Bianchi crash means Brits need to be up earlier for live GPs

[John S]

Aus GP now starts 5am GMT, Malaysia 7am, China 6am.

http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/9652791/five-2015-grands-prix-listed-with-one-hour-earlier-start-times-than-in-2014

[Jericoke]

It wasn't very long ago when ALL races started at 2pm local time, isn't it?

If having a good time slot for European TV is important, maybe they could try something crazy like... oh.. having races in Europe?

[Andy B]

It wasn't very long ago when ALL races started at 2pm local time, isn't it?

If having a good time slot for European TV is important, maybe they could try something crazy like... oh.. having races in Europe?

No no no Jeri! 
What about us non European people we have the same problems as you and probably more so there's more to a World Championship than Europe. 

[cosworth151]

Well, Jeri, It'll be even worse for you & Dare & I. If I'll calculating correctly, Melbourne will be @ midnight, KL @ 02:00, Shanghai @ 01:00....

[Ian]

The first three are on sky so it don't affect me, 4 that I like are on BBC, Canada, Silverstone, Spa and Brazil, stick Sochi where the sun don't shine

[J.Clark]

While I realize the importance of a European fan base, if F1 wishes to increase the fan base to mirror their "global" or "world" championship, the time that a race begins outside of Europe should be for the locals and not necessarily convenient to the European fans for television.

For as long as the races have been televised around the world, some fans somewhere have been inconvenienced by the time of the broadcast.  Long passed are the days of watching it "live" because there was no later re-broadcast, or delayed broadcast.  Today we can record the live broadcast and watch it at our convenience.  It was not that long ago, as previously stated, that all races began at the same time of day in the time zone where the race was held.  Frankly, I support that wholeheartedly.

That having been said, I further support it because of the sort of thing that happens in cases where the race runs into dusk and lighting conditions make things dangerous, even without rain.

[Jericoke]

It wasn't very long ago when ALL races started at 2pm local time, isn't it?

If having a good time slot for European TV is important, maybe they could try something crazy like... oh.. having races in Europe?

No no no Jeri! 
What about us non European people we have the same problems as you and probably more so there's more to a World Championship than Europe. 

I'm just saying that they need to figure out what they want.  If they want racing that is convenient for Europeans, then have races in Europe.  If they want racing that is convenient for locals, then have reasonable local start times.

Since they never care about Canadians or Americans (and then wonder why Americans don't care back), I don't expect them to start now.

I personally think they should stick to 2 pm local start times (except in places where local climate makes it impractical). 

I also like the idea of expanding F1 into as many markets at possible, though I find the execution of that idea to be lacking.  It's not enough to show up, but they need to put on a top quality show that provides value to fans.

[J.Clark]

I'm just saying that they need to figure out what they want.  If they want racing that is convenient for Europeans, then have races in Europe.  If they want racing that is convenient for locals, then have reasonable local start times.

Since they never care about Canadians or Americans (and then wonder why Americans don't care back), I don't expect them to start now.

I personally think they should stick to 2 pm local start times (except in places where local climate makes it impractical). 

I also like the idea of expanding F1 into as many markets at possible, though I find the execution of that idea to be lacking.  It's not enough to show up, but they need to put on a top quality show that provides value to fans.
[/quote]Exactly

[Ian]

When the BBC had all the races I was more than happy getting up for the early ones, on the plus side, my wife and son were both still sleeping so I could slip the old headphones on and watch them in perfect peace, ah, happy days. 

[Alianora La Canta]

Hooray for some common sense! Really, whose bright idea was it to have a "daytime" race's slot finish an hour and a half after it was meant to be pitch-black? (And I don't care how many times you say "the organisers refused"; the FIA should have required daytime races be all in daytime as the default option).

[lkjohnson1950]

You have all missed the point, the start times were moved to accomodate Bernie's bedtime. Evil Dwarf needs his beauty sleep.

 

[F1fanaticBD]

You have all missed the point, the start times were moved to accomodate Bernie's bedtime. Evil Dwarf needs his beauty sleep.

 

Just made my day Lonny