Australian GP considers floodlit night race: Exciting new era ahead?
Mar.31 - F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali admits talks are underway about converting the Australian GP from a daytime race to one that is run under floodlights.
Melbourne's current Formula 1 contract runs all the way until 2035, but if organisers want the race to take place after dark then it will require the installation of floodlights.
"We discussed about it, why not?" Domenicali told the Australian Financial Review.
"It's a matter of investment, but it could be attractive, that's why when you plan for so long, you can really think what is the best to create new products."
Andrew Westacott, the Australian grand prix Corporation (AGPC) chief who is stepping down later this year, said the current 3pm start time "works beautifully".
"But you never say never in Formula 1, I can tell you," he added.
AGPC chairman Paul Little agrees that a Melbourne night race is possible, but installation of the floodlighting would cost a lot of money.
"I'd love to not rule out a night grand prix," he said. "I just think if we could make that work, it would be an amazing spectacle."
If Melbourne does make a night race commitment, it might also boost the event's chances of returning to the very top of the annual F1 calendar.
"It's a part of the discussion," F1 CEO Domenicali said. "We want to have the flexibility to have open choices.
"It's as simple as that, it could be possible."
Paul Little added: "There is no question more people would watch it if they could see it live at a reasonable hour on the other side of the world.
"So I think we will continue to explore the viability and the capability of doing that."
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That proposal was already on the table a while back & rejected by the organizers, so I doubt they'd change their tone.
Besides, morning races aren't bad & only three presently (four next season, assuming the Chinese GP finally occurs) in Europe anyway.
Australian GP will be the season-opener in at least a given amount of seasons within the current hosting deal anyway, so irrelevant in this regard.
I find it bizarre that Domenicali wants to reschedule races to be held at a reasonable hour for people on the other side of the world. I mean, which countries of the world and which time zone do we need to appease? This may lead to scheduling races to be held at 03:00am in some time zones! Lighting will certainly be needed for that!
What an insane idea!
The current format works well. Leave it alone! F1 enthusiasts will always make their time available, no matter what time of the day or night!
This Domencali is bi-polar, I'm sure of it. On one hand they blabber on about "Net-zero by 2030", but then propose more races be held under lights. What's the carbon foot-print of a 100 MWatt electricity bill and the necessary infrastructure to manufacture and install the required light sources.
Oh my Gawd! What's that guy smoking?
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