F-1 drivers slam timing of 'dangerous' Australian Grand Prix

Melbourne, Mar. 26 (ANI): Leading Formula One drivers have slammed the "extremely dangerous" twilight timing of the Australian Grand Prix.

With the race moved to a 5 p.m. (AEDT) start time, a mix of shadows and bright setting sun unnerved many drivers last year - but their complaints went unheeded.

The later start was made in a bid to attract a larger European television audience - yet there is compelling evidence to suggest that has not happened.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Red Bull star Mark Webber, Lotus veteran Jarno Trulli and Renault's Robert Kubica all complained about the difficult conditions they are forced to drive in at high speed.

Kubica was scathing about the timing.

"Last year it was extremely dangerous the last 20 laps of the race," the Pole said.

"Going through the last corner was like going through a blind place, it was impossible to see," he added.

"It's not nice to go in an F1 car through a corner where it's really very difficult to see anything. To be honest, I am surprised to see it was this time," he said.

Trulli said last year the drivers' complaints were ignored.

"We raised our concerns last year, but apparently nothing has changed," Trulli said.

"We have given our opinion and that's it and the FIA or whoever has decided to keep a twilight race at that time. We just have to deal with it," he added.

Trulli said apparently the only way to effect a change was to tell authorities they loved the start time - then it would be changed.

Webber said Trulli had "hit it on the head".

"If you picked the best time to have a high-speed sporting motor race event obviously it's not when the sun is at eye level with us," he said. (ANI)