Hamilton calms safety fears

McLaren star thinks twilight start makes Australian GP more special

Hamilton: Correct visors

I loved it when we had it at 2pm in the daylight but now it is perhaps a bit better for the fans. It's a bit cooler and easier for us.

Lewis Hamilton
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Lewis Hamilton has played down fears that this weekend's twilight grand prix in Melbourne could prove potentially dangerous.

Sunday's Australian Grand Prix is the second to start at 5pm local time - the race having been put back last year in an attempt to improve television ratings in Europe.

A number of drivers have complained that the 2009 race brought visibility problems caused by a bright setting sun.

However, Hamilton believes that the race is made more special because of its late start and thinks that drivers can take necessary precautions to reduce visor glare.

"It was not easy in the last race (in Melbourne last year) and we all know that but I think it adds something a little bit special to it and makes it even more unique," said the 2008 world champion, who won at Albert Park that year.

"The Australian Grand Prix and this circuit for me has always been special, I love it here. I loved it when we had it at 2pm in the daylight but now it is perhaps a bit better for the fans. It's a bit cooler and easier for us.

"I think as long as we have the correct visors it's not going to be too much of a problem."

Concerns

Hamilton's view is not shared by Mark Webber and Jarno Trulli, however, with both drivers claiming the start time increases the potential for danger.

"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," said Webber.

"Anyway, that's how it is for lots of different commercial reasons."

Trulli feels that moving the start time forward by one hour would be a huge improvement.

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

"There is very little you can do on the safety side on the track, apart from starting the race an hour earlier which probably won't hurt anyone. We have given our opinion and that's it."

Meanwhile, defending world champion Jenson Button was more cautious in his assessment than McLaren team-mate Hamilton - despite winning last year's twilight race.

"I think there have been a lot of drivers commentating on it being difficult visibility because the sun was almost at eye-line," he said.

"It is going to be the same here and it something for us to watch out for. Maybe it will be cloudy and we will be all right but we will have to wait and see.

"Last year I had a silvery yellow visor on which seemed to be silver on the inside as well when the sun shined so that was not the best but I think people will be running with different visors now and it should help.

"It is a tricky one but it is what we have got so we have to deal with it."