Australian Grand Prix's $2.84 Million Loss Over Robbie Williams Concert

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation has been forced to swallow a costly defeat off the track, after failing in its bid to overturn a $2.84 million compensation order linked to the COVID-era cancellation of a Robbie Williams concert.

A three-judge Court of Appeal panel on Thursday backed a 2024 Victorian Supreme Court ruling, unanimously rejecting the corporation’s attempt to escape the payout to live music promoter World Touring Melbourne.

The case stems from the chaotic early hours of the pandemic in March 2020, when the Formula One circus had rolled into Melbourne’s Albert Park, only for the Grand Prix to be scrapped on the very morning gates were due to open.

Williams, whose hits include Let Me Entertain You and Angels, was scheduled to perform at Lakeside Stadium the following day as part of the race weekend entertainment. His show never happened.

World Touring Melbourne later sued the Grand Prix organisers for breach of contract, arguing the concert was cancelled on the basis of misleading information about government health advice.

Justice Clyde Croft found in 2024 that the corporation had deceived the promoter, ruling that officials wrongly claimed Victoria’s then chief health officer, Brett Sutton, had directed that the concert could not proceed.

At 4:25pm on March 13, organisers emailed World Touring Melbourne stating that Dr Sutton had advised the Grand Prix needed to be cancelled or staged without spectators. That message became central to the legal fight.

The reality, the court heard, was different. Earlier that day, Dr Sutton had texted Grand Prix officials to say he supported the decision to cancel the Williams concert, but stressed the call ultimately rested with the organisers, not with him.

Justice Croft ordered the Australian Grand Prix Corporation to pay $2.84 million in damages for loss of earnings. The appeal judges have now left that figure untouched.

While the F1 weekend in Melbourne collapsed under the weight of the looming COVID-19 threat, other major events pushed on. National Rugby League fixtures went ahead, as did a concert at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.

Four years on from that frantic weekend, the cars and crowds are back at Albert Park. The bill for what happened in 2020 is only now fully landing.