In the past, the schedule has meant that races have started on the hour every Sunday – regardless of where they are being held in the world.
But in one of the more bizarre changes in 2018, that will now no longer be the case.
F1 races will now start at 10 minutes past the hour under a radical plan from F1’s new owners Liberty Media.
They believe that moving the start time will improve the experience of TV viewers as broadcasters can bring the experience ‘closer’ with the extra 10 minutes.
A statement from the F1 authorities explained: “Some broadcasters usually go on air precisely on the hour, hence missing the tension and emotion that characterise 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.
In other changes, the Bahrain GP will become a full night race and the French GP has been pushed back to avoid a clash with England v Panama in the World Cup.
The French GP is returning after a decade-long absence and will start at 3.10pm UK time on June 24. England’s second World Cup game in Russia kicks off at 1pm.
The European races have also been moved back at least 70 minutes from their traditional 1pm UK time slot.
It means the Spanish, Monaco, Austrian, British, German, Hungarian, Belgian and Italian GPs will all begin at 2.10pm time with qualifying at 2pm.
Explaining that decision, Liberty Media added: “Research has indicated that a wider TV audience is reachable later in the afternoons, especially in the summer months.
“Consequently, it has been decided to move the schedule of every session back by one hour across the whole weekend for each of the above-mentioned Grands Prix.”
The new F1 season kicks off on Sunday, March 25, with the Australian GP.
That starts at 6.10am UK time with the year’s first qualifying session held from 6am UK time the day before.
