Saudi Arabia will be the first GP of the 2024 campaign

The Australian Grand Prix Formula One will remain in Melbourne until at least 2037, following a new deal announced Thursday by the Victorian state Government. It will be the opening race of the season on at least four occasions between 2023 and 2027 and the agreement stipulates that the 2024 edition will start with the Saudi Arabian GP in Jeddah.

“Part of the agreement provides for Melbourne to host the first race of the Formula 1 season for at least four years, between 2023 and 2037, and for Saudi Arabia to host the first Formula 1 race season in 2024, in honor of Ramadan.” the government said in a statement.

Under their previous agreement, Australia was supposed to host the opening race in 2024, but a request by Saudi Arabian promoters to hold their grand prix before Ramadan prompted the date change. Ramadan in 2024 will begin on Sunday, March 10 in Saudi Arabia and will last until April 8, meaning the season will likely begin in early March.

Australia renewed its alliance in June this year until 2035. A long-term contract which, in addition, will serve for Albert Park to return to its traditional opening position for the season in 2024. Following a Saudi request to open the 2024 campaign for Not timing the GP with Ramadan, the adopted solution is to give Jeddah a favor and as ‘compensation’ Australia receives another two-year contract with the reopening of Melbourne in 2025.

This year’s Australian Grand Prix drew a record-breaking crowd of around 419,000 over the weekend and the government says that next year, with Formula 3 and Fórmula 3 on the programme, it will be even bigger.

“Demand for tickets for next year’s race has reached an all-time high, with event organizers expecting a record attendance after tickets for the main day of racing sold out in only three and a half hours since the sale,” they declared.