McLaren CEO Zak Brown endorses transforming the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne into a night race, sparking debate within the team as driver Oscar Piastri prefers keeping the traditional daytime start.

Brown Champions Night Racing in Melbourne

The Melbourne event currently starts at 3 p.m. AEDT, aligning with 4 a.m. in the UK and 11 p.m. in New York. Stakeholders have pushed for a nighttime shift to better suit global TV viewers.

Brown supports the idea, highlighting its appeal. “It would be cool under lights. I think it would be cool. I like night racing,” he stated. He added, “In general, I don’t think we have enough night races and I think that race in particular would work because the weather is always good, it’s a beautiful setting and I think it would look good under lights.”

Piastri Prefers Daytime Tradition

Aussie driver Oscar Piastri disagrees, advocating for the current format. “I think it is nice the way it is,” Piastri said. “It is obviously better when it is sunny, but I don’t think it needs to be under lights.”

He emphasized the daytime benefits for drivers: “We’ve got a lot of races now that are night races. I think certainly for us as drivers often the atmosphere is actually better during the day because you can see the fans a lot more, a lot of the grandstands at some night races can be quite dark. Even in Melbourne you see the skyline and everything so I am happy with the way it is.”

Team Tensions and Fan Reactions

Last season’s Drivers’ Championship saw Piastri surrender a 34-point lead to finish third, 16 points behind teammate Lando Norris, amid team orders and incidents that fueled questions about internal support.

Australian fans align with Piastri, rejecting a night race. Many prefer the sunny daytime vibe and catch-up viewing, criticizing adjustments for European schedules.

No Confirmed Changes Yet

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has not dismissed a future switch, but no plans exist to alter the daytime slot.