Stop the Clock

[MaxGlayn]

I am not a F1 geek who knows all the rules and regs to do with F1 but can anyone tell me why the clock isn't stopped if a practice session or qualifying session is disrupted due to an accident.

Rugby league, rugby union and football are three sports where the clock is stopped or time is added on...why not F1?

[cmF1]

Normally it's because of TV time. It can be very expensive for tv companies to over run on satellite time.

[DaveKillens]

Most race weekends involve multiple events and classes. Although most Formula One fans experienced Melbourne only via the Formula One activities, what really went down that weekend was this:

THURSDAY 17TH MARCH

Track Activity 2 Seater Demonstration Laps - 07:25 - 08:40

Formula One Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk - 09:00 - 10:20

Track Activity Historic Demonstration - 10:30 - 10:50

Track Activity Track Demonstration (GL) including Formula SAE - 11:00-11:40

Australian GT First Practice Session - 11:50 - 12:10

Porsche Carrera Cup First Practice Session - 12:20 - 12:40

V8 Supercars First Practice Session - 12:50 - 13:20

Air Display RAAF Roulettes (TBC) - 13:30 - 13:45

Formula One Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk - 13:35 - 14:05

Track Activity Historic Speed Comparison Practice Session - 13:45 - 14:05

Track Activity Stunt Display (TBC) - 14:15 - 14:35

Australian GT Qualifying Session - 14:45 - 15:05

Formula One Press Conference - Press Room - 15:00

V8 Supercars Second Practice Session - 15:15 - 15:45

Porsche Carrera Cup Qualifying Session - 15:55 - 16:15

Track Activity Historic Speed Comparison Demonstration 1 - 16:25 - 16:40

V8 Supercars Qualifying Session - 16:50 - 17:20

Porsche Carrera Cup First Race (TBC Laps) - 17:35 - 18:00

Australian GT First Race (TBC Laps) - 18:15 - 18:40

Formula One GP Advantage Pit Walk - 18:40 - 19:40

FRIDAY 18th MARCH

Track Activity 2 Seater Demonstration Laps - 07:25 - 08:15

Track Activity Historic Demonstration - 10:30 - 10:50

Formula One Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk - 10:50 - 11:20

Track Activity Stunt Display 2 (TBC) - 10:55 - 11:15

Australian GT Second Race (TBC Laps) - 11:25 - 11:50

Air Display RAAF Roulettes (TBC) - 12:00 - 12:15

Formula One First Practice Session - 12:30 - 14:00

V8 Supercars First Race (TBC Laps) - 14:20 - 14:50

Track Activity Historic Speed Comparison Demonstration Test 2 (TBC) - 15:00 - 15:20

Formula One Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk - 15:00 - 15:30

Porsche Carrera Cup Second Race (TBC laps) - 15:30 - 15:55

Air Display RAAF F/A18 Jet Reconnaissance Flight (TBC) - 16:00 - 16:10

Formula One Second Practice Session - 16:30 - 18:00

V8 Supercars Second Race (TBC Laps) - 18:20 - 18:50

Formula One Press Conference - Press Room - 18:30 - 19:30

SATURDAY 19th MARCH

Track Activity 2 Seater Demonstration Laps - 07:25 - 08:10

Formula One Main Straight Walk - GP Advantage Ticket - 08:45 - 09:45

Track Activity Ferrari Parade (TBC) - 10:30 - 10:50

Track Activity Historic Demonstration (TBC) - 11:00 - 11:20

Formula One Team Pit Stop Practice -11:30 - 12:00

Formula One Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk - 11:30 - 12:00

Track Activity Stunt Display 3 (TBC) - 11:30 - 11:50

Australian GT Third Race (TBC Laps) - 12:05 - 12:30

Porsche Carrera Cup Third Race (TBC Laps) - 12:45 - 13:10

Air Display RAAF Roulettes (TBC) - 13:30 - 13:45

Formula One Third Practice Session - 14:00 - 15:00

V8 Supercars Third Race (TBC Laps) - 15:20 - 15:55

Track Activity Historic Speed Comparison Demonstration 3 - 16:05 - 16:20

Formula One Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk - 16:05 - 16:40

Air Display RAAF F/A18 Jet (TBC) - 16:30 - 16:40

Formula One Qualifying Session - 17:00 - 18:00

SUNDAY 20th MARCH

Track Activity 2 Seater Demonstration Laps - 07:25 - 08:40

Formula One Main Straight Walk - GP Advantage Ticket - 09:30 - 10:30

Track Activity Historic Parade (TBC) - 11:00 - 11:15

Formula One Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk - 11:00 - 11:30

Track Activity Stunt Display 4 (TBC) - 11:20 - 11:25

Australian GT Fourth Race (TBC Laps) - 11:35 - 12:00

V8 Supercars Fourth Race (TBC Laps) - 12:20 - 12:50

Formula One Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk - 12:55 - 13:40

Track Activity Stunt Display 5 & Junior GP (TBC) - 13:00 - 13:15

Track Activity Ultimate Speed Comparison Demonstration 4 - 13:25 - 13:40

Porsche Carrera Cup Fourth Race (TBC Laps) - 13:50 - 14:15

Formula One Drivers' Photograph - Starting Grid - 14:25

Formula One Formula One Drivers' Parade - 14:30 - 14:40

Air Display RAAF Roulettes (TBC) - 14:35 - 14:50

Track Activity Starting Grid Presentation (Main Straight) - 14:47 - 15:10

Air Display RAAF F/A18 Jet (TBC) - 15:10 - 15:20

Formula One National Anthem (Australia Tricolori) - 15:46

Formula One Grand Prix (58 Laps or 120 Mins) - 16:00 - 18:00

So this is obviously a very tight and heavy schedule. And that is just what happens on track, there are numerous social functions, parties, concerts, demonstrations. If the organizers allow any event to slip in the time frame, it has a domino effect from then on. So a schedule is set, and adhered to.

As well, many television services cannot extend their times past the scheduled time frame. For instance in Canada, if a Formula One qualifying session runs into the expected broadcast time frame of a hockey game, then there will be Hell to pay.