Melbourne Grand Prix fans banned from entering race track

A popular Melbourne Grand Prix tradition has been scrapped after dangerous scenes unfolded at the event last year.

Fans at the Grand Prix have been banned from spilling onto the track after the race Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Fans will not be allowed onto the track after the Melbourne Grand Prix in the wake of a dangerous spectator invasion last year.

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation will on Thursday announce the popular practice of Formula One fans spilling onto the Albert Park pit lane after the race will be stopped in March amid an ongoing safety probe.

It comes after a large group of spectators managed to skip security and make their way onto the track in the dying stages of last year’s race with cars still on the circuit.

A car goes past where F1 fans are accessing the track. Picture: 7 News

The sport’s governing body, the FIA, is still investigating the matter.

In a statement, the Grand Prix Corporarion said:

“The Australian Grand Prix Corporation advises that given the ongoing FIA investigation into the early track breach at the conclusion of the 2023 event, there will be no track access for patrons following the Australian Grand Prix 2024.

“Decisions regarding patron access to the track at the conclusion of future races will be made at a later date.”

Fans were seen climbing fences and running into the danger zone before cars had passed the chequered flag last year.

Stewards investigating the breach also said spectators reached the stranded car of driver Nico Hulkenberg, which was still powered up and under flashing lights.

Fans have been banned from spilling out onto the track after last year’s events Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Former Melbourne Grand Prix chief executive Andrew Westacott said at the time it “could have been horrific” and promised a thorough investigation.

A report by race stewards in the event’s aftermath found expected security measures and protocols were not in place.“All of this presented significant danger to the spectators; race officials and the drivers,” the stewards report stated. Race organisers have rejected any suggestion security officers left a route to the track open when they left as their rostered shifts ended with the race still running after a succession of delays.

This year’s Grand Prix will roar into Melbourne on March 21-24.