THE Melbourne Formula 1 Grand Prix officially known as Australian Grand Prix is set for a later start in 2017 after the FIA released its provisional calendar this morning.
The speed machines will take to the Albert Park Lake track a week later than this year, the March 26 date giving teams more time to adapt to a swag of rule changes, set to be implemented in 2017.
Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO, Andrew Westacott said he was thrilled Melbourne retained its position as the season-opening race. Australian Grand Prix live stream will be available on HD here.
“The air of anticipation surrounding a brand new Formula 1 season brings a buzz that Victorians know so well, with our great city coming alive in March and being on show to a vast global audience,” Westacott said.
“We look forward to welcoming fans, teams and drivers from all around the world to Melbourne in March.
“Fans worldwide, but especially those in Australia, will look forward to seeing how one of the most likeable drivers in Formula 1, Daniel Ricciardo, will do in the first race of the 2017 Formula One season.”
The 2017 Australian Grand Prix (formally known as the 2017 Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix) is a Formula One motor race that is scheduled to take place on 26 March 2017 in Melbourne. The race is scheduled be contested of fifty-eight laps of the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit and to be the first round of the 2017 FIA Formula One World Championship. The race is planned to mark the eighty-first race in the combined history of the Australian Grand Prix—which dates back to the 100 Miles Road Race of 1928—and the twenty-second time the event is held at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit. The current World Champion Nico Rosberg was the winner of the 2016 race, but he will not defend his win as he retired from the sport after the 2016 season
With the technical regulations undergoing a revision for the 2017 season,[2] the FIA requested that every circuit on the calendar undergo revisions to update safety features.[3] Organisers of the race introduced Techpro barriers to the run-off areas at the fastest points of the circuit, and reprofiled tyre barriers