PIASTRI READY FOR HOMECOMING AS TRACK SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED FOR AUSGP

MEDIA RELEASE/Australian Grand Prix Corporation – Photo: Velocity Magazine

Homegrown hero Oscar Piastri, the return of Daniel Ricciardo and a thrilling mix of new on-track entertainment are set to keep fans entertained for four non-stop days at the FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2024.

Following one of the most impressive rookie seasons since Lewis Hamilton’s 2007 debut, including scoring his first F1® points here at Albert Park, Melbourne’s own Oscar Piastri will line up for his second season with McLaren. The young driver is looking forward to what he calls a “very special event”.

“It was a pretty crazy race last year but to score my first-ever F1 points in front of a home crowd will stay with me for a long time.”

Joining Piastri and making it two Aussie drivers on the F1 grid for the first time since 2013, Ricciardo is making his highly anticipated return to a full-time seat, racing for Visa Cash App Racing Bulls.

Formula 2® and Formula 3® will be back after debuting in 2023, with Australian F3 drivers Christian Mansell and Tommy Smith taking on their second seasons in the support series. The Sprint Races in both categories will bring extra thrills to the track on Saturday.

Practice and qualifying sessions for the three Formula categories will begin on Friday, and the final qualifying session for F1 will take place on Saturday afternoon.

The feature races for F1, F2 and F3 will all run on Sunday, with lights out for the headline race of the weekend, the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, at 3pm.

The popular Supercars series will return to Albert Park for the MSS Security Melbourne Supersprint, along with premier one-make series Porsche Carrera Cup. The two national support categories will kick-start the track action on Thursday with practice, qualifying and the first races of the weekend.

For the first time at Albert Park, the Ford SuperVan will hit the track. Following its impressive 1:56:28 lap record at Bathurst, the fastest ever by a closed top, commercial or e-vehicle, all eyes will be on the SuperVan to see if there are any more speed records to be broken.

SEE OUR FULL THRIFTY BATHURST 500 GALLERY HERE

SEE OUR FULL THRIFTY BATHURST 500 GALLERY HERE

Also on track, in celebration of 60 years since Bruce McLaren’s first Grand Prix win in a car of his making, the legendary winning car be on show on the track at Albert Park, alongside some of the team’s most iconic cars from the 60s and 70s.

The full schedule can be found at https://www.grandprix.com.au/schedule/track

Australian Formula 1 Driver, Oscar Piastri

“It is such a special event for me. Not only is it my home country but to have grown up so close to the track and coming back to my hometown is awesome.”

“It was a pretty crazy race last year but to score my first-ever F1 points in front of a home crowd will stay with me for a long time.”

“Even on a Thursday, there are so many people in the grounds and getting involved that it has a festival feel. As drivers, we do feel that. We aren’t able to get out to every part of the circuit but that passion is felt and makes a huge difference.”

Australian Grand Prix Corporation, Division Manager – Motorsport, David Corrigan

“We’re excited to share our action-packed track schedule for the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2024, there’ll be plenty for fans to cheer for especially as we have two Australian drivers on the F1 grid for the first time in over 10 years.”

“Each day of the schedule has qualifying and races across multiple series, and this year we also have a variety of exclusive on-track entertainment.”

“We’re looking forward to seeing what the Ford SuperVan can do here at Albert Park after its record-breaking turn in Bathurst and enjoying the historic McLaren cars on display 60 years on from the first win in a car of Bruce McLaren’s making.”

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