Some 2018 F1 Races Will Start An Hour And 10 Minutes Later To Attract More Viewers

The European rounds of the Formula 1 season will start an hour later than usual, and all races will start at 10-past the hour in order to appeal to broadcasters
Some 2018 F1 Races Will Start An Hour And 10 Minutes Later To Attract More Viewers

For years now, the start time of F1 races on the European leg of the season has been at the same time - 14:00. However, this season F1’s owner, Liberty Media, has decided to shake things up a bit and push the session times back by more than an hour.

This is being done in an attempt to boost the TV viewing figures, a number which has been steadily dropping since 2010. The only European race not getting put back by an hour is the French Grand Prix - that’s being put back by two hours to avoid a clash with the England-Panama World Cup game.

On top of that, every race this season will start at 10 minutes past the hour. This is to accommodate broadcasters - mainly in North America - who go on air at the top of every hour without showing any pre-race build-up. Making the start time that little bit later makes it easier for them to fill a broadcast slot without having to risk missing the start (which sadly can sometimes be the best part of the race!).

Some 2018 F1 Races Will Start An Hour And 10 Minutes Later To Attract More Viewers

All this means that the majority of European races will now start at 15:10 rather than 14:00. It’s not just the races that are affected either, as the qualifying and practice sessions are also getting pushed back.

A statement from Formula 1 read:

“Some broadcasters usually go on air precisely on the hour, hence missing the tension and emotion that characterise 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.

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

As changes go it’s not a massive one, and if it gets more people watching the sport then it’s surely going to be a good thing. But for long-time F1 fans having to wait an hour longer on a Sunday to get their fix could take some getting used to!

Comments

Anonymous

As an American F1 fan, I approve

02/01/2018 - 16:58 |
6 | 2
GTRTURTLE 🔰 🐢(Oo \ S K Y L I N E / oO) (Koen

Getting rid of grid girls, starting later for more viewers, can we please get rid of the Halo?

02/01/2018 - 17:00 |
126 | 2

Also, can we please get rid of turbulence behind cars, random “long-standing team” payments to Ferrari and turbo V6s?

02/01/2018 - 18:27 |
40 | 0
Anonymous

If they want to attract viewers, make the cars sound great again. Also, keep the grid girls! Excite the senses!

02/01/2018 - 17:16 |
66 | 2
dmackster1124

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Make F1 great again

02/01/2018 - 17:32 |
14 | 4
dmackster1124

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Make F1 great again

02/01/2018 - 17:32 |
6 | 10
Olivier (CT's grammar commie)

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Third wave feminism doesn’t want to, apparently now third wave feminism is about being equal to women, and restricting women if they don’t share their view on feminism so to stay feminist. It’s “the woman first, they should have the choice, but if the choice isn’t feminist then it’s keeping the woman from having that choice”.

As for the cars, they won’t sound great again. That’s sad, but one day you’ll end up with four-banger F1s, so enjoy that while it lasts.

Personally, the last GP I watched was 2011 Canada GP, seven years ago, and I don’t plan to watch another one anytime soon. You’ll only find me in rallycross.

02/02/2018 - 12:47 |
4 | 0
Luuk_885

Which pre-race emotion and tension. The grid girls are gone now

02/01/2018 - 18:47 |
12 | 2
Paul Lindorfer

That’s ok for me, but what bothers me is that they got rid of the grid girls…

02/01/2018 - 18:48 |
8 | 6
Cam Kennedy

Won’t be watching. Hour and 9 minutes later? I’d watch. Hour and 11, I’d watch, but NEVER an hour 10. XD

Also there’s the problem where I live on the East Coast of America so the races are at the crack of dawn…

02/01/2018 - 19:55 |
6 | 2
TheMindGarage

Well, if they’re going to stick with V6s, they’d better make them not sound like fartcans and not contain prohibitively expensive MGU-Hs. Should just be an engine, a turbo, a battery and a motor.

02/01/2018 - 20:04 |
2 | 0

I agree, there are some pretty great sounding v6s (like the GT-R, Ford GT, etc) and F1 engineers can probably easily tune the exhausts to make the engine sound nicer (even though in my opinion I sort of like the v6 sound). But I guess when F1 cars are engineered they don’t care about sound, only performance, which is ok

02/02/2018 - 03:46 |
0 | 0
RonTheCarGuy (CT Jedi Order)

The good thing is I can watch the World Cup and F1

02/02/2018 - 15:03 |
0 | 0

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