Formula 1 announces new schedule for 2018 races
Formula 1 chiefs have confirmed that there will be a shake-up of the weekend schedule this year, as predicted by Motorsport.com last week, with many European races now starting at 3.10pm.
Photo by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images
As Liberty sets about its overhaul of grand prix racing, it has announced the biggest shake-up in the F1 schedule for years.
As reported last week, the entire weekend's timetable for European races is being shifted back in a bid to help attract a larger television audience.
Furthermore, the races will now start 10 minutes past the hour to allow broadcasters to better incorporate the pre-race build-up if their programming starts on the hour.
A statement issued by F1 said: "Some broadcasters usually go on air precisely on the hour, hence missing the tension and emotion that characterize 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."
The French GP will also start at 4.10pm to avoid a clash with the World Cup group game between England and Panama.
F1 added: "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."
2018 F1 schedule
|
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 on Thursday
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