F1 reveals revised race start times for 2021 season
Formula 1 has confirmed the shift in race start times for this season, after abandoning grands prix regularly beginning at 3.10pm
One of the first moves made by F1's new owner Liberty Media in 2018 was to shift the series away from a 2pm local time race start in favour of the later slot.
It was felt that shifting races back later than 2pm would be better for boosting American television audiences.
It was also felt that starting the races 10 minutes after the hour would help broadcasters, as they could schedule their pre-race programming to begin on the hour shortly before the action started.
At the time, a statement from 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."
With no evidence of a dramatic shift in behaviour of television network audiences, the 3.10pm race start was also not very well liked within F1 circles.
With greater demands for pre-race ceremonies, including the national anthem and the #weraceasone displays, the start being at ten past the hour complicated the timing of pitlane exits being opened and the pre-race ceremonies.
As Autosport reported recently, the matter was discussed with teams and there was support for reverting to the previous start time regime. F1 decided against going all the way back to the original 2pm race start slot, though.
From 2021, the majority of European races will start at 3pm, but not all races will begin then - with Baku getting a 4pm slot.
The season opening Bahrain Grand Prix will have a 6pm start, while the night race start time for Singapore (8pm) and Saudi Arabia (7pm) will be later than normal.
Canada, Japan and America will start at 2pm, with Mexico getting the earliest slot of the year at 1pm.
F1 also confirmed that Friday practice is being cut back to two one-hour sessions.
2021 F1 race start times
28 March - Bahrain GP: 6pm local, 3pm GMT
18 April - Emilia Romagna GP: 3pm local, 1pm GMT
2 May - TBC
9 May - Spanish GP: 3pm local, 1pm GMT
23 May - Monaco GP: 3pm local, 1pm GMT
6 June - Azerbaijan GP: 4pm local, 12pm GMT
13 June - Canadian GP: 2pm local, 6pm GMT
27 June - French GP: 3pm local, 1pm GMT
4 July - Austrian GP: 3pm local, 1pm GMT
18 July - British GP: 3pm local, 2pm GMT
1 August - Hungarian GP: 3pm local, 1pm GMT
29 August - Belgian GP: 3pm local, 1pm GMT
5 September - Dutch GP: 3pm local, 1pm GMT
12 September - Italian GP: 3pm local, 1pm GMT
26 September - Russian GP: 3pm local, 12pm GMT
3 October - Singapore GP: 8pm local, 12pm GMT
10 October - Japanese GP: 2pm local, 5am GMT
24 October - United States GP: 2pm local, 7pm GMT
31 October - Mexico City GP: 1pm local, 7pm GMT
7 November - Sao Paulo GP: 2pm local, 5pm GMT
21 November - Australian GP: 5pm local, 6am GMT
5 December - Saudi Arabia GP: 7pm local, 4pm GMT
12 December - Abu Dhabi GP: 5pm local, 1pm GMT
Schumacher's 2018 F1 Ferrari test "an excellent base" for 2021
Domenicali: F1 must continue highlighting social issues through We Race As One
McLaren: No shortcut for Piastri in understanding F1 tyre deg challenge
McLaren: No shortcut for Piastri in understanding F1 tyre deg challenge McLaren: No shortcut for Piastri in understanding F1 tyre deg challenge
McLaren forging closer ties with Toyota as F1 rumours swirl
McLaren forging closer ties with Toyota as F1 rumours swirl McLaren forging closer ties with Toyota as F1 rumours swirl
The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold
The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold
MotoGP Japanese GP: Chantra, Masia take Moto2 and Moto3 wins
MotoGP Japanese GP: Chantra, Masia take Moto2 and Moto3 wins MotoGP Japanese GP: Chantra, Masia take Moto2 and Moto3 wins
M-Sport: Tanak's WRC Rally Chile lead down to “hard work not luck”
M-Sport: Tanak's WRC Rally Chile lead down to “hard work not luck” M-Sport: Tanak's WRC Rally Chile lead down to “hard work not luck”
WRC Chile: Tanak ends Saturday comfortably on top
WRC Chile: Tanak ends Saturday comfortably on top WRC Chile: Tanak ends Saturday comfortably on top
Evans explains Toyota's WRC Rally Chile tyre strategy mistake
Evans explains Toyota's WRC Rally Chile tyre strategy mistake Evans explains Toyota's WRC Rally Chile tyre strategy mistake
Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers
Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers
When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle
When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle
The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold
The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold
The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose
The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose
How football has posed difficult questions for F1
How football has posed difficult questions for F1 How football has posed difficult questions for F1
The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1
The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1 The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip
How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.