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The FIA has announced Formula One’s Australian season-opener in Melbourne on March 15 will start one hour earlier.
The same goes for races in Malaysia, China, Japan and Russia. Why the changes? Well, they are taking place all in the name of safety.
The earlier start time comes after an investigation into Jules Bianchi’s horrific crash at last year’s Japanese Grand Prix found “the start time of an event shall not be less than four hours before either sunset or dusk, except in the case of night races.”
Bianchi sustained severe brain injuries at Suzuka when he lost control of his car in fading light and heavy rain and collided with a tractor crane. The 25-year-old Frenchman remains unconscious in hospital.
Previously the Australian Grand Prix had a traditional start time of 14:00 local time. In 2008 the race was held at 15:30 local time, and was pushed back to a 17:00 start in 2009 in a bid to attract a larger European television audience.
The agreement of a twilight race was a compromise with FIA boss Bernie Ecclestone, who was demanding a night race in Australia.
Earlier this month Australian Grand Prix chief executive Andrew Westacott was adamant the race start time would not change.
Dismissing an FIA request for the race to be shifted back at least four hours, he stated: “The race time will remain at 5pm as per agreement with the AGPC and Formula One Management, which means Melbourne, as the opening race of the season, airs in Asia at lunchtime and Europe at breakfast.”
However, it appears that the change is locked in stone. With safety being the key factor, it is likely this new format will be the way of the future for the Australian Grand Prix.
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