a street circuit which is used once a year for this event. It is a quick track with few straights meaning that overtaking is not a simple task. Since it is a street circuit, there isn’t much grip at the start of the weekend but this improves as the days pass by. The Australian Grand Prix tends to be an exciting race as it gets the Championship underway and many surprise results can occur.