Aussie GP Boss Calls Out "Lazy" F1 Drivers

This year's edition of the Australian Grand Prix will again finish in twilight conditions, despite the intense criticism from the F1 drivers last year. Last year's race at Albert Park had the most negative feedback from the F1 drivers in years not because of the track or organization, but because of safety reasons connected to the low visibility in the last few laps.

For the 2011 edition of the race, it was believed that the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) would lobby intensively for a start hour change on Sunday.

However, talking to the media on Friday, Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman Ron Walker insisted that such a request was never forwarded by the F1 drivers. Not only that, but the Australian official admitted that it was F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone himself who saw to it that the race would start at 5 PM local time, in order to better suit the European audience of the series.

“It (the 5pm start) is clearly not dangerous,” stated Walker, according to the GMM news agency. “You can't please these drivers, they are a bunch of lazy people who won't do anything to help the sport,” he added, practically begging for some more criticism from the drivers who will make the trip to Melbourne on March 25-27.

As confirmed by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) earlier today, the starting hour for the 2011 Australian Grand Prix has been set for 1700 local time.

In the meantime, the ruling body is yet to determine a full hourly schedule for the inaugural Indian Grand Prix, due to kick off in October 2011.