Formula 1 is to host its first proper launch event as part of the build-up to this year’s Australian Grand Prix in March.
All 20 drivers and 10 team principals will be present at the event on Wednesday 13 March, which will take place at Melbourne’s Federation Square.
Attendance for the event, which has been organised in co-operation with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, will be free for spectators.
The drivers will recreate the famous Melbourne Walk, one of the symbols of the race at Albert Park, while the event will be complemented by music acts and the presence of other sporting legends.
The event will also be streamed live on Formula 1’s social media platforms.
“Since 1996, except on two occasions, Formula 1 has kicked off its year in Melbourne and there really couldn’t be a location better than this fantastic city,” explained commercial chief Sean Bratches.
“The passion, knowledge and enthusiasm of the Melbourne crowd deserved a special thanks and this is why we have decided to organise the first ever Season Launch event in the history of the sport.
“We are incredibly excited to be putting on such a spectacle for our fans.
“It’s vital that we put them at the heart of everything we do, and this event provides us with a platform to engage with fans not just locally but also globally.
“The 2019 season also marks another historic moment for the sport as we celebrate our 1000th Grand Prix in China later this year and we are excited to see all the teams come together to kick off the season with a bang.”
Formula 1 has been trying to expand its reach outside of Grands Prix since Liberty Media acquired the sport.
F1 Live London was held in 2017 with all drivers present, aside from Lewis Hamilton, while four cities played host to Fan Festival events in 2018, with this number set to expand to six or seven for 2019.
