Revealed: The actual motive the Australian Grand Prix ditched gray fence barrier in favour of a brand new color

The 2025 Formula One season gets underway this weekend as the action begins in Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix. 

While Max Verstappen is looking to win a fifth consecutive World Drivers’ Championship, the Dutchman will face stiff competition from his rivals. 

This offseason has seen a big shake-up on the grid with Lewis Hamilton swapping Mercedes for Ferrari in his bid to clinch an elusive eighth title, which would see him become the first driver to reach that landmark. 

But this year’s race at Albert Park will have a different look to it thanks to the fence barriers around the circuit being painted in a different colour. 

Instead of their customary grey shade, it will be painted in the more striking tone of black in 2025. 

This was pointed out by F1 content creator Matt Amys, who posts videos about the sport across various different social media platforms. 

This year’s race at Albert Park will have a different look to it thanks to the fence barriers around the circuit being painted in a different colour

This was pointed out by F1 content creator Matt Amys, who posts videos about the sport across various different social media platforms

He said it was ‘the first thing [he] noticed’ while taking a walk along the starting grid before the track was closed off to the public prior to the event. 

The social media personality explained that the decision to paint the fences in black rather than grey was done in part to increase visibility. 

He remarked: ‘Not only does the black fence help to absorb some of the sunlight but from further back, as it’s not as harsh as the usual finish in a lighter metal, it blends in more with the background’. 

Amys added the practice is also common when painting chicken wire – but when it comes to the race weekend it will allow spectators on the start-finish straight to get better photos of the action. 

Reacting to the video in the comments section, other users were quick to state how they preferred the look of the black fencing. 

One user wrote: ‘That should be on every F1 track’. 

A second posted: ‘And it looks so much better’. 

Another added: ‘YESSS!!! Ive thought they should have been doing this for years!’

A fourth chimed in: ‘Easier to see through, they don’t reflect as much light back to the audience.’