Seven-time Formula 1 world champion and Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton has expressed his support for increasing the number of night races on the F1 calendar.
As reported by İdman.Biz, citing RacingNews365, the British driver believes that holding more Grands Prix under floodlights could benefit both competitors and spectators, particularly in countries with extremely hot climates.
"I love night races. I remember when the idea of having a night race in Bahrain first came up. Back when I was still driving for McLaren, we tested the circuit on the simulator. The lighting there turned out to be absolutely incredible, and then night races started appearing in other places too," Hamilton said.
The seven-time world champion also recalled a conversation with Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman about the challenges of racing in extreme temperatures.
"I remember speaking with Crown Prince Salman. We were testing and driving in Bahrain on the hottest day you could possibly imagine. The tyres and cars were literally melting. I said, 'This place would look incredible at night.' And a few years later, they actually started holding a night race there."
Hamilton emphasized that evening races are particularly suitable for regions where daytime temperatures can become unbearable.
"I think night races work really well in certain places, especially in regions with extremely hot climates. If you race in the middle of the day, like in Qatar, it's a real challenge not only for the fans but also for everyone working in the paddock."
The Ferrari driver also suggested that other circuits, including Madrid, could benefit from switching to an evening schedule.
"We were recently in Madrid, and everything looks beautiful there during the day. I thought the circuit could also look fantastic at night. Many other tracks could benefit from something like that. So who knows? Perhaps, over time, the ability to change race start times could become an interesting innovation for circuits," Hamilton added.
Night racing has become an established feature of Formula 1 since Singapore hosted the championship's first night Grand Prix in 2008. Bahrain introduced its floodlit race in 2014, while other venues, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Las Vegas, have also embraced evening events.
