First F1 Race of 2019 to be Held Earlier than Usual

The 2019 F1 season is expected to have a new track in the form of Miami, which will be the second US Grand Prix after Austin. But it seems like that will not be the only change to the season schedule.

The F1 season begins with Australia, usually held in the weekend of March 23-25. But the organizers have now sought approval to hold the race a week earlier, between March 15-17.

The proposal is yet to be approved by the FIA but it could be done as soon as the next World Sport Council meeting. If it does approve it, the F1 weekend will clash with the WEC’s 1000 miles of Sebring.

Fernando Alonso could potentially face a dilemma if he so remains in F1, as he could be forced to pick one of the two events. He currently drives for McLaren in F1 while he has a contract with Toyota in the WEC.

The CEO of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, Andrew Westacott said that the change had been proposed to attract more tourism to the places where the event will be held. “To announce the F1 Australian GP 2019 date more than 8 months out from the event is fantastic news.”

“We hope this will encourage overseas and interstate visitors to plan for a lengthy visit to Melbourne and Victoria. We are immensely proud of the four-day spectacle Melbourne puts on and honoured to raise the curtain on one of the world’s most prestigious championship”, he said.

The presence of home-hero, Daniel Ricciardo is always a crowd puller and Westacott was of the opinion that it was the best way to start a season.

“The start of an F1 season, our Aussie superstar Daniel Ricciardo, a Supercars Championship round and so much off-track action- it is a must attend event in 2019”, he stated.