The annual merging of celebrity and sport was well under way at Albert Park on Saturday as the Australian Grand Prix carnival went into overdrive.
While Oscar Piastri is flying the Aussie flag on the world stage in the heat of the F1 battle, Delta Goodrem, who is soon to represent the country on the international stage at Eurovision, caused a mini sensation when she arrived at the Amex Lounge to watch Piastri in qualifying.
Goodrem was swamped by fans eager for a selfie or a wave, causing a swarm so far unequalled in the upmarket corporate lounge during this year’s GP carnival. She may well have been a driver heading down Melbourne Walk such was the response from race fans young and old.
Goodrem released her debut album Innocent Eyes in 2003 and is a great example of quality talent enduring.
Having tied the knot with her longtime partner Matthew Copley in Malta last June, Goodrem said 2026 was her year of saying “Yes!” and enjoying life.
“I am so excited to be here at the Grand Prix. It comes from a passion. My husband and I are passionate about grand prix racing, we watch Drive To Survive, and we said this year when we are in Australia at times when these amazing events happen, we are not going to miss them,” she said.
“We are excited to cheer on Oscar.”
As for Eurovision, Goodrem is, to quote one of her biggest hits, “Born to Try”.
“I am bringing Australia with me and we are going to Eurovision,” she said.
Brownlow blue carpet king’s red carpet allergy
The Podium Club suites are the land of plenty for corporate guests at the Australian Grand Prix with the gateway to the luxe lounges, that are perched above the F1 team garages, accessible through the famed Amex Lounge.
It is the melting pot and meeting place for corporate guests.
Heading to the Chairman’s Lounge in the Podium Club area were Australian Grand Prix chairman Martin Pakula and board member, former governor of Victoria, Linda Dessau, and her husband, Anthony Howard, KC.
Also making their way to the Chairman’s Lounge were singer Rita Ora and her husband, Hollywood director Taika Waititi, radio presenter and Melbourne’s social media queen Jacqui Felgate and her husband Michael, and Bec and Chris Judd.
Bec Judd quipped that her husband – the dual Brownlow medallist turned investment fund manager – skipped the Grand Prix’s Glamour On The Grid party on Wednesday as he was “allergic” to red carpets.
Taking a break from restoring their 250-year-old, 105-room French chateau, former Victorian government minister Tim Holding and his wife Felicity were also in the inner sanctum of the Chairman’s Club, as were Mark and Toni Skaife.
Politicians were well represented at the track, with cross-party couple Josh Burns and Georgie Purcell spotted, along with Danny Pearson, Sheena Watt and Rikki-Lee Tyrrell. Tourism, Sport and Major Events Minister Steve Dimopoulos was one of the earliest Podium Club Suite arrivals.
Businessman Larry Kestelman was another notable heading to the Podium Suites.
Melbourne and Olympic Parks chief executive John Harnden, who was also a former chairman of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, was a familiar face at Albert Park.
Victorian Institute of Sport chief executive Nicole Livingstone and Women’s Sport Australia president Chantella Perera were taking in the on-track action.
The passing parade of well-known types in the Amex Lounge included artist Vincent Fantauzzo, Byron Bay-based chef Shannon Bennett, recently single singer Cody Simpson, model Gabriella Brooks, who is engaged to actor Liam Hemsworth, and comedian, radio star and beer company investor Mick Molloy.
Red-hot demand for Jules Neale’s ‘statement dress’
The old saying is that sex sells – well, so does scandal and a good old-fashioned media moment relaunch.
When hairdresser Jules Neale – who separated amid salacious headlines from her husband, decorated Brisbane Lions player Lachie Neale, late last year – relaunched herself as an influencer at Glamour On The Grid Wednesday, she did so in red-hot fashion.
Draped in a fitted, dramatic and daring gown by Effie Kats, she was more bombshell than brokenhearted.
The gown is now the most in-demand frock in town. Rather than revenge, Kats described it as a “statement dress”.
“The interest in the dress has been crazy. We have had over 500 people sign up for it. It is not released yet,” Kats said.
“It is very much a statement dress and a statement Jules made.
“She was a dream to work with and she completely trusted our vision. We added a bit of drama to the dress with a train for the night.
“The version we will release as part of our collection does not have a train.”
Russian around in the Albert Park paddock
Passionate rev heads, Melebrities and a few F1 first timers were trackside at the Mercedes-AMG lounge on Friday.
An early arrival was cycling champion Cadel Evans, swapping fast bikes for faster cars, while sipping sparkling Chandon in the lounge were influencer Rozalia Russian and her nightclub owner husband Nick Russian dressed in co-ordinating tones of “stealth wealth” beige.
Also keen for some practice lap action was musician Baker Boy.
For the first time, Mercedes opened a Tipo OO pop-up for lunch which attracted cookbook author Julia Busuttil Nishimura, enjoying getting out and about after having her third child three months ago.
Also queuing for a pasta lunch were radio hosts Lauren Phillips and Clint Stanaway.
Phillips was trying not to look too pleased at the implosion of Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O after she was dumped from KIIS FM to make way for the syndication of the duo’s Sydney show.
Fiona Byrne is the CBD columnist for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.
