From 1986 to 2023, a look back at five notable editions of the Australian Grand Prix

Australian GP 1986

Prost snatches title from Williams

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Battling with Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet until the final round of the world championship, Alain Prost is not a favorite against the two drivers Williams. Mansell (72 points) is the championship leader as he arrives in Adelaide for the second Australian Grand Prix in history, ahead of the Frenchman (65 pts) and the Brazilian (63 pts). The Briton, who only has to finish on the podium to be crowned, starts the weekend in the best possible way by taking pole ahead of his teammate Nelson Piquet. Alain Prost, 4th on the grid, does not give up and finds himself 2nd after an offensive first part of the race ahead of a cautious Nigel Mansell, who is looking to secure his title. Passing through the pits, the Frenchman suffers an interminable 17-second stop and comes out 4th. The title virtually flies away, but the race changes again on the 63rd of 82 laps when the right rear tire of the leader Keke Rosberg explodes. The incident that struck the Finn worried the Grove team: Mansell was called back to the pits at the end of the following lap, but he would never make it. This time it was the rear left tire that gave way and put an end to the Briton's title hopes. In a panic, Williams brought Piquet in on the following lap and handed the lead to Prost, only too happy to have managed his tires better. The Forez native crossed the finish line in the lead and became world champion for the second consecutive year.

Australian GP 1999

Irvine surprises McLarens

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The 1999 season was shaping up to be a duel between McLaren and Ferrari, and qualifying for the first GP of the season in Melbourne confirmed this trend. Defending champion Mika Hakkinen took pole position ahead of teammate David Coulthard, giving the front row an all-McLaren affair. Behind them, the Ferraris of Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine occupied the second row. At the start, Hakkinen maintained his advantage, followed by Coulthard and the Ferraris, but the dominance of the reigning champion and McLaren was quickly cut short. A double retirement of the silver single-seaters changed the scenario: Coulthard retired with a hydraulic problem, while a mechanical problem ended Hakkinen's race. Taking advantage of these setbacks, Eddie Irvine took control of the race and resisted the attacks of Heinz-Harald Frentzen. The Northern Irishman finally won his first ever Grand Prix in Formula 1, giving Ferrari an unexpected victory. Three more would follow for Irvine that year and two for the long-injured Schumacher, but the title once again went to Häkkinen at the end of the season. Team consoled herself with that of the builders.

Australian GP 2002

Carnage at the start

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This first meeting of the year 2002 was marked by a spectacular pile-up at the start. Michael Schumacher, reigning world champion, started the season as he had finished it in 2001: in the lead. The German took pole position ahead of his teammate Rubens Barrichello, giving Ferrari an all-red front row that suggested the Prancing Horse would dominate on Sunday. But from the first corner, a huge pile-up eliminated several drivers. Ralf Schumacher, while trying to overtake Rubens Barrichello, violently hit the rear of the Brazilian's Ferrari, sending his Williams flying. This crash led to the immediate retirement of several cars, including those of Nick Heidfeld, Giancarlo Fisichella and Jenson Button, considerably reducing the number of competitors in the race. After the race was neutralised under the safety car, Michael Schumacher quickly pulled away and imposed his infernal pace to go on to win without batting an eyelid, despite his brother's impressive take-off at the start. The event also marked the promising debut of Mark Webber in Formula 1, who gave Minardi a rare and precious top 5 in his first race in the premier class.

Australian GP 2009

The Brawn GP surprise

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After Ross Brawn bought Honda in the winter, few expected the modest team to be in the top half of the standings, but fewer still – if any – anticipated such dominance. In Melbourne, Jenson Button shocked the paddock by taking pole position, followed by his team-mate Rubens Barrichello, giving Brawn GP a completely new front row. Behind them, Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) and Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber) completed the second row, and the two men did not let go of the weekend. While Button led the race comfortably, Barrichello dropped back in the standings, leaving Vettel and Kubica to fight for second place.

While several incidents had already marred the race, including a collision between Heikki Kovalainen and Mark Webber, leading to a safety car on the first lap, the two young men battling for the podium clashed and had to retire a few laps from the finish, giving Barrichello an opportunity to get back on the podium. Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello achieved a historic one-two for the team, the beginning of an absolutely crazy season concluded with the two titles.

Australian GP 2023

Chaos reigns in Melbourne

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The 2023 Australian GP will remain one of the craziest events in a season of ultra-dominance by Red Bull and Max Verstappen. The Dutchman won in Melbourne, as he did almost everywhere else, but what a crazy race from start to finish! When the lights went out, the Silver Arrows struck hard: Russell and Hamilton attack Verstappen from the first corner, but the joy is short-lived for MercedesA safety car was quickly deployed after the retirement of Charles Leclerc, sent spinning into the gravel trap by Lance strollThe safety car had barely returned to the pits when it was called out again following Alex's accident. Albon, which even caused a red flag while the barriers were repaired. A few laps later, Russell saw his race ruined by an engine that gave up the ghost. Hamilton found himself alone against Verstappen who ended up taking the lead thanks to the superiority of his Red Bull. While the race seemed to stabilize, Kevin Magnussen hits the wall at the end of the race, causing a second red flag. A totally crazy final sprint ensues: at the restart, a monstrous pile-up affects several drivers, including the two Alpine, which self-eliminate and trigger a third red flag!

Finally, the race ended under safety car, without any real final battle lap, after a fourth start. Verstappen took the victory, Hamilton took second place and Alonso completes a royal podium after a race in which only 12 cars saw the finish.

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