The Albert Park Circuit is the venue for the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, the season-opening race for the most prestigious motorsport competition of the world since 1996. The layout runs on the streets and public roads around Albert Park Lake in Melbourne, Australia. These streets are very well-kept and get closed-off for traffic before the race, configuring an FIA Grade 1 street circuit that most drivers consider the fastest of its type. There are sixteen corners in its clockwise trajectory, where high-performance vehicles reach top velocities of up to 250 km/h (155 mph). The average speed of the Albert Park Circuit is a whooping 100 mph (160 km/h).
The races at the Albert Park Circuit start/finish in the middle of the straightaway before Brabham. There are no sudden elevation changes or ups and downs in the trajectory, but the track view is frequently restricted in several segments by the grandstands and other surrounding structures. The temperate climate of Melbourne is pleasant for going outdoors but also tends to have remarkable intraday changes, a fact that adds a weathered edge to all competitions held at the circuit. Another feature adding style to the first Formula 1 race is the spectacular landscape of the Melbourne circuit, with its closeness to the Australian motor enthusiasts and its eye-catching views producing outstanding pictures in the heat of the competition.