The long summer break has arrived — but do you know why F1 has it in the first place? This is another update in our bite-sized F1 knowledge series, even during the off-season. Like, follow, and share, and let me tell you everything you need to know about the summer break.
This year’s break starts after the Hungarian Grand Prix and lasts until just before the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August. In F1, the summer break is literally written into the rulebook. According to Article 24.1 of the F1 Sporting Regulations, all teams must observe a mandatory 14-day shutdown during this period. Each team can choose their own start date for this two-week window, but during it, they are strictly forbidden from engaging in any car performance-related research, design, production, wind tunnel testing, or assembly work. The factory doors must stay shut, and drivers and technical staff must stop working entirely. Even sending emails or holding conference calls about car performance is strictly prohibited.
Of course, not all work is banned. Tasks like factory maintenance, equipment upgrades, and administrative, media, or legal work unrelated to performance are allowed. Drivers can also take a rare holiday — spending time with family and friends, or returning home for some peace and quiet. For example, last year Zhou Guanyu returned to China for events or stayed home to relax with his cats and video games. Hamilton traveled around the world, Hülkenberg spent more time with his children, while Verstappen kept racing in online streams. Overall, it’s an important time to relax and recharge after the intense first half of the season. Still, it’s not total rest — drivers maintain strict fitness regimes, including high-intensity interval training, yoga, and especially neck-strength exercises, to keep themselves in peak condition for the challenges of the second half.
This summer break helps protect the physical and mental health of drivers and team staff during a long, high-pressure season, encourages a work-life balance, controls costs, and ensures fair competition — supporting the sport’s long-term sustainability.
The concept was first strongly promoted in 2000 by Eddie Jordan, boss of the Jordan team, who said his staff’s children rarely saw their parents during the summer holidays. He believed everyone in the paddock deserved a proper summer vacation. However, rivals accused him of just wanting more time to enjoy his new yacht.
Regardless, from 2009 onwards, F1 officially added the summer break to the rules to cut costs, balance competition, and improve working conditions. Since then, the number of races each year has only increased, making the summer break even more vital.
For fans, the summer break may mean no racing action on track, but it’s when the driver market heats up off-track. Rumors about next season’s driver lineups, contract renewals, and team changes dominate headlines. This year’s big questions include: Which two drivers will Cadillac choose for their F1 debut? Could we see Zhou Guanyu and Bottas back next year? When will Russell’s contract be renewed? And will Alpine keep replacing its drivers? All of these will be key storylines to watch during the summer break.
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