The Australian Grand Prix will prevent Formula 1 fans from flooding onto the track after this year’s race following the problems that occurred at the end of the 2023 event.
Fans have been allowed onto the track as part of the traditional post-race ceremony since Albert Park came onto the F1 calendar in 1996 but must do so per protocol.
That includes waiting until the final driver has crossed the finish line and a relevant course car has swept through to ensure that the track is safe for people to enter.
However, at the conclusion of a hectic, incident-ridden race last season, spectators were spotted climbing fences and breaching the track while cars were still circulating.
Furthermore, Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg had come to a halt on the cooldown lap at the exit of Turn 2 due to a suspected engine issue. The German’s stranded VF-23 had activated the flashing red light, which indicates that the car had a possible electrical discharge and was in an unsafe condition.
The Australian Grand Prix Corporation agreed with the FIA’s delegation that it had been “an unacceptable situation that could have had disastrous consequences”.
It was also announced that a review of the security measures in place would be analysed and the subsequent findings and recommendations would be made to the FIA.
Although the review is still taking place with the relevant parties, the AGPC has announced that fans attending the 2024 race will not be permitted to access the track.
“The Australian Grand Prix Corporation advises that given the ongoing FIA investigation into the early track breach at the conclusion of the 2023 event, there will be no track access for patrons following the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2024,” the statement read.
“Decisions regarding patron access to the track at the conclusion of future races will be made at a later date.”
Having returned to the F1 roster after a two-year absence in 2022, the Australian GP will once again form the third round of the calendar on 22-24 March.
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