Will F1 ever have a night race?

[Mark F1]

A couple of years ago, there was a rumor that the Malaysian GP could be run at night, but obviously nothing ever came of the idea. But do you think an F1 race will ever be run at night?

Apart from the sportscar races at Le Mans, Daytona, Sebring etc, in the past the British Touring Car Championship have held very successful night races and they are quite common in both Nascar and the IRL too.

The only real reason why there has never been an F1 night race is due to safety. You obviously wouldn't be able to see marshall's waving there flags in the dark, but there has been talk of replacing flags with lights in the cockpits of cars in the future. And, I'm sure that if each corner and marshall's post on a track was sufficiently well lit and the cars were painted in a fluorescent colour scheme which was very visable then the idea could become a reality one day.

Just imagine, a Williams racing in the dark with the brake disc's glowing bright red !!

[EERO]

Illuminating an entire track would be prohibitively expensive and I doubt anyone would want to to install drivining lights on an F1. Its a moot point, really.

[Kex]

It's a bit of a stupid idea really. I know Touring Cars do it but really F1 racing is for the daytime.

[paul-collins]

In mentioning Malaysia...

EERO's point about it being expensive is correct, but the night race was proposed by the Malaysian organisers. So I wouldn't say the cost is prohibitive. I believe they saw a night race as a way to avoid the incredible heat and humidity they always have.

[BootsOntheSide]

A night race in Malaysia would be good for us Europeans as it would be on at a more sociable time (7am is really irritating- too early to ahve your sunday lunch with it, but too late to stay up for it after a saturday night on the tiles). It would cost a lot though.

[paul-collins]

Hey, 7 am start is uncivilized, is it? It's a way of life over here, matey. But we New Worlders are a bit savage, what?

[Epsilon]

Originally posted by BootsOntheSide
(7am is really irritating).

Never mind midnight twice a year for Japan and Australia, and 2:00 am for Malaysia.

[f1manoz]

There's a 7am?!?!?!?

As for a night-race, it would be interesting to see but IMO safety would be the biggest issue, plus I don't want to see headlights on an F1 car. How ugly!!

[Lee Janotta]

It'd have to be at an oval that's already illuminated, then they'd just add light in the infield... NASCAR and the IRL race at night here, but not down in the infield. It is possible, but not with any of the present venues. The German GP'd have to move to Lausitz, for instance.

[Jukebox]

Actually the Sepang circuit in Malaysia had already hosted night races before for the 24 hours merdeka endurance and it's an annual event race but because of safety reasons eventhough there are floodlights around the circuit...it's not feasible for formula1.

[steve_r]

Is there a single posative reason for running a F1 race at night?

No, didn't think so.

[DNQ]

I can't see it happening, I mean, who would benefit? No one really...it's easy for touring cars, they've already got lights and are slower - but you can just shove huge lights on an open wheeler like that...

[paul-collins]

Originally posted by steve_r
Is there a single posative reason for running a F1 race at night?

There are two, and both relate to Malaysia, as stated above:

1) Racing at night would have cooler temperatures (more like 25C instead of the current 35C+) --> Participant comfort

2) Television would play at a more civilised time for F1's main money-stream - Europe. --> Fan comfort

I don't think the overriding safety concerns were small enough for F1 to do it, though.

So there's no confusion, my preference is for no night races.

[Champ69]

"A night race in Malaysia would be good for us Europeans as it would be on at a more sociable time (7am is really irritating- too early to ahve your sunday lunch with it, but too late to stay up for it after a saturday night on the tiles). It would cost a lot though."

Try us Australians We had to watch the Canadian GP at 2.50am.

As for night races in F1 they never will happen.

In the aussy v8's they ran a dusk race but the twits set up the cameras so on TV it looked like it was day time. STUPID

[Nicholas]

I like early morning races, it means the race starts earlier and I like it that way. No more "I can't wait till the start," you just wake up and switch on the TV. Trouble is if you oversleep, as I have done once. Lazy friend couldn't be bothered to wake me up

Good reason for night races- laser shows for when the race gets boring