Twilight timing holds no safety fears for excited Hamilton

A number of drivers expressed concerns last year over visibility issues caused by a bright setting sun and similar worries have once again been raised ahead of this year's event at Albert Park.

The start time was previously moved to 5pm local time in a bid to attract more television viewers in Europe but Red Bull's Mark Webber and Jarno Trulli of Lotus yesterday reiterated the view that it makes for a potentially dangerous race.

"If you picked the best time to have a high-speed sporting motor race event, obviously it's not when the sun is at eye level with us," said Webber.

"Anyway, that's how it is for lots of different commercial reasons."

Trulli, meanwhile, felt that even making the start time just one hour earlier would be a vast improvement.

"We raised our concerns last year but apparently nothing has changed," he said. "There is very little you can do on the safety side on the track, apart from starting the race an hour earlier which probably won't hurt anyone. We have given our opinion and that's it."

But Hamilton offered a different point of view on the issue, insisting it should not cause any problems as long as teams make the necessary preparations to combat visor glare.

"It was not easy in the last race (in Melbourne last year) and we all know that but I think it adds something a little bit special to it and makes it even more unique," said the 25-year-old.

"The Australian Grand Prix and this circuit for me has always been special, I love it here. I loved it when we had it at 2pm in the daylight but now it is perhaps a bit better for the fans. It's a bit cooler and easier for us.

"I think as long as we have the correct visors it's not going to be too much of a problem."

Hamilton's team-mate and reigning world champion Jenson Button – who won in Melbourne last year – was more reserved in his opinion, opting to take a 'wait and see' approach and watch how things unfold this weekend.

"I think there have been a lot of drivers commentating on it being difficult visibility because the sun was almost at eye-line," he said.

"It is going to be the same here and it something for us to watch out for. Maybe it will be cloudy and we will be all right but we will have to wait and see.

"Last year I had a silvery yellow visor on which seemed to be silver on the inside as well when the sun shined so that was not the best but I think people will be running with different visors now and it should help. It is a tricky one but it is what we have got so we have to deal with it."

McLaren drivers Hamilton and Button both finished in the points in the season's first race at Bahrain a fortnight ago, coming third and seventh respectively behind eventual winner Fernando Alonso of Ferrari.