SYDNEY COULD NOT HOST F1 RACE UNTIL 2026

It has been reported that Sydney is considering making a bid from the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, however, New South Wales could not take the race until 2026.

Victoria and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation have signed a contract to run the Australian Grand Prix until the end of 2025.

Seven News in Sydney is reporting that high level talks are underway to see if it would be viable for the New South Wales city to host the Australian Grand Prix.

With Australia getting on top of the COVID-19 pandemic, the New South Wales government sees it as an opportunity to boost tourism and bring money back into the economy.

Sydney has looked at hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix on a number of occasions, however plans have previously never failed to make it past the initial stages.

The closest Sydney has ever come to any F1 action was when Mark Webber performed a demonstration run over the bridge in 2005 driving his V10 powered Williams.

It has been confirmed that for safety reasons as well as traffic inconvenience that the Sydney Harbour Bridge itself could not be used as part of the racetrack.

An initial proposed layout would see Formula 1 cars race under the world-famous Sydney Harbour Bridge, through The Rocks and towards Barangaroo.

It is thought that new Barangaroo precinct would be the ideal location as the base for the pits and paddock area.

Sydney believes its backdrop of world-famous sights would be the perfect place for the Australian Grand Prix to take place, it has five years from this stage to make it happen should they wish.

It has been a difficult run for the Melbourne round which had to call off the event just hours before cars hit the track for practice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event was also set to take place earlier this year before it was delayed to November, before being cancelled for a second consecutive year.

Some reports stated that the event in Melbourne would be cut from the calendar entirely if the event does not take place next year, however the Australian Grand Prix Corporation denied these international rumours by announcing the date for the Australian Grand Prix in 2022.

Reportedly NSW’s investment minister Stuart Ayres is leading the push to hold the event in New South Wales.

Sydney Motorsport Park in Eastern Creek is being discussed as a potential back up.

The venue previously hosted international open-wheel racing in the form of the now defunct A1GP series, however would need to undergo several changes to meet the strict safety requirements to host a Formula 1 event.

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