As expected, ahead of the new season F1 has announced changes to the race start and session times.

From Melbourne all races will start at ten minutes past the hour, Formula One Management reasoning that: "Some broadcasters usually go on air precisely on the hour, hence missing the tension and emotion that characterize the minutes before the start of each Grand Prix. Thanks to this change, television viewers will be brought closer to the teams and the drivers and fully enjoy the spectacle offered just before the red lights go out."

An additional change sees all sessions at the European rounds and in Brazil, start an hour later than usual. Again, FOM argues: "Research has indicated that a wider TV audience is reachable later in the afternoons, especially in the summer months. Consequently, it has been decided to move the schedule of every session back by one hour across the whole weekend for each of the above-mentioned Grands Prix."

"Other minor adjustments have been made in order to avoid clashes with other major sports events like the FIFA World Cup," added FOM, "to allow for differing sunset times, and to attract a wider attendance to promoters' events."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Simon in Adelaide, 02/02/2018 5:54

"Fully agree with SteveMac, being in Adelaide I am not quite as bad off but will still have races finishing very late.

Message to Chase et al, there is more to the world than the USA (bugger, just wasted keyboard time)"

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2. Posted by SteveMac, 01/02/2018 20:38

"making it impossible for me to watch most races live from Melbourne, just cancelled my Foxtel/Sky subscription based on this, no point. I'm sure they will pickup some early morning US customers and perhaps a few more EU, but having lived in the UK it was nice to have it all wrapped up in the afternoon and be clear for tea.

No clue these guys, no clue at all."

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3. Posted by Chris Roper, 01/02/2018 19:16

"If the events start an hour later that is an hour closer to sun set.

It only takes a heavy rain pore or a couple of safety car periods to hold a race up and we could be looking at races being stopped for bad light and half points awarded.

Will the mandatory 4 hour cutoff time be reduced to three hours now?

@ Ro

Many people would say that an ad break would be better than extending Brundle Grid Walk by 10 min.....

"

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4. Posted by Ro, 01/02/2018 18:39

"WHat this actually means is that SKY is going to have a 10 minute ad break....brilliant ! The american way.....it stinks..."

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F1 confirms race time changes

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