LONDON: The first two races of the Formula One season in Australia and Malaysia are starting later than this year, at 1700 local time, to catch a bigger television audience in the European morning hours.

Drivers complained about the light conditions as the sun set in Melbourne last weekend and Malaysia could have the added complication of tropical downpours in the late afternoon.

Rosberg, who finished second in the first night race in Singapore last year, said: “If the monsoon comes down, the race is going to have to be stopped because we can’t race and drive with that amount of water.

“I think twilight racing is not the way to go.In Melbourne it was obvious that it just increases the danger so much.

“The visibility is so difficult, you can’t even see the edges of the track in some corners. I was driving into the sun and that’s not what racing is about. So I really hope they reconsider that.

“Even moving it forward by one hour or something will help us massively. It was just the last part of the race that was the really problematic time.”

Rosberg also acknowledged that the new regulations had clearly altered the pecking order in Formula One, with champions Ferrari failing to score a point in Melbourne while McLaren’s world champion Lewis Hamilton is struggling with a poor-performing car.

“I’m a great fan of the regulations. It gives everyone an even chance and improves the racing and improves the excitement, overtaking is possible. Fantastic.” he said.

Williams, unlike some teams, are not using in the opening races the new KERS energy recovery system that gives cars an extra boost of power at the push of a button.

Rosberg said he wanted it as soon as possible.

“It was clear in Melbourne that, especially for racing, it’s a very beneficial thing to have. I was really struggling to hold behind me people with KERS and also to overtake people with KERS was difficult for me.

“It’s definitely something we need to push hard to get on the car. I’m not sure when it’s going to happen but hopefully soon.

“But also that makes it interesting for the racing, some teams have it and some teams don’t. It’s just a big mess and that’s what the spectators need.”