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[zurich_allan]

I'm currently watching highlights of the V8 Supercars on Motors tv. The race is at Adelaide, and watching the cars and the circuit makes me really miss that GP. I don't dislike Melbourne, in fact it has given us some very good races, and yet I still think many of the Adelaide races were better.

Which do / did you prefer and why?

[myownalias]

I wonder how many members have been following F1 long enough to remember F1 races at Adelaide? when was the last race, 1995?

Personally I prefer Adelaide over Melbourne, not that there is anything wrong with Melbourne, it's just a preference. It would be cool if they could maybe alternate them?

I'm not sure why I prefer it, I just do, maybe it's because it was the Australian GP when I started watching F1 back in 1991.

[zurich_allan]

I think it may be something psychological. Adelaide came at the end of the season and so it would always be associated with high drama, whether as Mansell's 1986 blowout, Senna's last win (and the torrential weather) in 1993 or the Schumacher / Hill incident in 1994. On the other hand, Melbourne often being either the season opener or second race has meant that although there is a build up to it, by the time we get to round 4 or 5 it is all but forgotten about. It's not a focal point in the same way that Adelaide was.

Also, I think perhaps Adelaide seems like more of a natural street circuit, a little rough round the edges but a design that allows good racing. Melbourne is good, but feels that little bit more, maybe artificial?

[myownalias]

That makes perfect sense, for me the Schumacher/Hill incident in 1994 will remain forever burned in my memory. Also although Melbourne is a street circuit, it doesn't feel like one, where as Adelaide is unmistakably a street circuit, which is odd in my case as I am generally not a fan of street circuits.

[sagi58]

I wonder how many members have been following F1 long enough to remember F1 races at Adelaide? ...

Not I!

[josric77]

I wonder how many members have been following F1 long enough to remember F1 races at Adelaide? ...

Not I!

yes i remeber!!!! Adelaide!!!!! on the 1989, it rained, pole of Ayrton Senna, Thierri Boutsen wins the race on Williams Renault. Ayrton Senna not has finished the race for incident, Prost ritired. 2nd position for Nannini on Benetton Ford, 3rd Riccardo Patrese on Williams Renault. Beautiful race under the rain.......

[darwin dali]

I wonder how many members have been following F1 long enough to remember F1 races at Adelaide? ...

Not I!

yes i remeber!!!! Adelaide!!!!! on the 1989, it rained, pole of Ayrton Senna, Thierri Boutsen wins the race on Williams Renault. Ayrton Senna not has finished the race for incident, Prost ritired. 2nd position for Nannini on Benetton Ford, 3rd Riccardo Patrese on Williams Renault. Beautiful race under the rain.......

Good memory - you must be pretty old then

[sagi58]

Good memory - you must be pretty old then

You're only as old as you feel!!

[LewEngBridewell]

I was 5 years old when Adelaide last held a Grand Prix, and needless to say, I only know the venue through reading (many) books and watching archive footage. So I'm clued up enough to assent to the fact it was a damned good venue.

Melbourne is good too, and has thrown up some amazing races. It's a difficult choice, Melbourne has such an amazing "season opener" vibe. It'd be good to see another race at Adelaide though, just for nostalgia.

Imagine if they alternated the two venues every year, just as they used to do with the German circuits.

[Big Azza]

What about Sydney? This has been all the news in the last week:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/mike-baird-set-for-bid-to-bring-australian-grand-prix-to-sydney/story-e6frgczx-1227260897436

Mike Baird set for bid to bring Australian Grand Prix to Sydney

NSW Labor leader Luke Foley has described a move by Premier Mike Baird to poach the Formula One Australian Grand Prix from Melbourne as a “farce”.

Mr Baird, who is campaigning for the March 28 state election, has confirmed the plan this afternoon.

He admitted the plans were ambitious, but said that naysayers once scoffed at the prospect of a Sydney Olympics.

The man who made that event a reality, Rod McGeoch, has been charged with securing this new coup, along with Prime Media chairman John Hartigan.

“I believe we have sat back too long and let Melbourne take all the events it wants,” Mr Baird told reporters.

“We’ve grown our own events, we’ve boosted the budget, and we want the best events for this city.

“We’ll do it on the basis that it brings economic benefits to this state. It brings jobs, investment and continues to build NSW and Sydney as a destination,” he said.

News Corp Australia reported this morning that Mr Baird wants the Sydney Harbour Bridge to be part of a Formula One street circuit.

But Mr Baird, who made the election promise near the foot of the bridge, said there had been “no decision at all” as to whether the iconic structure would form part of any race course.

Mr Foley described the move as the “latest desperate diversion by the Premier to get away from his signature policy of selling our electricity network”.

“I mean, fair dinkum, we had a gridiron game, now he’s putting the Formula One across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, what next? He’ll bring Wimbledon and the US Masters to Sydney next and it’s just laughable.”

Mr Foley said the Premier was unaware the “current contract with (Formula One chief) Mr (Bernie) Ecclestone lasts to 2020, with a five-year option to extend”.

“And the Victorian government’s made it clear this morning it’s extending,” Mr Foley said.

“What a flop of an announcement ... I mean next he’ll be promising little green men in flying saucers coming into Sydney bearing gifts for your children - what a farce.”

Melbourne controversially won the right to host the Australian Grand Prix in 1996 from Adelaide, which had held the race since 1985.

Melbourne’s current contract runs out in 2020 and longtime Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman Ron Walker has just stepped down from his position.

Mr Walker said earlier today that the Premier’s Sydney Grand Prix dream would take years to realise.

“(Baird’s) team of advisers have advised him very wrongly,” Mr Walker told the ABC.

“We have a contract with (Formula One Group chief executive Bernie) Ecclestone until 2020 and we have another five-year option ... so it’s a long time before Sydney could even think about it.” Mr Baird said Melbourne appeared to have had a change of heart.

“Melbourne, I notice today, have all of a sudden started to say that they’re interested in the Formula One Grand Prix,” he said. “We’ve heard for a long time they’re not, and a bit of competition comes along. Well, I hope they welcome competition, because ... they’re going to see it across everything.”

Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle is proud of his city’s achievements.

“No one puts on an event like Melbourne. Every hotel is full. The restaurants are full. There is a buzz throughout this city. No one does that like Melbourne; we do big events really well,” he told ABC trackside of the F1 race for this weekend.

“We keep hearing this from Sydney, but it’s not quite as simple as saying `we’ll take the Grand Prix’.

“I don’t know where they would run the race. Use the old Olympic village? Because there’s nothing happening out there,” he said.

Victorian Sports Minister John Eren also told the ABC: “It must be election time in New South Wales.”

“Mike Baird clearly knows that Melbourne is the sporting capital of the world. We’re the most liveable city and we have infrastructure in place.”

He pointed out that Sydney had congestion issues.

Later today Mr Baird and Mr Foley will prepare for their third debate in Sydney.

Journalist Chris Uhlmann will host the face-off between the two leaders on ABC TV, in the first debate without a live audience.

[1Lemon]

I don't remember Adelaide. I was just gone 3 when the last race there happened.

Not to make you guys feel old or anything

[CevertF1]

I do like Albert Park but I have to admit I prefer Adelaide.

I guess partly because it reminds me of some of the great races there with Alain, Ayrton, Schumi etc etc. 1993 especially was a great race and a lovely podium ..although ultimately very sad.

[bud]

Adelaide, the Albert Park track sucks. The event doesn't come close to how it was run at Adelaide. Even the local touring car even held in place of the GP on the old track has a better vibe than Melbourne.

[LewEngBridewell]

What's the likelihood of F1 returning to Adelaide at some point in the future? Even in years down the line?

[darwin dali]

What's the likelihood of F1 returning to Adelaide at some point in the future? Even in years down the line?

Who knows?