FIA introduce earlier race start times after Jules Bianchi's horror crash
FORMULA ONE'S season-opener in Australia is one of five races which will start an hour earlier under new guidelines as a result of Jules Bianchi's horror crash in Japan last year.
Earlier start times have been introduced for five races after Jules' Bianchi's crash in Japan
The Marussia driver, 25, collided with a recovery truck during the severe wet weather and fading light at the Suzuka track in October.
The Frenchman sustained serious head injuries and remains unconscious in hospital but is breathing unaided.
Australia's race will start at 1600 local, although Saturday qualifying remains at 1700, while Malaysia is brought forward to 1500.
China, Japan and Russia will all start at 1400 local.
Mexico, which is returning to the calendar for the first time since 1992, was handed a 1300 local start time.
The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) set up an accident panel to investigate Bianchi's crash and one of its recommendations, in a report published last month, was for earlier starts.
"It is proposed that a regulation or guideline be established such that the start time of an event shall not be less than four hours before either sunset or dusk, except in the case of night races," it said.