AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX CORP GP WRAP

PRESS RELEASE/Australian Grand Prix Corporation – Photos: Velocity Magazine (John Morris & Darin Mandy)

Sunday – Day Four saw a booming estimated crowd attendance of 102,000, this is the highest Sunday attendance figure since 2013!

This brings the total event estimated attendance to 324,100 and it is the highest estimated four-day attendance figure since 2005.

ALL THINGS FORMULA 1

Mercedes-AMG Petronas driver Valtteri Bottas  won the Formula 1^® Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2019 in emphatic fashion, taking the chequered flag 22 seconds ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton in second. Max Verstappen claimed third place for Red Bull Racing.  Bottas complemented his race win by clocking the fastest lap of the race to open his campaign of the 2019 FIA Formula One World Championship™ with 26 points.

Hometown hero Daniel Ricciardo was forced to retire from his racing debut with Renault on Lap 31 after a nightmare start saw him lose his front wing on the opening lap. Carlos Sainz’s McLaren was the first retirement of the 58-lapper, while Romain Grosjean’s bad luck at the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit continued when a loose wheel forced him out of the race. 2019 mark’s his sixth DNF in Australia out of eight races for the Frenchman in Melbourne.

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SUPER SUPERCARS

Scott McLaughlin bounced-back from Saturday’s disaster to claim the fourth and final race win of the weekend, having started from second on the grid. Chaz Mostert and Jamie Whincup completed the podium.  As the highest points scorer for the Beaurepaires Melbourne 400, Mostert secured the coveted Larry Perkins Trophy with three podium finishes and one fifth place over the course of the weekend’s racing.

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OFF TRACK FUN & SADNESS

Children were given the chance to live out their dream of being a Formula 1^® driver in the Disney Junior GP Challenge. The budding race car drivers battled it out down Melbourne Walk, driving liveried Francesco electric Formula 1^® replica cars.  Fans got to meet their favourite Supercars drivers ahead of their final race at an autograph session in the morning with eager fans lined up to get a glimpse of their local motorsport heroes.

Headline act, American DJ Tay James, entertained the crowd in the Heineken Village, performing chart-topping hits to fans dancing up a storm.

A minute’s silence was observed in honour of Formula 1^® Race Director, the late Charlie Whiting, and for those affected by the tragedy in New Zealand, before Australian singer-songwriter Anthony Callea sung the Australian National Anthem.

Andrew Westacott AUSGP CEO closing comments

“What a sensational four days it has been to be in Melbourne and at the Formula 1^® Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2019. We broke crowd records, the racing action across all categories was non-stop, off-track entertainment had crowds pumping and we had a Fin favourite Valtteri Bottas take home his maiden Australian Grand Prix victory.”

“The support for this year’s event has been phenomenal with an estimated 324,100 people attending this year’s Australian Grand Prix which was the highest four-day attendance since 2005.”

“Melbourne was bathed in sunshine and breathtaking views of our city were broadcast globally for priceless international exposure of our great town. Major events are Victoria’s tourist attractions and the Formula 1^® Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2019 did not disappoint.”

“Whilst it wasn’t Daniel Ricciardo’s day, he did his absolute best and that is all we can ever ask of someone. He is a fantastic ambassador for our sport and the class and humility he displays is something we can all be super proud of.”

“A big thank you to all of the people involved in bringing this year’s Australian Grand Prix to life. You are the backbone of the Formula 1^® family and it takes a village to pull this world-class event together and I can’t thank you all enough for everything you have done. Your passion and commitment to getting the job done is commendable as bringing to life an elite Grand Prix is a team effort.”

“To the fans – you are what Formula 1^® is about and without you the sport doesn’t exist. You came out in droves to support Australia’s number international sporting event and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Bring on 2020!”

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