Australian organization points to drivers: 'Have got to stop whinging'

Australia hopes to remain on the Formula One calendar early in the coming years. Formula One teams and drivers are not fans of it, but they should not whine, according to the race organizer.

For the first time since 2019, there was another Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park circuit. It had been a while since the F1 circus had been in Melbourne and for once not for the opening of the season. The third race was now held here, but in between races in the Middle East and Europe.

Criticism of Australia

That timing is cause for complaint for teams and drivers. For one race the whole circus has to travel to Australia, while later in the season there are also races in Singapore, Japan and in the future possibly China again, which are much more in line with the time zone of Australia. However, the organization refuses to host the race later in the year.

''The time for Formula One in Australia is early in the season,'' argues Andrew Westacott, the top executive of the GP organization opposite Reuters. Westacott understands that teams are not fans of the stand-alone race in Australia, but with even more F1 races in the future, they should get used to it according to the foreman of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation: ''The drivers have got to stop whinging in some respects.''