Formula One Australian Grand Prix to continue racing in Melbourne

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2014 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix - race start. Below, a snapshot from Facebook page of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announcing the race would remain in Melbourne for at least another eight years.
 

Politician Daniel Andre rub it in ith the F! Grand Prix race remaining in Melbourne, Australia / Headline Surfer®DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- In the Land Down Under, Melbourne has secured continuation of the coveted Formula One Australian Grand Prix until at least 2023, staving off a contentious bid from rival suitor Sydney, with a dose of politically-charged bragging rights thrown in for good meaure.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews took to Facebook to rub salt in the wound, posting a video showing him holding a copy of the Daily Telegraph's front page detailing New South Wales Premier Mike Baird's attempt to lure the race from Melbourne. 

"I'm sorry Mike, but the Australian Formula One Grand Prix is here to stay exactly where it belongs, in the great city of Melbourne," Andrews said in the wake of Saturday's news that the Formula One racing venue was secured now for another eight years at least.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews took to Facebook to rub salt in the wound, posting a video showing him holding a copy of the Daily Telegraph's front page detailing New South Wales Premier Mike Baird's attempt to lure the race from Melbourne. 

"I'm sorry Mike, but the Australian Formula One Grand Prix is here to stay exactly where it belongs, in the great city of Melbourne."

Andrews continued, ""The good news is that you and tens of thousands of others from New South Wales and right across Australia and indeed right across the world are more than welcome to come to Melbourne to be part of the great race. In fact I'll even shout you a ticket."

Baird, the rival politician, was quiet after the F1 announcement that the grand prix race would continue in Melbourne. 

Bernie Ecclestone, Group CEO of Formula One, was pleased the grand prix was staying put.

“We are very happy to extend our relationship with Melbourne, who continue to set the standard for Formula 1® events globally," Ecclestone said. "This new agreement will take the city past 25 consecutive years of hosting Formula 1®, a super achievement.”

Did You Know?

AGP race in Melbourne / Headline Surfer®• The current naming rights sponsor of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in March is Swiss watchmaker Rolex.
• The most recent race, the 2015 Australian Grand Prix, was won by Lewis Hamilton driving for the Mercedes team. Nico Robrg, alo driving for Mercedes, finished second. Rounding out the top 5 were Sebastian Vettell for Ferrari in third place, Felipe Masa for Williams taking fourth, and Felipe Nasr for Sauber in fifth place.
 
 
 
 
Chip Ganai Racing wins 2015 Rolex 4 at Daytona / Headline Surfer®Photo for Headline Surfer® /
Chip Ganasi Racing wins the 2015 Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway.
 
• The Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway also is sponsored by the Swiss watchmaker.
The local race runs continuously for 24 hours, featuring sports cars in several classifications on the high bank at the same time, including open-wheel cars, prototypes and traditional sport cars as opposed to NASCAR' stock car sedan racing in the Daytona 500.
 

FAST FACTS:

•A Formula One race or Grand Prix is a sporting event which takes place over three days (usually Friday to Sunday), with a series of practice and qualifying sessions prior to a race on Sunday.
•The first World Championship Grand Prix was held in 1950 at Silverstone; since then 70 circuits have hosted a Grand Prix. Circuits such as the Nürburgring have hosted Grands Prix using different configurations. The first race at the Nürburgring used the 22.835 km (14.189 mi) configuration, but concerns over safety meant that more recent Grands Prix have used a shorter, safer circuit.
Source: Wikipedia