FIA confirms changes to race weekend schedule

The FIA has confirmed that many of 2018 Grand Prix races will have new start times. It’s he biggest shake-up in the Formula 1 schedule for decades.

Up to now, all events have started on the hour. But the sport’s new owners have bowed to requests from TV broadcasters to offset the time for lights out by ten minutes.

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Many broadcasters start their coverage on the hour, making the traditional start time a problem for schedulers. Now they will have time to introduce their coverage, set the scene and run an advertising break.

“Television viewers will be brought closer to the teams and the drivers,” said the FIA in a joint statement with FOM. “[They will] fully enjoy the spectacle offered just before the red lights go out.

In addition, there will be an across-the-board change to start times for practice sessions, qualifying and races in Europe.

FP1 will move from 10am to 11am, FP2 from 2pm to 3pm, and FP3 from 11am to midday local time. Qualifying will be held on Saturday afternoon at 3pm.

• Later Grand Prix start times on the agenda for 2018

Historically, the races themselves have started at 2pm local time in Europe. That will now be pushed back by an hour on top of the ten minute internal.

“Research has indicated that a wider TV audience is reachable later in the afternoons,” said the FIA. “Especially in the summer months.

“Consequently, it has been decided to move the schedule of every session back by one hour across the whole weekend for each of the [European-based] Grands Prix.”

There is also a one-off change to the start time of the French Grand Prix. The race will now start at 4.10pm local time, an extra hour later than the other Europe events.

It’s to ensure that the race doesn’t clash with a crucial FIF World Cup match.

There are other local changes to allow for differing sunset times and attract a wider attendance to individual events.

Singapore remains a full night race, starting at 8:10pm local time. The Bahrain race will start 13 minutes after sunset, rather than racing under the setting sun.

Practice for the Monaco Grand Prix remains on a Thursday.

2018 session times (all local)

Event
FP1
FP2
FP3
Qualifying
Race

Australia
12:00-13:30
16:00-17:30
14:00-15:00
17:00-18:00
16:10

Bahrain
14:00-15:30
18:00-19:30
15:00-16-00
18:00-19:00
18:10

China
10:00-11:30
14:00-15:30
11:00-12:00
14:00-15:00
14:10

Azerbaijan
13:00-14:30
17:00-18:30
14:00-15:00
17:00-18:00
16:10

Spain
11:00-12:30
15:00-16:30
12:00-13:00
15:00-16:00
15:10

Monaco *
11:00-12:30
15:00-16:30
12:00-13:00
15:00-16:00
15:10

Canada
10:00-11:30
14:00-15:30
11:00-12:00
14:00-15:00
14:10

France
12:00-13:30
16:00-17:30
13:00-14:00
16:00-17:00
16:10

Austria
11:00-12:30
15:00-16:30
12:00-13:00
15:00-16:00
15:10

Great Britain
10:00-11:30
14:00-15:30
11:00-12:00
14:00-15:00
14:10

Germany
11:00-12:30
15:00-16:30
12:00-13:00
15:00-16:00
15:10

Hungary
11:00-12:30
15:00-16:30
12:00-13:00
15:00-16:00
15:10

Belgium
11:00-12:30
15:00-16:30
12:00-13:00
15:00-16:00
15:10

Italy
11:00-12:30
15:00-16:30
12:00-13:00
15:00-16:00
15:10

Singapore
16:30-18:00
20:30-22:00
18:00-19:00
21:00-22:00
20:10

Russia
11:00-12:30
15:00-16:30
12:00-13:00
15:00-16:00
14:10

Japan
10:00-11:30
14:00-15:30
12:00-13:00
15:00-16:00
14:10

United States
10:00-11:30
14:00-15:30
13:00-14:00
16:00-17:00
13:10

Mexico
10:00-11:30
14:00-15:30
10:00-11:00
13:00-14:00
13:10

Brazil
11:00-12:30
15:00-16:30
12:00-13:00
15:00-16:00
15:10

Abu Dhabi
13:00-14:30
17:00-18:30
14:00-15:00
17:00-18:00
17:10

* FP1 and 2 on Thursday