AusLeisure

Melbourne’s Albert Park has posted record-breaking figures for the 2025 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix with a total of 465,498 spectators attending across the four-day event – marking an increase of more than 13,000 fans over last year’s 452,055.

Capacity was expanded ahead of the 2025 race to cater for demand, which has seen the attendance figure increase by well over 130,000 since the last pre-pandemic race at Albert Park in 2019.

Attendances in Melbourne had been capped at around 130,000 per day prior to the 2025 Australian Grand Prix but that number was increased for this year’s race. As well as an increased daily cap, a new 840-seat grandstand located at Turn 6, further helped to boost numbers.

The first day of on-track action on Thursday was attended by 72,056 - a 7,000 increase on the 2024 figure.

Friday attracted 125,000 fans – more than many races attract on race day and an increase of around 1,500 on last year. Qualifying day saw 136,347 in attendance – an increase of over 5,000 on the Saturday attendance in 2024.

On race day, fans braved wet conditions to queue for over an hour before gates opened at 8:00, seven hours before the race start.

The 2025 Australian Grand Prix saw fans and families enjoying the excitement of the Grand Prix since Wednesday at the Crown Lakeside Festival, which featured performances from local artists Tones and I, Baker Boy, Anna Lunoe and Spiderbait, plus international superstar DJ Fatboy Slim.

The free family-friendly Fan Festival was also running at Melbourne Park Oval from Wednesday. With fun for F1 fans of all ages, the Fan Festival featured appearances from sport stars, opportunities to get up close with an F1® show car, driver Q&A sessions, plus all the action straight from the track on the big screen.

The Formula 1 race was supported by action from other series, including the popular Supercars championship and F1’s feeder series Formula 2 and Formula 3.

Improved trackside experience for fans at Albert Park also included a 22% increase in super screens around the circuit, 23% more hydration stations, 27% more public bars and 17% more toilets compared to 2024.

Organisers also improved fan experience by increasing shaded areas at the track (not needed on Sunday) and added a new pontoon and a new overpass to help fans find their way around the track more efficiently.

Secured in Melbourne until 2037, the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix is a significant economic driver for Victoria and is one of the largest international sporting events in the southern hemisphere.

As of Monday last week, STR forward bookings showed hotel occupancy at 94% for the Grand Prix's Saturday night – 15% higher than the same time last year.

Australian Grand Prix Corporation Chief Executive Travis Auld notes "The Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix brings global attention to Victoria, and we are incredibly proud of the world-class event we stage each year."

The Grand Prix event fills hotels, restaurants and bars, while backing local jobs and businesses. With proven economic benefits, it is a major driver in Victoria's calendar of major events generating more than $3.3 billion in economic value each year.

With ANZAC Station set to come online in time for the 2026 event - easing ingress/egress concerns - the Australian Grand Prix Corporation is again anticipated to increase venue capacity, with the opportunity for another record-breaking year.

Image. 2025 Australian Grand Prix Credit: F1 Australian Grand Prix FB

Related Articles

28th February 2025 - TCL Electronics to drive fan experience at 2025 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix

25th February 2025 - Free Fan Festival announced for Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix

9th January 2025 - Binance partnership delivers design opportunity for Australian Grand Prix fans

22nd August 2024 - Surf challenges among Grand Prix Season Singapore 2024 race-themed programming

13th August 2024 - Extended grand prix calendar see Formula 1 revenues increase by 20%

18th July 2024 - New appointments announced for Australian Grand Prix Corporation Board

5th June 2024 - Taylor Swift, P!nk and Australian Grand Prix drive national economic growth in last quarter

15th April 2024 - Australian Grand Prix to open 2025 Formula 1 season

10th April 2024 - Ticketmaster looks back on Australian Grand Prix success

24th March 2024 - Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix anticipates record attendance at Melbourne’s Albert Park

8th March 2024 - Venue upgrades and record crowds help Qatar Airways Grand Prix secure win as Best Grand Prix 2023

25th February 2024 - Grand Prix circuit build underway at Albert Park

25th January 2024 - Tickets on sale for return of F1 Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.