Lights out: Melbourne F1 night race a 'possibility'

The Australian Grand Prix being run as a night race remains "a possibility", according to F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali.

Given the time zone, the Melbourne race falls into an awkward time between the European and American TV audiences.

The 3pm start time for the 2023 race equated to a 6am start in the UK, and just after midnight on the US east coast. 

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Given the sports' push into the US market – the Las Vegas Grand Prix in November will be the third race in the country of the year – the move to a better time slot would be highly desirable.

"This year when we were there, there were a lot of people thinking it could be a possibility,"  Domenicali said on 3AW on Friday morning.

"I think that in terms of TV … to be seen in Europe, for example, that can help.

"But on the other hand I would say that beautiful skyline of Melbourne and Albert Park at that time of the day is really very, very nice."

While dates have yet to be confirmed, the 2024 Australian Grand Prix is expected to be shifted to early March.

The earlier time slot would see the race return to daylight savings, giving the Australian Grand Prix Corporation and F1 scope to push the start time back to as late as 5pm – as it was between 2009-2018.

Sunset in Melbourne on the first Sunday in March this year was 7.56pm. An 8pm start time would in theory see the race begin in twilight and transition to night, as seen at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Domenicali also said he didn't believe F1 would ever go fully electric.

"F1 is not electric – there is another Formula that has taken that direction," he said in reference to the all-electric Formula E.

"We have taken the direction for the future of using sustainable fuel with hybrid engines, and that's where we believe we're going to stay for many, many years."

He also promised the new engine regulations to be introduced in 2026 would be louder than their predecessors.

The Australian Grand Prix will remain on the F1 calendar until at least 2037.

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