Azerbaijan set for evening race start time

Azerbaijan

Organizers of the European Grand Prix, which will take place in Azerbaijan, have confirmed that the inaugural race around the streets of capital city Baku is set to begin in the evening.

Azerbaijan has been given a June 19 slot for 2016 and, while the weekend clashes with the Le Mans 24 Hours, the Grand Prix itself will begin at 18:00 local time, just as the endurance race concludes.

Sunset in Baku takes place at 21:14 local time on race date, which means there is not a four-hour daylight window, which was recommended following Jules Bianchi's ultimately fatal accident at Suzuka in 2014.

However, officials have dismissed such concerns, stating "the three-hour window between the start of the race and sunset will allow drivers enough time to race through the streets of Baku during daylight."

In a list of 2016 start times, published by UK broadcaster Sky Sports, the Bahrain and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix remain as twilight races, with the Singapore Grand Prix the sole night race.

2016 F1 grands prix – start times (ET)
March 20: Australia – 1am
April 3: Bahrain – 11am
April 17: China – 2am
May 1: Russia – 8am
May 15: Spain – 8am
May 29: Monaco – 8am
June 12: Canada – 2pm
June 19: Azerbaijan – 9am
July 3: Austria – 8am
July 10: Great Britain – 8am
July 24: Hungary – 8am
July 31: Germany – 8am
August 28: Belgium – 8am
September 4: Italy – 8am
September 18: Singapore – 8am
October 2: Malaysia – 3am
October 9: Japan – 1am
October 23: USA – 3pm
October 30: Mexico – 3pm
November 13: Brazil – 12pm
November 27: Abu Dhabi – 9am