F1 is back in France this weekend after a 10-year absence. But the sport is very much in new territory in another respect as it gears up for a scheduled race start of 3.10pm UK time.
When and how to watch Sky F1’s French GP coverage
In previous years, a 1pm race start for European-based events had become a staple for UK-based Formula 1 fans.
But this year’s calendar has changed all that.
For starters, in the biggest shake-up to the race schedule in years, F1 has shifted the start times across every European race back by an hour in order to maximise television audiences.
A further 10-minute delay was then introduced for the race start time to allow television broadcasters to fully integrate the build-up to a grand prix in their schedules.
Hence the 2.10pm start time experienced by UK-based F1 fans for the recent Spanish and Monaco GPs.
But for France there was a further shift, with the race moved back a further hour ‘in order to avoid clashes with other major sports events like the FIFA World Cup’ – and specifically England’s World Cup group match with Panama.
The upshot on Sunday is that any sports fans wishing to watch both events live will be able to do so, with the England-Panama tie scheduled to finish at around 2.45pm, approximately 25 minutes before the start of the French GP at 3.10pm.
Sky F1’s French GP schedule
Sunday June 24
10.55am: Formula 2 Race Two LIVE!
1.30pm: French GP Pit Lane LIVE!
2.30pm: French GP On The Grid LIVE!
3.10pm: THE FRENCH GRAND PRIX LIVE!
5.30pm: French GP Paddock LIVE!
Sky Sports F1 is the only place to watch every Formula 1 Grand Prix, qualifying and practice session live in 2018. Get Sky Sports F1.
F1’s 2018 race start times – UK time
| Race | Date | Start time in UK |
| French GP | June 24 | 3.10pm |
| Austrian GP | July 1 | 2.10pm |
| British GP | July 8 | 2.10pm |
| German GP | July 22 | 2.10pm |
| Hungarian GP | July 29 | 2.10pm |
| Belgian GP | August 26 | 2.10pm |
| Italian GP | September 2 | 2.10pm |
| Singapore GP | September 16 | 1.10pm |
| Russian GP | September 30 | 12.10pm |
| Japanese GP | October 7 | 6.10am |
| United States GP | October 21 | 7.10pm |
| Mexican GP | October 28 | 7.10pm |
| Brazilian GP | November 11 | 5.10pm |
| Abu Dhabi GP | November 25 | 1.10pm |
0:52 On TV, Online, On Demand and on the go… all the ways you can watch every Formula 1 race weekend on Sky Sports F1 this year
Sky Sports F1 is the only place to watch every Formula 1 Grand Prix, qualifying and practice session live in 2018. Get Sky Sports F1.
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