Hakkinen downplays night race concerns

Mika Hakkinen has downplayed concerns regarding the safety of F1's first night race, however, he does concede that racing at night has it's own challenges.

In September the streets of Singapore will play host to a night grand prix, a first for Formula One. The weekend's events will also be the first for many of the drivers, which has raised some concerns about their safety.

A suggestion has also been put forward that either the drivers test under lights or the weekend's timetable to be altered to allow them more time under lights. At present Friday's first practice session will take place during the day.

"I have asked for the matter to be added to the agenda for the next meeting of the Sporting Working Group, so let's see," Toro Rosso's team manager Massimo Rivola told Autosport.

"I am talking about the safety of the drivers - because I am not worried about having to work all night if it is for our job. The safety issue we have to consider more carefully."

However, double F1 World Champion Hakkinen has played down Rivola's concerns. "If the lighting system and all the organisation is at a top, top level, I don't think testing is necessary," he told Reuters.

He does, however, concede that racing at night does have it's own set of challenges for the drivers.

"When driving at night your body is in night mode, so all your reactions are not as sharp as in the daytime, because your body should be sleeping," he added.