The Albert Park circuit, home to the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, will undergo a minor change ahead of its newly re-scheduled November date, with plans to widen the pitlane.
The pitlane is one of the narrowest on the calendar, but that will change for its 2021 event with plans to widen it by two metres, which could see the speed limit being lifted, making a pit stop much quicker.
F1 regulations stipulate an 80km/h speed limit in the pitlane, but the stewards can impose a lower speed if they deem it necessary. Albert Park’s pitlane speed limit has always been cut to 60km/h.
It’s hoped widening the pitlane will mean that limit can be raised to the maximum.
“Since the track was put down and pit lane was configured back in – I suppose the drawings were done ’94, ’95 for the first race in 1996 – cars have [got] a lot bigger,” Andrew Westacott, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, told Speedcafe.com.
“So we’ve widened it by taking a little bit out of the verge on drivers’ right. We’ve widened the pit lane by two metres.”
The grass verge to the right of the grid – which caused Daniel Ricciardo problems in 2019 – has been removed, with the pitlane wall now sitting up against the track limit.
Meanwhile track re-surfacing works, which were scheduled to take place after this year’s original March date, could still go ahead as planned, meaning the track would be resurfaced in time for the new November race.
“Now what with the deferral and moving the event to November does, is really allows us to have a good look at taking advantage of this window of time and getting the work done,” added Westacott.
“It now might be pre this year’s event given that it’s a November event rather than a March event.”
