On Sunday evening, a dedicated group of over 1,000 officials who played a crucial role in the success of the FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2026 gathered to reflect on their achievements and share a meal together.
The annual officials’ dinner, which follows the conclusion of the Australian Grand Prix, was hosted in the Cricket Victoria building located at the corner of St Kilda Junction and Fitzroy Street.
Under the guidance of Event Secretary Kimberly Hughes, the evening featured a special thank you video from the weekend’s competing drivers, recognising the hard work of the officials.
Drivers who expressed their gratitude included four-time World Champion Max Verstappen, along with Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon from Williams, Esteban Ocon, Nico Hulkenberg, Charles Leclerc, and Isack Hadjar, who noted, “without you, there is no racing.”
The evening also included peer-nominated awards; one for the official recognised as the Marshal of the Event and another for the Peter Nelson Cup, given to a distinguished team.
Kaye Callander, the Assistant Clerk of the Course, was honoured as the Marshal of the Event for her exceptional performance in Race Control.
The Peter Nelson Cup, in memory of the late Peter Nelson, the original Secretary of the Event, was presented to the Sector 14.4 marshal team. This team comprised track marshals, flag marshals, a sector marshal, observers, and a marshal zone observer overseeing one of the track’s larger areas.
Josh Blanksby, CEO of Motorsport Australia, addressed the officials, extending gratitude on behalf of President Andrew Fraser and the Motorsport Australia Board. He commended their professionalism and expertise, noting that the Australian Grand Prix had achieved a record attendance of 483,934 over the weekend.
“It’s remarkable to have over a thousand individuals sacrificing their time and resources to travel here, stay, and labour from dawn till dusk,” Blanksby remarked.
“You form a skilled workforce… and you are vital to the success of this sport.”
“I was truly impressed when I arrived on Thursday morning to see Jen [Campbell] and Rhys [Carleton-Carlos] conducting a live segment on ABC News Breakfast, and observing the wave of positivity and excitement as everyone arrived.”
“It really felt like a community, and I grasped the meaning of the term ‘motorsport family’. Thank you all once again for your tremendous efforts.”
Nicky Lennon, Chief People Officer of Motorsport Australia, echoed Blanksby’s appreciation, thanking the officials for their hard work.
“Events such as the Australian Grand Prix simply cannot occur without the unwavering dedication of our officials, and the commitment displayed throughout the weekend was exceptional,” Lennon noted.
“Witnessing over a thousand volunteers invest their time, energy, and expertise to deliver such a top-tier event is a point of pride for all of us in Australian motorsport.”
“On behalf of Motorsport Australia, thank you for the passion and teamwork you showcased at Albert Park.”
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Compiled by SportArena.au.
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