F1 reveals new race start time for 2021 – Motorsports
One of the first moves made by F1’s new owner Liberty Media in 2018 was to move the sport from the start of the race at 2:00 pm to later slots.
I felt it was better to shift back the race after 2pm to boost American TV viewers.
In addition, the broadcaster can schedule the pre-race show to start just before the action begins, so I found it useful for the broadcaster to start the race 10 minutes after the time.
At that time, the F1 statement said: “Some stations usually broadcast exactly on the hour, losing the tension and emotion that characterizes the minutes before the start of each Grand Prix.
“This change allows TV viewers to get closer to the team and drivers and fully enjoy the sights provided just before the red light goes out.”
The race start at 3:10 pm was also less favored within the F1 circle, as there was no evidence of dramatic changes in the behavior of the television network.
With the growing demand for pre-race ceremonies such as the national anthem and the #weraceasone exhibition, the start at 10am for an hour complicated the timing of the pit lane exit and the pre-race ceremony.
As Motorsport.com recently reported, this issue was discussed with the team and there was support to revert to the previous start time regime. F1 objected to going to the original 2:00 pm race start slot.
From 2021, most European races will start at 3pm, but not all races will start at 3pm and Bak will get a 4pm slot.
The opening round of the Bahrain Grand Prix will begin at 6 pm and the night races in Singapore (8 pm) and Saudi Arabia (7 pm) will start later than usual.
Canada, Japan and the United States start at 2:00 pm and Mexico gets the earliest time of the year at 1:00 pm.
F1 also confirmed that Friday’s practice sessions were reduced to two one-hour sessions.
| date | Grand Prix | Qualifying | Race |
| GMT time | GMT time | ||
| March 28 | Bahrain * | 15:00 | 15:00 |
| April 18 | Italy-Imola | 13:00 | 13:00 |
| May 2 | TBC | 13:00 | 13:00 |
| May 9 | Spain | 13:00 | 13:00 |
| May 23 | Monaco ** | 13:00 | 12:00 |
| June 6 | Azerbaijan | 18:00 | 18:00 |
| June 13 | Canada | 13:00 | 13:00 |
| June 27 | France | 13:00 | 13:00 |
| July 4th | Austria | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| July 18 | Great britain | 13:00 | 13:00 |
| Aug. 1 | Hungary | 13:00 | 13:00 |
| August 29 | Belgium | 13:00 | 13:00 |
| September 5th | Netherlands | 13:00 | 13:00 |
| September 12 | Italy-Monza | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| September 26 | Russia | 13:00 | 12:00 |
| October 3 | Singapore | 06:00 | 05:00 |
| October 10 | Japan | 21:00 | 19:00 |
| October 24 | We | 19:00 | 19:00 |
| October 31st | Mexico*** | 18:00 | 17:00 |
| November 7th | Brazil | 06:00 | 06:00 |
| November 21 | Australia | 16:00 | 16:00 |
| December 5th | Saudi Arabia | 13:00 | 13:00 |
| December 12 | Abu Dhabi | 13:00 | 13:00 |
* Daylight Saving Time begins Saturday night / Sunday morning in the UK / Europe
** Monaco’s FP1 and FP2 will be held on Thursday
*** Daylight Saving Time ends Saturday night / Sunday morning in the UK / Europe
Related Videos
– Motorsports
F1 reveals new race start time for 2021
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/2021-race-start-times-announced/5228920/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=RSS-ALL&utm_term=News&utm_content=www F1 reveals new race start time for 2021
