MELBOURNE, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Tickets for the season-opening Formula One Australian Grand Prix have sold out in record time, organizers said on Wednesday.

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation and government of the state of Victoria said that tickets are fully exhausted across Friday, Saturday and Sunday, marking the earliest three-day sellout in the event's history.

The 2026 Formula One season will begin with two practice sessions at Melbourne's Albert Park Circuit on Friday before another practice session and qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday.

Organizers said that tickets remain available for Thursday, when reigning world champion Lando Norris and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri are set to appear at a fan event.

The 2025 Australian Grand Prix was the second-most attended race weekend of the Formula One season, drawing a record-breaking crowd of over 465,000 people.

Steve Dimopoulos, Victoria's Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, said on Wednesday that the early sellout was a testament to the global appeal of the Australian Grand Prix.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) is forecasting no rain and a maximum temperature of 26 degrees Celsius in Melbourne for the race on Sunday. ■