Days out from the start of the Formula 1 season, Australia’s Grand Prix is set to undergo a major facelift, with the Victorian Government confirming that the current Albert Park makeshift 90’s pit lane will host its 28th and final race before being demolished and replaced by a new facility just in time for the 2028 race.
“The current building does not meet the standards required by Formula 1 and the motorsport governing body, Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, to host a Formula 1 event,” according to Development Victoria, the statutory body overseeing the project, revealing that the new build will help secure the flagship for the next decade. “The pit building is being redeveloped to ensure Melbourne can continue to host the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix through to 2037.”
Wood Central understands that the new complex will be framed inside a giant mass-timber superstructure—one of Australia’s largest mass-timber installations in design—and will join a growing roster of F1 facilities that are swapping steel and concrete for hybrid cross-laminated timber systems.
Early works commenced last July, with Icon Construction crews mobilising to carry out geotechnical investigations, utility relocations and preliminary earthworks. These preparatory activities ensure the site is primed for full-scale construction immediately after the 2026 event.
“What excites us most about this design is how it elevates both elite motorsport and grassroots community sport under one roof,” according to Bruno Mendes, of Woods Bagot, the design lead for the project. “We’ve engineered a facility that doesn’t just host one of the world’s premier racing events—it actively gives back to the local sporting community every day of the year.”
Inside the timber canopy, 12 Formula 1 team garages and two additional bays for officials will be situated alongside state-of-the-art race control suites, media workrooms, and administration offices. Expansive hospitality terraces—framed by cross-laminated timber beams and full-height glazing—will offer unrivalled views of the circuit and lake for 5,000 additional spectators.
A key feature is the building’s dual-use ambition. When Grand Prix teams pack up, the pit complex will seamlessly convert into a community sporting hub complete with indoor courts and clubrooms for local football, netball and basketball clubs. “We’re not just building for the Grand Prix,” a project spokesperson added. “This facility will be a year-round asset for Albert Park and the surrounding suburbs.”
The redevelopment is a joint initiative between Development Victoria, the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, Parks Victoria, the State Sport Centres Trust and the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions, with full funding committed by the Victorian Government. Major construction is scheduled to run from mid-2026 until just before the 2028 Grand Prix week, with race operations continuing uninterrupted throughout. Development Victoria has pledged that “works will not affect the running of the event.”
