From the shortest F1 race to Bottas 'F*** You' message: Top 10 Best Races in Australian Grand Prix History

The F1 2025 season opens with the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne. For many years, Australia has been traditionally the season opener. But, after 2019 Covid, the season opener went to Bahrain’s Sakhir International Circuit. This year, Formula 1 returns to Australia, with fans and teams eagerly preparing for the new season starting on March 16th.

Many experts believe the Australian Grand Prix is favourable for McLaren as they are the fastest team on the grid. Before the excitement unfolds, let us revisit some of the most memorable races held in Australia, both in Melbourne and Adelaide, which have served as iconic venues for F1 events.

Here are the best races in Australian Grand Prix history

10. 2019 Melbourne - Bottas “F** You”

The famous quote said by Valtteri Bottas, “To whom it may concern: F*** You”, happened during the exact same race in 2019’s season opener. It was Bottas's resurgence in F1 as he won that race since the 2017 season. Bottas started in P2, but at the race start, he overtook his Mercedes teammate, Lewis Hamilton and extended his lead throughout the race. He won the Australian Grand Prix with a 20+ lead. 

9. 1986 Adelaide - Prost vs Mansell showdown

Alain Priost and Nigel Mansell were battling out for the F1 world title. It was one of the most thrilling races in F1 history, with two great drivers, Mansell and Prost, battling hard for the win. The Brit was clearly leading the championship while Prost was following behind. The late drama happened on lap 64, as Mansell’s left rear tyre exploded, shattering his dreams of winning the Formula 1 title for the first time. The tyre exploded at 300 KMPH, and he miraculously escaped. But the huge accident cost him the title, and Alain Prost won his second world title.

8. 1991 Adelaide - F1’s Shortest race

Due to a heavy downpour, the 1991 Australian Grand Prix was cancelled after just 14 laps of racing. Ayrton Senna already secured his F1 world title before the race, and it was just a formality to complete the season. Mansell and Williams were the strongest teams that season, ahead of McLaren and Honda, but Senna was the clear difference.

The torrential rain was coming heavily, and there was zero visibility. Many drivers crashed during the race, but Senna led the grid with a huge gap. Finally the race was cancelled and the Brazilian legend was declared the winner. Drivers were awarded half points as the 75% of race was still left.

7. 2014 Melbourne - Heartbreak to Home fans

Daniel Ricciardo was the fan-favourite driver during the 2014 season opener in Melbourne. The Australian driver is racing his first season for the Red Bull team, with the reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel as his teammate. It was the first race of the turbo-hybrid era, and Mercedes was the strongest player. 

Vettel struggled with reliability issues, and Daniel was the only one to take Red Bull home. The Aussie drove very well and secured a podium finish by coming P2. The Home fans celebrated their fellow countryman’s podium finish. But it later turned into a disaster as he was disqualified due to illegal fuel flow rate and crushed his dream.

6. In 2018, Melbourne - Vettel wiped the smile out of the face

The 2018 F1 season was like a clash of the titans as Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton battled for their fifth world title. It was the first race in Australia, and Lewis Hamilton came the fastest on qualifying day against Ferrari drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian vettel. The two even had a verbal heat as Hamilton wanted to wipe the smile out of Vettel’s face after winning.

Sebastian vettel, in reply, said Hamilton will have the party today (Qualifying), and he and Kimi will have a party tomorrow (Race day). They eventually did, with a strategic masterclass from Ferrari that put Vettel ahead of Hamilton during the pit stop. It was still one of the best races in Australia. 

5. 2024 Melbourne- Sainz win against odds

In 2024, Carlos Sainz was driving for Ferrari and had appendix surgery. He missed the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and was just returning to racing. Pole winner Max Verstappen had issues with his car and retired early on the fourth lap. Sainz took the lead, and his teammate Leclerc was behind him after undercutting McLaren’s Lando Norris. Despite having immense physical pain, Carlos Sainz Jr won the race, defying all the odds against him. 

4. 2023 Melbourne - Dream Podium Pair

Verstappen claimed the Pole position after qualifying, but his race start was a disaster as George Russell and Lewis Hamilton overtook him and pushed him to P3. But an unexpected Red Flag cost Russell his lead, and Hamilton took charge as the leader. Max Verstappen’s amazing driving helped him to overtake Hamilton on lap 10, and he then controlled the entire race. But collisions continued to happen throughout the race, and it ended with a safety car. Max Verstappen won the race, keeping Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso behind. This was a dream podium as the fans witnessed three world champions together for the first time.

3. 1996, Melbourne - First ever race in Albert Park

It was the first ever race that happened at the Albert park in Melbourne, which replaced Adelaide as the home of Australian Grand Prix. Williams was the strongest team against McLaren and Ferrari. It was also the debut of Jaques Villenueve, who came straight from winning the Indy car championship.

He joined Damon Hilll and raced against a solo Michael Schumacher of Ferrari. Villeneuve took the pole position in his first ever F1 race against Schumacher and Hill. As he led most of the laps, he encountered a new issue in his car, which was oil leakage.  Williams's team feared having a huge incident and instructed the canadian to slow down. Damon Hill took the lead and won the race. Jaques Villeneuve still came P2, missing his debut race victory.  

2. 2009 Melbourne - Dream start for Brawn GP

It was the start of a new regulation, and Brawn GP was also debuting in Formula 1 after Honda left the grid. Jenson Button was their lead driver and took the pole position along with his teammate Rubens Barrichello. But during the race, Barrichello crashed with multiple cars on turn 1. Jenson Button was on the front, seeing all the chaos in his mirrors, and controlled the entire race himself.  He grew a massive lead and his teammate Barichello, despite collision, didn’t have a big damage and finished second. 

1. 2002 Melbourne - First corner carnage

There are dramatic starts - and then there's the 2002 Australian Grand Prix

EIGHT cars eliminated at the first corner 😱😱😱#OnThisDay#F1pic.twitter.com/Lpxs3btDRP

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 3, 2018

At the first corner, Ralf Schumacher triggered a collision on the back of Barrichello’s Ferrari. It created a chain reaction and eliminated 8 cars from the race. The other drivers were Jenson Button, Fisichella, Massa, Panis, Sato and McNish. Michael Schumacher and Motoya fought for the pole and finally the german emerged as the victor. Montoya finished in P2 while Kimi Raikkonen finished in P3, securing his first ever podium victory in F1. It was the most brutal and demanding race that makes it the best Australian GP race ever.

Also Read: Most wins at Australian Grand Prix: Which F1 driver is the king of Australia?