Petition: Get rid of all night races

[zako85]

Let's be honest about one thing. The only reason night races exist, and they all are in Middle East and Asia, is because Bernie wants Europeans to watch a live broadcast at the prime time. At the same time, the North American fans are normally screwed. If the races in places like Singapore or Abu Dhabi started at the normal day time, a night owl like me could watch the race on Saturday night at midnight or say 1am, depending on the time zone. And then people wonder why F1 racing is not popular in the US. It's because most of the races start at 4-7am on Sunday morning.

[henners88]

I'm European so I vote to keep them. Screw the rest of the world! :p

[AndyL]

Even as a European viewer, I like the Asian daytime races. Having to get up early on a Sunday, like for the 6AM (BST) start at Suzuka, gives the race more of a sense of occasion. Plus it really frees up the rest of the day :)

So does that mean I agree with Zako, because the Asian races should be at 1 or 2PM local, or I disagree with Zako because it's good for races to start at 6AM or 7AM? I can't quite work it out.

A 7AM BST start would have been perfect for Singapore - the end of the race would have matched perfectly with the start of Superbike Sunday on Eurosport, making an uninterrupted 10-hour live motorsport binge :eek:

Singapore does look pretty awesome as a night race though.

[dj_bytedisaster]

Fuck the Americans. F1 is a European product. Keep the night races.

[Alfa Fan]

It was so much better when they were in the much early hours. A late, late Saturday night watching the likes of Hill, Schumacher, Hakkinen etc... Rather than getting up at 6am for today's rubbish.

[henners88]

I don't mind the Asian races as I used to set them to record and get up about 7:30-8am and start watching without the need get up early. Now with the coverage split I have lost a little interest anyway so generally catch the highlights because it takes up less of my Sunday. Even having Sky F1 has not increased my excitement. I've only watched 2 full races this year, hence why I rarely comment here any more.

In all seriousness they can put them on at any time they like, i'll still watch at my convenience.

[N. Jones]

I'm happy with them, except UAE. That tracks sucks!

[Warriwa]

Agreed. That circuit is an abomination. Maybe one day in the distant future when more money is flowing in from the rest of the world it will be the European races that will have to change their starting times.

[Rollo]

And then people wonder why F1 racing is not popular in the US. It's because most of the races start at 4-7am on Sunday morning.

Is it?
Or is it because F1 is on pay-TV?

I wouldn't care if races started at 4-7am on Sunday morning. In Australia, the Brazilian GP would be at 4-7am on Monday morning and I'd still get up for it.

[Tazio]

I'll take F1 as it comes. I'm usually up at 5 am anyway.

[zako85]

It was so much better when they were in the much early hours. A late, late Saturday night watching the likes of Hill, Schumacher, Hakkinen etc... Rather than getting up at 6am for today's rubbish.

I have been watching records of 1995-96 F1 races while working out in a gym recently, and it's like a revelation. Close racing and passing without DRS. Fights for the win almost every race. We haven't had such excitement since 2010 or 2012.

[Koz]

I'm European so I vote to keep them. Screw the rest of the world! :p

And you don't even watching your races live!

If you like your F1 you'll watch it live or otherwise.

[henners88]

And you don't even watching your races live!

If you like your F1 you'll watch it live or otherwise.

I watch it but I do miss quite a few of the races and very rarely bother to tune in live. I'm nowhere near as diehard as I used to be, but a lot of that is because the BBC and Sky split the coverage, plus my family are more interesting on a Sunday. I can watch both but I can only watch Sky coverage live unless go through the hassle of hooking up a hard drive to record it. I can't be bothered lately.

[Rollo]

And you don't even watching your races live!

If you like your F1 you'll watch it live or otherwise.

Can't. Rupert stole half of them.
I could pay the traitorous imp $134 p/mth if I wanted to but at A$1608 a year, that's just a bit rich.

[The Black Knight]

Let's be honest about one thing. The only reason night races exist, and they all are in Middle East and Asia, is because Bernie wants Europeans to watch a live broadcast at the prime time. At the same time, the North American fans are normally screwed. If the races in places like Singapore or Abu Dhabi started at the normal day time, a night owl like me could watch the race on Saturday night at midnight or say 1am, depending on the time zone. And then people wonder why F1 racing is not popular in the US. It's because most of the races start at 4-7am on Sunday morning.

Regardless of whether or not they are night races, F1 has always had a lot of trouble breaking into the US market. I do agree it is a balls for people like you whom are proper fans in the States though. The European timezone is the best one for watching races overall. There are very few races in the year I have to get up early for nowadays. Japan this weekend will be one of them, however, I am okay with night races in general. I like them and Singapore is something different versus the boring new tracks (Austin aside) that are now on the calendar.

[The Black Knight]

I have been watching records of 1995-96 F1 races while working out in a gym recently, and it's like a revelation. Close racing and passing without DRS. Fights for the win almost every race. We haven't had such excitement since 2010 or 2012.

Am I the only one that thhinks racing can be exciting without overtaking? What I really love about F1, more than overtaking, is two or more guys out front pushing each other to find new limits. The last race I remember like this was Austin 2012 I think it was where Hamilton won the first race there and really raced ballsy against Vettel. There was one o two overtakes I cared about the entire race and it was the past Hamilton did on Webber and Vettel, everything else was secondary. Why? Not because Hamilton is my favorite driver but because it was pure out and out racing. Yes, there was DRS involved, which I don't like, but I think people can't begrudge Hamilton that win because of the drive he put in.

From my POV, this was the last truly exciting race with pure driving I saw and I loved it. Of all the races over the last season it stick out in my mind and it was balls to the wall driving and two overtaking maneuvre's that made it from me.

I'm not interested in an overtake that occurs because a driver is on 10 lap old tires versus new ones. Big fucking deal. It's only smoke and mirros to spice up a show for the Johnny come latelies that don't understand what is really happening on track.

[jens]

Am I the only one that thhinks racing can be exciting without overtaking? What I really love about F1, more than overtaking, is two or more guys out front pushing each other to find new limits. The last race I remember like this was Austin 2012 I think it was where Hamilton won the first race there and really raced ballsy against Vettel. There was one o two overtakes I cared about the entire race and it was the past Hamilton did on Webber and Vettel, everything else was secondary. Why? Not because Hamilton is my favorite driver but because it was pure out and out racing. Yes, there was DRS involved, which I don't like, but I think people can't begrudge Hamilton that win because of the drive he put in.

Yeah, actually I can agree with you. A race can be exciting without overtaking as well, and I remember back in the day it involved quite a few M.Schumacher battles for the win, who tried to beat his rivals on an alternative strategy, hence without an overtake on track.

As long as there is uncertainty in the air, and the final result is unclear, it is interesting, regardless of 'scenario' of the battle.

[Rollo]

There are very few races in the year I have to get up early for nowadays. Japan this weekend will be one of them

Japanese GP start time (Sydney +10 GMT) is 1500 Sunday.
Channel 10 start time (Sydney +10 GMT) is 2130 Monday - a full 28.5 hours after the race has been run and even then, it's only the hour highlights.

Formula One, Bernie and Rupert are really giving me the irrits, Seriously.

[Mia 01]

For us here in Sweden this race start 07.00 Sunday, but i don´t complain. I follow every race live via a pay channel, Viasat motor. My Twins are more in for Premier leuge.

[dj_bytedisaster]

Even as a European viewer, I like the Asian daytime races. Having to get up early on a Sunday, like for the 6AM (BST) start at Suzuka, gives the race more of a sense of occasion. Plus it really frees up the rest of the day :)

So you can spend it having ferocious arguments on an internet forum ;)

Wishful thinking though. Things are awfully quiet lately. Not even crazy Garry Walker drops by anymore, now that Vettel has won for three different teams...

[Robinho]

I've discovered Perth, Australia, to be the best place for F1 timings. All Euro races and night races timed for mid afternoon Euro time fall to about 8pm, the far east races fit late afternoon, Japan early afternoon. Australia works for lunchtime, only the US races are middle of the night.

Sent from my 0PJA10 using Tapatalk

[dj_bytedisaster]

Elitists...

Sent from North Korea using a shoe

[Jag_Warrior]

And then people wonder why F1 racing is not popular in the US. It's because most of the races start at 4-7am on Sunday morning.


Is it?
Or is it because F1 is on pay-TV?

Yes and yes. Also, there hasn't been an American in F1 with a recognizable name in over 20 years. And over that period of time, open wheel racing in the U.S. has really fallen out of favor.

When I used to follow ratings, F1 on ESPN would pull something around a .5-.7 and the handful of races on ABC would pull something in the mid 1's, as best I can recall. Pretty much in the range of what CART was pulling back then. I believe when Villeneuve and Montoya were in F1, the ratings were higher for F1 here. People here knew them by name more than any American driver outside of an Unser, Andretti or some NASCAR guy. But once F1 left ESPN, fewer people got Speedvision/Speed Channel, so of course, viewership suffered. And I have no idea how NBCSports is doing with F1 now. And to be honest, as long as they maintain the good coverage that we have now, I don't really care what the ratings are anymore. These days, I might watch one live race a year. People these days can tape or DVR races. And NBCSports has an On Demand option. The On Demand on my Roku has become my favorite way to watch the free practice sessions that aren't televised.

[Red sky bull]

In my opinion you should change nothing the night race because is interesting. Then the GP Abu Dhabi could not unwound the day has cause of the temperature very high:)

[steveaki13]

In my opinion you should change nothing the night race because is interesting. Then the GP Abu Dhabi could not unwound the day has cause of the temperature very high:)

Welcome to the Forums :beer::beer:

[schmenke]

I don't mind the Asian races as I used to set them to record and get up about 7:30-8am and start watching without the need get up early. Now with the coverage split I have lost a little interest anyway so generally catch the highlights because it takes up less of my Sunday. Even having Sky F1 has not increased my excitement. I've only watched 2 full races this year, hence why I rarely comment here any more.

In all seriousness they can put them on at any time they like, i'll still watch at my convenience.

Ditto. I haven't watched a race live in probably over two years. The current state of the sport is simply not worth two hours of my time. I record all of them and watch when there's no paint to watch dry, or snow to watch melt.

[Storm]

the snow actually melts up there eh? :D

[truefan72]

I don't mind the night racing, but i like it to remain just 1 or 2 for novelty sake.
The day to night at Abu Dhabi is a keeper
Bharain and Singapore should alternate each year as a night race and the other a day race.
It would be fun to see a race in Singapore during the day. But maybe the humidity might be too much
I've gotten very accustomed to early morning races since it doesn't interfere with the rest of my day.
Japan and Malaysia are always a little tough for me as Saturday nights get interrupted. but hey, 2 nights in the year is quite ok.
I just plan around those 2 weekends to go nowhere
There is something nice about me getting up early and watching the races while my lovely woman is sleeping in bed, occasionally getting up to watch a race or 2 with me..it's become our thing

[Mia 01]

Night or day, that´s not the question, people live in different timezones. The question is if you like it or not.

[zako85]

Bahrain looks a lot better in daytime. All those sand dunes are not visible at night.