Pre-race flyovers by the host country's air force are a thing of the past for Formula One as sport's bosses also shake-up the weekend timetable.

It's one of those little things that never fails to entertain. In the moments before the start of a Grand Prix, as the drivers and their crews are gathered on the grid, they look to the sky in awe as pilots roar overhead in their jets invariably leaving a tricolour of coloured smoke in their wake.

In recent years more and more countries have put on such air displays, but now F1 bosses have said 'no more'.

Citing sustainability, not to mention concern that such displays may be seen as overtly political, they are to be banned from this year.

Flyovers by commercial airlines, as is the case ahead of the Bahrain and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix, will still be permitted, the sport's bosses seemingly have no issue with sustainability in these cases.

Furthermore, it is understood that 'traditional' displays by the likes of the Red Arrows, a mainstay of the British Grand Prix for as long as anyone can remember, will continue.

"The Red Arrows have played a significant part in entertaining motorsport fans since they first performed at the British Grand Prix in 1966," said Silverstone boss, Stuart Pringle, according to Reuters, "and I am pleased to say that Formula One has confirmed this much-loved tradition can continue at Silverstone in 2022.

"The Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, are not classed as military aviation and, as such, do not fall into the category of those displays that will no longer be permitted at Formula One events."

Though yet to be confirmed, it is understood that despite having failed in their bid to have race weekends reduced to just two days of running, F1 bosses are also planning a significant overhaul of session times.

Media days on Thursdays are to be scrapped as are the traditional walkabouts for fans. Now, except when there are Sprints planned, Fridays will feature two practice sessions, both 90 minutes long.

However, in a major change it is understood FP1 will get underway at 13:00 and FP2 at 17:00. FP3 will get underway at 12:00 on Saturday with qualifying at 15:00.

Races will get underway at 15:00, however in all cases the timing may vary according to geographical location and the inherent restrictions in terms of daylight.

Though these timings have yet to be officially confirmed, they represent a clear move by F1 bosses to create a schedule move 'viewer friendly' in terms of global broadcast timing.

The official press conferences which are currently spread over Thursday and Friday will now take place on Friday, while Saturday mornings, ahead of FP3, will feature the opportunity for interaction with the drivers - relevant passes permitting.

In a significant move, the Monaco race weekend will follow the pattern of all the others, with the F1 cars now on track on Friday as opposed to Thursday.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 25/01/2022 23:59

"@ trackrecords....nothing like the off season for a broad range of topics. More memories stirred by your post. I was at Farnborough for the 59/60 air show and recall witnessing an emergency scramble in a simulated attack. Vulcan bombers were parked four abreast and the crew emerged form a tunnel, ran and climbed into their respective aircraft then they all started up simultaneously and taxied out where they took off 2/2 climbing almost vertically to disappear...all in a matter of a few minutes accompanied by a sound that's stayed with me forever. Unbelievably exciting to say the least. The other 'special event' was the very first public showing of the Harrier jump jet, something never before seen and truly amazing..for that period in time. To witness a jet aircraft come into view and then slow down and stop mid air then slowly descend ,kept the audience spellbound!!! Unforgettable and a massive tribute to British aircraft engineering excellence. What a weekend."

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2. Posted by Editor, 25/01/2022 21:34

"It was 1984... I was there with my girlfriend who was not an F1 fan.

She slept through the start and again through the restart after Palmer's crash in the RAM."

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3. Posted by trackrecords, 25/01/2022 21:25

"One the most memorable BGP at Brands was in 1986 (or was it 1984?), not only for the Mansell Vs Piquet battle, but also the pre-race military air show. Even though I lived within a 2-hour cycle ride of the Finningley Vulcan bomber base, I had never been below a fly-past... until Brands. Witnessing the ground shake as the bomber accelerated away will stay with me forever. Then there was the phenomenal Harrier hovering over the back of the Pits and re-arranging every awning and any lightweight item in the downward blast from the Rolls-Royce Pegasus engine. That day it was not only the F1 engineering expertise that made you proud to be British. "

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4. Posted by Chris Roper, 25/01/2022 12:07

"So the Military Fly Past in Sochi this year will be nothing to do with F1, just a coincidence that F1 was being held on the same weekend as the "peaceful" Russian Military exercises taking place in the Ukraine that weekend."

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5. Posted by kenji, 25/01/2022 1:03

""Up there where the air is rarified" or rather, "Come fly with me, come fly, let's fly away'. What next?"

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6. Posted by Superbird70, 24/01/2022 12:45

"Serious motorsport fans know that the sport is not just about watching cars race around a track."

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7. Posted by vins0n, 24/01/2022 10:46

"Good. They should ban the military bands too. It has no place in our sport."

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8. Posted by equator180, 24/01/2022 1:53

"Why not a Blimp, made of recycled, bio-degradable material, filled with green energy produced gas and powered by solar panels, streaming all the colors (no toxic and environmentally friendly) of inclusion (DIE mandate) and all taking a knee in support as it sails by. Grand spectacle, perhaps something other sports could only dream of.."

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9. Posted by Batman, 23/01/2022 18:00

"I Iike to fly it,fly it
I like to fly .... over it."

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10. Posted by Max Noble, 23/01/2022 12:39

"…actually as a follow up to my last post “circus Afro” from Madagascar (2 or 3 I forget…) is the perfect sound track for all people on the podium. I can so see the guys moonwalking to that one… Very inclusive if your in any way related to a drugged out Zebra…"

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11. Posted by Max Noble, 23/01/2022 12:36

"…Further great news! National anthems, and flags banned on podium as not being inclusive! F1 says “We race as one” and therefore no more recognition of nation states! Very brave move indeed…"

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12. Posted by Spindoctor, 23/01/2022 9:57

"Great News!
The doors of Political prisons around the world are opening as a result of FIA's brave humanitarian effort...."

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13. Posted by Max Noble, 23/01/2022 6:55

"Breaking News! King Canute confirmed as joining F1 board. Says the tides are changing! :-)"

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14. Posted by alvarezh3, 22/01/2022 21:41

"Since F1 thinks it has the power to control the airspace above a F1 racetrack, I am expecting them to tell the Australians that they need to give them total COVID exemption in order for the "spectacle" to take place on their land!"

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15. Posted by alvarezh3, 22/01/2022 21:20

"Since they removed the grid girls I have not seen a collection of F1 race pictures. Cars and drivers don't change that much between races, do they? But the GGs do!

Another thing I don't get from F1 "show" is the 2.2 second pit stop on a car you can barely see it's presence as it's surrounded by 18 persons. A NASCAR (tire & fuel) pit stop is a mechanic's ballet at 14 to 15 seconds, while only 4 people are needed for a 10 second pit stop in DTM, which is also tire & fuel. In a F1 pit stop, if you wink, you lose the action, I don't see the need for such astronomical speeds, what are they trying to prove?"

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No more military flyovers at Grands Prix

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