Next year's Malaysian GP could have an earlier start time after Sunday's debacle saw the race abandoned as the rain that "usually" comes down did.
Sunday's race at Sepang was red flagged after just 33 laps as the torrential rain made the conditions too dangerous for the drivers. And it opened a debate over the late start time, with the grand prix taking place three hours later than usual.
"The race was way, way too late, so the call to stop it was correct," said race winner Jenson Button. "The rain fell so hard, so quickly, that I think they did the right thing.
"It is very difficult for the race managers to judge how wet a circuit is. I thought it was too wet at Fuji two years ago, but this time I think they made the right call."
Strangely, though, it has now emerged that the race organisers were aware of the fact that the later hour would most likely pose problems and had been warned against a 5pm start.
"The authorities were advised that the latest practical time to start the race, and to have a chance of avoiding the rain, was 16.30, but in any case it usually rains between 17.00 and 18.00 here this time of year, " a spokesman for the Malaysian organisers told The Independent.
Next year's grand prix, though, looks set to return to an early start time with Prime Minister Najib Raza admitting that "In the future, we may allocate a different time, perhaps earlier."
