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Kubica unhappy with twilight timeslots

Robert Kubica hopes that the trend of starting Australasian races in late afternoon timeslots can be changed for future seasons, as he is concerned about poor visibility in this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix

Last week's Melbourne event started at 5pm local time, and Kubica felt that this made visibility difficult in the closing stages as the sun set. With the Sepang race beginning at the same time, and rain a stronger possibility in Malaysia, he fears a similar situation.

"In Australia it was a big issue with the visibility at the end of the race, it was very poor, especially in the last sector," he said. "It was quite dangerous, even very dangerous.

"Here by postponing the race you have a higher probability of rain but we will see. It will be cloudy and rainy, most likely it will be very dark, if there will be no rain but it's sunny we might have the same problems as in Australia with very low sun."

He said the Grand Prix Drivers' Association had already raised their concerns and hoped for changes.

"As drivers we complained last year after Australia, by starting the race at 1530, but I think we have to take into consideration that it's very dangerous," Kubica said. "We have to take in mind for the future."

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner feels it is important that the drivers' opinions on the issue are respected.

"I think you have to listen to the drivers ultimately, they are the guys out there risking their lives at the end of the day," he said.

"I know that certainly the FIA and the teams and the commercial rights holder take the matter seriously, so maybe we need some lights in Australia."

Horner believes the teams would also benefit from races either being in the standard afternoon slots or Singapore-style night races, rather than taking compromise evening times.

"The timing of the Australian GP race from a working point of view, the Singapore race works better for the mechanics with a later race start, because in Melbourne there was the worst of all worlds - a very late finish yet they are still coming in at normal times," he said.

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