2015 hosts rule out F1 night races

Jan.17 (GMM) Two F1 hosts have ruled out switching to a night race format for 2015.

Malaysia has been under consistent pressure in recent years from Bernie Ecclestone to switch to a floodlit format, to emulate the Singapore-like spectacle and provide a better television timeslot for the global audience.

"In the past he was pushing," Sepang chief Razlan Razali admitted to Reuters, "but now I think it's the first time where he actually listened to us as a promoter (about) what we want."

What will probably change for Malaysia in 2015, however, is a race time change from 4 to 3pm, as a consequence of Jules Bianchi's horror crash in fading light at Suzuka last year.

"For us it's good," Razali said. "It's a safer time bracket. So now people can come in for lunch, watch the race and about five o'clock they can go back (home)."

Another race slated to shift to a night format for 2015 was Russia, after the Sochi event debuted last year at 3pm.

But race organisers have in fact confirmed that this year's edition will kick off an hour earlier than in 2014, at 2pm local.

"Many fans of motor sport already arrange their trip for the Russian race," promoter Sergey Vorobyov told local media, "so for them it is a good opportunity already to plan the weekend."