Paul Little opens up on Grand Prix exit

Outgoing Australian Grand Prix boss Paul Little has opened up on his exit from the role, saying the organisation is in transition following the departure of longtime CEO Andrew Westacott.

The Age revealed on Monday the state government would not reappoint the ex-Essendon Football Club boss to the top job after three years in the position, despite Little seeking another five-year term as chair.

Paul Little has confirmed he will not be reappointed to his GP role.Credit: Getty Images, Simon Schluter

“With a new CEO and the changing of board appointments, the organisation is now clearly in a time of transition,” Little said on Tuesday. “My term comes to an end in September and I will not be reappointed.”

“I am immensely proud of my time as chair of the AGPC [Australian Grand Prix Corporation], and everything we have achieved ...

“I wish everyone at AGPC every success for the future in continuing to run the best global event for F1 and MotoGP.”

In the statement, the business magnate pointed to surviving three cancelled events, securing the GP in Melbourne until 2037, and growing the organisation’s internal team.

The former club president and Toll managing director has held the role since 2019, and was responsible for leading the recent search to replace the AGPC’s longest-standing chief executive in Westacott.

That search ended with Travis Auld, the AFL’s chief financial officer and fixtures boss, as the sole preferred candidate for the CEO position.

During his tenure, the AGPC reported record-breaking crowds of 419,114 over the four-day event in 2022, and an international record of 441,631 in 2023. However, the accuracy of these numbers have been consistently disputed by activist group Save Albert Park.

There were also controversies the corporation faced during Little’s time chairing the board, including when spectators managed to break through security and invade the track while the Formula 1 race was still under way.

Former Australian Grand Prix chief executive Andrew Westacott, Martin Pakula and Australian Grand Prix chair Paul Little in 2021.Credit: Simon Schluter

The AGPC fronted stewards during the investigation and admitted to the safety and security failures, agreeing it was an “unacceptable situation that could have had disastrous consequences”.

The state government, responsible for appointing the board’s chairman, reissued the same statement it made on Monday when approach by The Age. “Any appointments to the Australian Grand Prix board will be made in the usual way,” a government spokesperson said.

While Auld’s appointment has not been officially announced, two sources with knowledge of the process, who requested anonymity to speak freely about confidential matters, confirmed he was the sole preferred candidate.

Former Labor minister Martin Pakula on Monday dismissed speculation that he was the prime candidate to replace Little.

The ex-MP stepped into an advisory role with the AFL this year, where he currently reports to Auld.

Pakula was overseas on Monday but in a statement said: “I don’t know whether there are any current vacancies on the AGPC board, nor what the minister has in mind for it, but I’ve not been offered any role and I haven’t accepted any role.”

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