How to watch the Melbourne F1 Grand Prix this weekend

Missed the window for coveted trackside seats? There are plenty of other ways to get into the Melbourne Formula One Australian Grand Prix weekend.

An F1 car driving fast with a blurred background

Photo: Getty

It’s arguably the hottest ticket in town this week, but for those that missed out, accessing the Formula One Australian Grand Prix (AGP) may require some creative thinking.

After tickets to Sunday’s Formula One season-opener sold out in less than an hour back in October, many fans will be invariably scratching their heads on how to experience the AGP without trackside seats.

Don’t despair, we’ve got your back!

Naturally, all the action will be telecast live from Thursday on Fox Sports (Channel 506) as well as its Kayo streaming arm. Network 10 will show action live and free on Friday, Saturday and Sunday on Channel 10 and 10Play.

Melbourne’s Federation Square will be open to the public for a live, big-screen viewing of Saturday’s qualifying sessions and the full race on Sunday. The Atrium will also be taken over by the Atlassian Williams F1 Racing team over the weekend.

Alternatively, if you want some buzz about your race viewing, dozens of pubs in Melbourne – not to mention just about every other Australian town and city – will be showing the action as well.

The 2024 Formula One season opener starts with three practice sessions: free practice 1 (FP1) on Friday, March 14 at 12:30pm, followed by FP2 at 4pm.

On Saturday, March 15, FP3 kicks off at 12:30pm, leading into qualifying at 4pm.Sunday’s 58-lap race gets underway at 3pm.

Five things to look out for at the Formula One Australian Grand Prix

1. Melbourne is once again the season-opener

Much of the interest in the 2025 Formula One Australian Grand Prix lies in the fact there is no true form guide on team or individual performances.

For the first time since 2019, Melbourne will open the 2025 Formula One season and, if the recent three-day test in Bahrain is any guide, as many as six teams could be considered potential race winners.

Adding to that uncertainty is the fact that only two teams (McLaren and Aston Martin) retain the same driver pairings as 2025.

And in a further twist, up to 8mm of rain is forecast for race day at the time of writing.

F1 cars on a racetrack

2. McLaren and Piastri showing huge promise

If there was a single take-away from the recent Bahrain test, it is this: McLaren and Australian driver Oscar Piastri look formidable.

Piastri finished fourth-fastest on the timesheets at the completion of the three-day test and even suggested McLaren have a “solid pace to be starting from” in what was a mostly “faultless” running.

McLaren took out last year’s constructors’ championship and have two gun pilots in Piastri and team mate Lando Norris.

Oscar Piastri

3. Lewis Hamilton’s blockbuster move to Ferrari

Pairing Formula One’s most successful driver in Lewis Hamilton, with the sport’s most iconic team in Ferrari, has naturally been the centrepiece to this year’s huge pre-season hype.

However, it’s clear both parties aren’t motivated purely by romantic storylines. They want results.

For Hamilton, switching from Mercedes to Ferrari fulfils a childhood dream to join the Scuderia, but also provides arguably his best chance at securing a record eighth Formula One championship.

Ferrari, meanwhile, has not won the drivers’ title since 2007, but has shown decent progress so far with the SF25 race car.

Albert Park promises to provide a fascinating backdrop for Hamilton’s historic first race in Scarlet.

Lewis Hamilton

4. Two Aussies and a Kiwi in the mix

Having Melbourne play host to the 2025 Formula One season-opener is significant for many reasons, but it will no doubt hold a special place for three drivers on the grid.

This year, two Australians and one New Zealander will be represented on the Formula One grid in a full-time capacity.

The Australian contingent will be represented by the aforementioned Melbourne-born Oscar Piastri (McLaren) as well as Alpine’s Jack Doohan – son of five-time 500cc world motorcycle champion Mick Doohan.

Meanwhile, from New Zealand, steps in promising talent Liam Lawson, who will make his highly-touted Red Bull debut alongside reigning world champion Max Verstappen.

Jack Doohan