Williams driver Nico Rosberg says twilight races are too dangerous and he fears the Malaysian Grand Prix may have to be stopped because of the risks to the drivers.

Like last week's season opener in Australia, the Sepang race will start at 5pm local time to catch a bigger television audience in Europe.

But Rosberg has admitted he struggled to see parts of the track as the sun set in Melbourne and is urging race chiefs to bring the Malaysia race forward because he is worried that tropical downpours in the late afternoon could cause chaos.

“Twilight racing is not the way to go. In Melbourne it was obvious that it just increases the danger so much,” said the German. “The visibility is sodifficult, 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. If the monsoon comes down in Malaysia, then the race is going to have to be stopped because we can't race and drive with that amount of water. So I really hope they reconsider.

“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.”
Team-mate Kazuki Nakajima shares Rosberg's concern. The Japanese driver added: “It was difficult with the low sunlight in Australia, especially as the light flickered and changed under the tree cover.

“In Malaysia, there is the possibility of reduced light mixed with the likelihood of rain. So for sure these late race start times will have a bearing on my approach to qualifying and the race.”

Rosberg finished sixth in Australia but he could lose the points as Williams are one of the diffuser three', whose use of a controversial design on their cars has led to a protest from rivals.

Race stewards rejected the original complaint but the matter, which also affects Brawn GP and Toyota, will be ruled upon by the FIA in Paris next month.

Brawn had a fairy-tale debut in Melbourne, with Jenson Button taking the chequered flag ahead of team-mate Rubens Barrichello.

By contrast Ferrari failed to score, while world champion Lewis Hamilton had to drive brilliantly to guide his poorly-performing McLaren to third.

Rosberg believes the shake up of the sport's traditional pecking order is thanks to the new rules.

“I'm a great fan of the regulations,” said the son of Finland's 1982 world champion Keke. “It gives everyone an even chance and improves the racing and improves the excitement, overtaking is possible.”

Rosberg does not think that Brawn's performance was a one-off and thinks they could even go on to take the title.

“Brawn have done a great job and have been massively quick in winter testing and also in Melbourne and I think they will sustain it,” he added.

“It's going to be very difficult for anybody to catch up that advantage. They are seven-tenths down the road, more or less, per lap.

“We will be doing the best we can to catch up but they will also be developing so I think they are going to have a great chance for the championship.”