1996 Australian Grand Prix

Circuit

This is the first Australian Grand Prix to be held in Melbourne. The race moves from the Adelaide Street Circuit — where it ran from 1985 through the 1995 season finale — to the new Albert Park circuit on the shore of Port Phillip. The switch also repositions the Australian Grand Prix from the end of the season to the opening round.

This is the second consecutive race held in Australia, the previous being the final round of 1995 at Adelaide.

Entrants

Taki Inoue was originally scheduled to drive for Minardi as a pay driver, but was replaced by Giancarlo Fisichella after the funding did not materialise before the race. Marlboro had expressed interest in Fisichella’s participation.

Both Forti cars face exclusion under the new 107% qualifying rule: any car lapping more than 107% off the pole position time will be excluded from the race.

Format

Three new elements debut at this race. The previous two-session qualifying format is replaced by a single 12-lap session on Saturday afternoon. The five-red-lights start procedure replaces the old red-to-green light system. And the 107% rule is applied for the first time in Formula One.