Gates opne for Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The gates are opening at Albert park for the first day of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Transcript

00:00 We're expecting about 60,000 people here today and the rest of the three days, Friday, Saturday,

00:08 Sunday, are all sold out as well.

00:10 So we're expecting to break last year's record crowd of 444,000 people.

00:17 The fans here, the demographics have changed over the last few years.

00:23 We were hearing from the Formula One boss earlier this morning who said they've seen

00:27 a lot more women and children coming along to this race and they're encouraging that

00:32 of course as well.

00:34 Plenty of things for fans to do outside of what's on the track here today.

00:38 There's some supercars and some Porsche action on track today.

00:43 But of course everyone looking ahead to Sunday's race.

00:46 The drivers will be coming out, walking through the crowds today, everyone hoping to get an

00:53 autograph or a selfie with especially the Australian drivers but plenty of fans of Ferrari

00:59 as well here.

01:00 So it's an exciting time.

01:02 There's trams arriving every few minutes and floods of people coming in.

01:07 So the crowd control are working extra hard here this morning.

01:11 Yes, certainly plenty going on.

01:14 And you mentioned the Australian drivers.

01:16 There are two in the race this year.

01:20 That's right.

01:21 There are two Aussies in the race for the first time since 2013.

01:25 Oscar Piastri, the young gun, is 22 years old, driving for McLaren.

01:30 And you can see flashes of the orange, the papaya orange of the McLaren side.

01:36 Ricciardo used to drive for that team as well.

01:40 So some people telling me that they've held on to their Daniel Ricciardo merch and are

01:44 now following Oscar Piastri and that team.

01:47 Piastri grew up not far from this track here and said before that as a kid he could hear

01:52 the race from his home.

01:53 And this is just his second season in Formula One as well.

01:57 But he is expected to drive quite well.

02:00 He's had a couple of top 10 finishes so far this season.

02:03 This is the third race this year, not the opening race as it has been traditionally.

02:09 Daniel Ricciardo, though, having a tough couple of years, it has to be said.

02:14 He's driving now for Red Bull's junior team, RB.

02:17 He has a lot of fans here, a lot of goodwill towards him.

02:21 He may struggle to get up in the points for this race.

02:25 So all the local hopes pin to Oscar Piastri.

02:28 Red Bull's cars have been dominating, though, finishing first and second.

02:32 And Max Verstappen is really the one that everyone is chasing.

02:36 So fans telling me they're really just hoping for a third place for Oscar Piastri.

02:42 Time to get an Australian on the podium here for the very first time.

02:45 It hasn't happened before.

02:46 So fingers crossed.

02:47 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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