LOOK: 2017 Australian Grand Prix continues to be a fan favorite

Maurizio Arrivabene, team principal of Ferrari, has his eye on a good finish at Melbourne

What makes a good Grand Prix weekend? Well, aside from the obvious attraction of having fantastic wheel to wheel race, a good GP weekend should be first and foremost, fan friendly. Let’s face it: if the fans don’t come and see a race, that much coveted sponsorship money will surely dry out. No company in their right mind will allocate a budget for an event that no one will go and see.

And this is what separates the Australian GP from majority of the Grands Prix in the calendar.

Lewis Hamilton signing at Melbourne walk

Melbourne organizers pull out all the stops to create an event for the fans, who come in droves and brave the elements to patiently wait for the chance to get near to their F1 idols and grab that selfie or autograph. Attendees are treated to a special Pit Lane Walk on Thrusday, wherein you can actually get within spitting distance of the F1 team garages and team equipment and check out the latest F1 challenger for the 2017 season.

On Sunday, one can get to walk along the Main Pit Straight just before the F1 cars take to the grid. There are also pocket events scattered all around Albert Park. The Kid’s Corner is a huge spot of land inside the circuit that houses all the fun stuff that young ones will surely enjoy. This year, Disney’s Cars, and Porsche Kids Driving School take center stage. The F1 Fans Zone has the much loved Melbourne Walk and autograph stage, and Legend’s Lane, where one can see interactive dispalys and historical racing cars still in running condition. F1 central has everything that an F1 fan would need: merchandise, food and sponsor displays that will test your skills in all things F1. The Supercar village houses the Aussie V8’s and Australian GT’s with lots of exotic cars for everyone to check out. M-Lane and the Heineken village showcases gourmet food trucks, Petaluma Wine Bar, and live music, enjoyed best with an ice cold Heineken.

So if you want to catch a GP that will bring out the fanboy or fangirl in you, there is no better race to start it all off than the Rolex Australian Grand Prix.