The drivers unite to change departure times

Formula 1 drivers would strongly like Bernie Ecclestone to reconsider the start times of the races, following the safety issues that emerged during the first two events of the season.

The low light and very low sun in Melbourne, combined with the terrible weather conditions and near-zero visibility in Sepang that forced the race to stop, are elements that pushed the drivers to react and change the schedules in 2010.

Although Bernie Ecclestone seems to want to keep a local 5 PM start to boost European audiences, the drivers believe that safety could be improved if the start was given just an hour earlier.

The members of the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers’ Association) have already communicated their recommendations to the FIA following the first two races. It also seems that the GPDA will write to Ecclestone to ask him to reconsider the start time to reduce safety issues in 2010.

A member of the GPDA said: « We had already spoken with Charlie [Whiting, race director] during the drivers’ debriefings to express our concerns about what might happen, and our fears proved correct. It’s common sense to guess there would be problems. »

« In Australia, it was very difficult. With the sun very low, it was hard to see in turn 1 and at the pit exit. In Malaysia, it was the lack of visibility that made things even more complex. »

« The problem in Malaysia wasn’t the rain, because it rained just as heavily at 2 PM as it did at 5 PM. But there was no chance to restart the race by starting so late because it was very dark, the real problem was there. »

« I think if the races had been advanced by an hour, it would have made a difference. We understand there are commercial reasons to delay the races like this, but safety must always come first. »

While the organizers of the Malaysian Grand Prix had also expressed their desire to see the start time moved forward, Bernie Ecclestone has so far categorically stated that there is no need to change things…

In Sepang, following the premature end of the race, when journalists asked him if he regretted the start time, he was unshakeable: « No, I just have regrets about the rain. I don’t see anything problematic with the start time; if we had started at 2 PM, it would have rained the same way. »

The next Grand Prix in China will start at 3 p.m. (local time), which is 9 a.m. in France.