Formula One: Five races, including Australia, to start earlier

Management seeks to avoid crashes similar to Bianchi’s last October

LONDON: Formula One's Australian season-opener in Melbourne on March 15 is one of five grands prix that will start an hour earlier this year, under recommendations made after Jules Bianchi's crash in Japan last October. 

Formula One Management detailed the start times for the 20 race season in a document sent to participants and broadcasters.

Australia's will start at 1600 local, although Saturday qualifying remains at 1700, while Malaysia is brought forward to 1500. China, Japan and Russia will all start at 1400 local.

Mexico, which is returning to the calendar for the first time since 1992, was handed a 1300 local start time.

French driver Bianchi suffered severe brain injuries at Suzuka when he skidded off track, in fading light and heavy rain, and collided with a recovery tractor.

He remains in hospital in France in critical condition. The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) set up an accident panel to investigate the crash and one of its recommendations, in a report published last month, was for earlier starts.

 

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