Australia to open 2007 season

"It will revert to the first race in the future," Victoria state Premier Steve Bracks told reporters at the Albert Park circuit, confirming what autosport.com revealed earlier in the week.

The race moved from its traditional place as season-opener to third this year to accommodate the Commonwealth Games that were held in Melbourne from March 15-26. The first two races were staged in Bahrain and Malaysia.

Bracks said Melbourne's right to stage the first race of the year had been 'embedded' in the circuit's contract with F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone.

"I was there with (race organiser) Ron Walker when the contract was renegotiated for 2010 with an option for a further five years after that and one of the conditions was that it was the first race on the F1 calendar of the year."

Walker said the event attracted a total of 301,800 spectators over its four days, including 103,000 for Sunday's race, down from 118,200 last year.