Major changes to Australian Grand Prix circuit confirmed ahead of F1 opener after George Russell’s terrifying crash

FORMULA ONE’S season-opener in Australia has undergone some major changes since last season.

The 2025 F1 calendar raises the curtain Down Under in Melbourne for the first time since 2019 ahead of a highly-anticipated season.

Big narratives include Lewis Hamilton making his debut for Ferrari while six rookies – including teen millionaire Ollie Bearman – also take to the grid.

However, there have also been changes made to the circuit itself in Australia.

The 2024 race was as dramatic as they come with Max Verstappen’s brakes catching on fire before Carlos Sainz swept home to win the race following surgery on his appendix.

But George Russell and Alex Albon suffered huge crashes at the same part of the track, with Russell’s Mercedes flipping violently before coming to a halt on its side while Albon’s Williams slid into the middle of the track following a big shunt against the wall.

Both incidents forced a red flag, but measures have been taken for this year’s race to try and ensure the same incidents do not happen again.

This year Albert Park chiefs have done major work to Turns 6 and 7, where the crashes happened.

The first change has seen the barrier moved and angled differently to stop a car bouncing back into the track.

Sections of the kerbing have been slightly flattened to reduce the risk of potential instability caused by the bumps.

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Meanwhile, adjustments have also been made to the gravel traps by bringing them closer to the kerbs.

Russell said the changes were a positive following his terrifying crash last year.

He told reporters: “Yeah, I know there’s been changes to the circuit through that corner.

“There’s been a few big crashes there and obviously that was, yeah, it was a big one in itself. I’m fortunate I didn’t get collected. Afterwards I think the duty lies on the FIA, to be honest.

“In this regard, I think the people around the circuit have done everything they can to make that corner slightly better if you were to have a crash so… 

“You know, it’s part of racing, it’s the dangers that we involve ourselves with.

“It’s when you push the limits and you’re going for everything, it sometimes bites. But I trust the team.”

An FIA spokesperson also explained the changes made after taking on board proposed changes from the FIA Safety Department.

They said: “The kerb at the exit of Turn 6 through entry and apex of Turn 7 has been replaced with a single specification of negative kerb.

“This adjustment removes the transition from negative to positive kerb that was present in this area, which previously had been addressed by local modification (grinding) of the kerb to provide a smoother transition between kerb types.

“The intent is to remove the possibility of this transition destabilising a car.

“Additionally, the gravel trap now extends to the back of the kerb and the barrier on the left-hand side of Turn 7 has also been moved and re-profiled to mitigate the possibility of a car coming to rest in a position near the racing line following an impact with the energy absorbing barrier in this area.”

The weather forecast for the Australian GP has sunny skies for practice and qualifying across Friday and Saturday.

However, the race on Sunday has a more than 80 per cent chance of being struck by rain, which would really throw the cat amongst the pigeons considering the other variables already in play.

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Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk