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Liberty Media wants to change GP start time

Published on 30 Jan 2018 09:14
8
By: Rob Veenstra

The start time of grands prix could be set to change, according to France's Auto Hebdo. The report claims that, following a recent meeting between Liberty Media and the sport's broadcasters, "several ideas were tabled including a change to the race starting time".

For years, European races have begun at 2pm, but now a postponement until 3.10 is proposed "in order to attract more viewers". Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport explains further that the later start time would "meet the commercial needs of TV and assist the American public who are disadvantaged by the (existing) start time".

The report explained that practice and qualifying times would also be correspondingly moved. As for the odd 3.10pm proposed start time, Gazzetta explained: "This is to meet the demands of some broadcasters for commercial purposes and an American public accustomed to the transmission of commercials before the start".

The report said the start time for night races like Singapore, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi would not be affected, while the French GP this year could take place at 4.10pm to avoid a clash with a key World Cup football match.

Bhurt

Posts: 320

Oh go invade something.

2
Jan 30 2018 - 19:10

F1 News

Replies (8)

mbmwe36

Posts: 533
No thanks.
If anything, I'd prefer I'd they started earlier or much later. The start at 14:00 already f**ks up your Sunday.
I'm not even gonna get started on the whole 10 minutes past to please the American stations.

I'm sooo ready for a competing series to emerge.
- + 1
- Jan 30 2018 - 12:06
- PeteTirtle
  
  Posts: 16
  Yeah, don't even mention that 10 minutes, in some ways the beauty of F1 has been it's impeccable timing, simple start times and start times that are bang on according to the clock, not some football-like approximate time depending on when the ref and all the players are ready to go.
  + 1
  
  Jan 30 2018 - 14:41
f1dave

Posts: 782
Americans should never have gotten involved in F1, a sport that they just don't understand. This is not football. It's all downhill from here.
- + 1
- Jan 30 2018 - 14:53
- mbmwe36
  
  Posts: 533
  It seems like it.
  
  I know some people are still optimistic simply because Liberty aren't Bernie.
  I didn't necessarily mind Bernie as much. Yes, in some ways he was out of touch, but he also didn't make changes just to make changes.
  Even though Liberty has hired "all the right people" let's not forget that the buck stops with Carey at the end of the day. Whether or not he's more suited to run F1 than Bernie, I'm not so sure.
  + 0
  
  Jan 30 2018 - 16:47
ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475
I'm amazed to see the crazy overreactions to this proposed changes. People talking about quitting F1, wishing for competing series, that it's all over... It's all bulls**t. First of all, most people watching F1 around the world do so at awkward times because most fans (overall) are outside of Europe and most races are in Europe. Second, if you are going to quit the sport because of 10 minute delays, or heaven forbid your f***ing Sunday is ruined because the race started at 14:00, then by all means, stop watching damn it. Find something more soothing for your fragile soul.
- + 0
- Jan 30 2018 - 18:05
- Bhurt
  
  Posts: 320
  Oh go invade something.
  + 2
  
  Jan 30 2018 - 19:10
- mbmwe36
  
  Posts: 533
  Zero fucks given for how the rest of the world watches it. I watch American sports, it often starts at 2-3 am - sucks for us in Europe, but that's just life.
  3pm-5pm, with countdown shows and reaction shows, we are looking at 2pm-6pm, I'd say yeah, if you have a life, then Sunday is effectively ruined with this.
  If the time change then was the only change, that'd be one thing. But we are seeing a lot of changes and proposed changes that, when you add them up, changes the DNA of F1 - begging the question, why even buy it in the first place, if you want to change everything about it?
  + 1
  
  Jan 30 2018 - 20:40
- ajpennypacker
  
  Posts: 2,475
  @MBMWE36 I agree they are making a lot of changes, some good, some not so good. I just don't consider the 10min difference, or making a couple of events a bit more uncomfortable for Europeans to watch, are among the most significant changes. Don't forget the problems with the F1 brand/show exist because Bernie refused to adapt and change the sport. I am largely pleased with Liberty exploring several avenues to improve the sport.
  + 0
  
  Jan 31 2018 - 18:42