Beyond the big race: Where to party at the 2020 Australian Grand Prix

The racing will be hot and the action off track even hotter with a podium finish for food, beverage and entertainment stretching from start to finish line.

In 2020, Melbourne celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Formula One Rolex Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park by partying like it’s 1996, with galleries from photo archives and historic car displays, food and drink menus celebrating a quarter of a century and a ’90s-inspired lakeside bar playing the best tunes from the past 25 years.

The Albert Park track will be home to all things Melbourne culture at M-Lane, where food and art will be showcased in a laneway-inspired experience. The AUSGP Sessions will be centre stage in M-Lane, home to food trucks, street art, pop-ups and live music.

The Lounge is the place to be for Heineken Saturday, in one of the most exclusive and stunning settings at the Albert Park grand prix circuit. Locksmith, from UK supergroup Rudimental, and Aussie pop sensation Starley will hit the stage.

Make your trip to the GP a family affair and make a pitstop at The Kids Corner. Mini Formula One fans can lap up the Porsche Kids Track Experience, have a kick at the AFL Auskick activation, bounce on to the trampolines and check out the Warner Bros activation zone. That’s all, folks!

If you want to do F1 in style, then there are corporate and luxury VIP packages for every taste and budget. Be seen in the stylish Marriott Bonvoy Lounge, complete with a premium grazing menu curated by the Atlantic Group, plus champagne, premium wines, soft drinks and espresso coffee.

Hit up the tiered rooftop viewing deck to take in a grandstand finish.

The Pit Exit – Trackside International is where contemporary luxury and a relaxed vibe meet, in a prime spot to soak up all the energy and excitement of the big race’s start and finish.

Torque Bar will be revving with an electric atmosphere in the pumping heart of Pit Exit. All-day DJ sets provide the soundtrack for the GP weekend, with the Atlantic Group rolling out a grazing menu embracing the venue’s setting.

Cocktails and cars come together in Parc Chalet presented by The Emerson, a bar and lush garden located in the heart of the action, overlooking Turn 14.

The Versor Innovation and Tech Hub highlights Victoria’s ingenuity in the automotive, defence, aviation and advanced manufacturing industries. Fans can also get a look into a F1 car and its first-class technology.

Rev heads can get behind the wheel in the E-Grand Prix, a collaboration between RMIT University and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, at the Tech Hub.

This transportable activation features four F1 racing simulators and large format viewing screen, complete with podium – perfect for that social media photo. Plus, there’s the chance to win F1 experiences and prizes.

Revving up on Friday night is the World Tour Bushfire Relief Charity concert at Lakeside Stadium headlined by global superstar Miley Cyrus (tickets, including top-tier packages in The Residence – dubbed “a lakeside village” – are on sale through Ticketek). Also rocking the stage are country-rap star Lil Nas X, homegrown icons The Veronicas and DJ Seb Fontaine.

Proceeds from concert ticket sales go to Australian-based not-for-profits working to restore forests and wildlife and rebuilding communities affected by the devastating summer fires.

The four-day Formula One Rolex Australian Grand Prix starts on Thursday, March 12. The 58-lap race is on Sunday, March 15.

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