Formula 1: Earlier starts in five races as part of safety measures after Bianchi accident

PARIS (AFP) - Formula One organisers FIA on Tuesday announced earlier starts for five grand prix events this season, with the move introduced as one of the recommendations after Jules Bianchi's near-fatal crash.

The 25-year-old Frenchman was left fighting for his life when his Marussia car ploughed into a recovery vehicle at the Japanese Grand Prix last October.

The accident in wet conditions with the light fading led to a major safety review.

Races in Australia, Malaysia, China, Japan and Russia have all been brought forward with organisers ruling that no race should start within four hours of sunset to avoid the kind of conditions that Bianchi faced at Suzuka.

The three floodlit evening races in Bahrain, Singapore and Abu Dhabi remain unchanged.

The 2015 F1 season gets under way in Australia on March 15.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.