» Drivers not happy with twilight start time

Felipe Massa has joined a chorus of other F1 drivers to criticise the late race start time for this weekend’s Australian GP.

Last year’s race was run in similar twilight conditions to boost the live TV audience figures in the crucial European market, and many drivers felt that the final half-hour’s running was particularly dangerous as the sun sank further towards the horizon.

The sun had almost set by the flag fall of last year’s Grand Prix, won by Jenson Button.

The Sunday race start time is 5:00pm local time.

"We have already said that it would be good to bring the race forward by at least an hour or half an hour, but nothing has changed," said Massa.

"Running the race so late means visibility gets worse towards the end and I remember that last year, it was almost impossible to see the white lines on the track as the sun was setting. But the commercial side of the sport is important too and that is why the start time stays the same."

Not getting too cynical there, Felipe?

[Image via The Mirror]