What Is The Fastest Ever Lap Recorded At The Australian Grand Prix?

• Charles Leclerc set the fastest ever race lap at the Australian Grand Prix in 2024, clocking a time of 1:19.813 at Melbourne’s Albert Park Circuit.
• The lap record reflects recent circuit upgrades and advancements in F1 car performance, including wider corners and improved aerodynamics.
• Official race lap records are set during the Grand Prix, not qualifying, and Leclerc’s 2024 lap stands as the fastest under current FIA rules.

The fastest ever lap recorded at the Australian Grand Prix was set by Charles Leclerc in 2024. He clocked a time of 1:19.813 during the race at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne. This lap stands as the quickest official race lap in the history of the event.

Leclerc achieved this lap time while driving for Scuderia Ferrari during the 2024 Formula 1 season. His performance at Albert Park reflected both driver skill and the improved speed of modern F1 cars under current regulations. The circuit’s recent layout changes, which reduced its number of corners and widened several turns, also contributed to faster lap times.

The total race distance covered during the Australian Grand Prix is 306.124 kilometers, which is completed over 58 laps of the 5.278-kilometer circuit. Since its debut in Formula 1 in 1996, Albert Park has been known for fast street-style racing, but lap records have continued to drop as car performance evolves and the circuit undergoes periodic updates.

As of 2024, Leclerc’s 1:19.813 lap remains the official race lap record at the Australian Grand Prix. It is important to note that qualifying lap times are typically faster than race laps due to low fuel and optimal tire conditions, but only laps set during the Grand Prix itself count toward the official race lap record.

Why Was the 2024 Lap So Fast?

Several factors contributed to the speed of Leclerc’s record-setting lap. First, Formula 1 cars in the modern era benefit from advanced aerodynamics, hybrid power units, and refined tire strategies. Additionally, the Albert Park Circuit underwent layout modifications in recent years, including widened corners and reprofiled turns. These changes reduced overall lap time potential and made the circuit significantly faster compared to its earlier configurations.

How Long Is the Australian Grand Prix?

The total race distance for the Australian Grand Prix is 306.124 kilometers, which is covered over 58 laps of the 5.278-kilometer circuit. The layout blends temporary street sections with permanent infrastructure, giving it a unique feel and making consistency and car setup crucial to success.

Race vs Qualifying Lap Records

It’s useful to distinguish between race lap records and qualifying lap times. Qualifying laps are typically quicker because cars run with minimal fuel, new tires, and fully optimized engine modes. However, these times are not considered official race lap records.

For example, the fastest qualifying lap ever at Albert Park is quicker than Leclerc’s race record but does not count in official race lap statistics. These are tracked separately by Formula 1.

Fastest Laps at the Australian Grand Prix (Race Only)

This table shows how lap times have dropped significantly over time, especially after the 2022 layout modifications that removed a chicane and widened several corners to promote overtaking and increase average speeds.