Following the Hungarian GP, F1 has entered its summer break, which will last until the Dutch GP at the end of August. This is a period where team members who travel around the world can have a break and a much-needed rest.
During the four weeks, the FIA implements a mandatory 14-day shutdown that all teams must adhere to. Breaking these rules will result in a penalty for the team. But what can’t the teams do during the two-week stint?
The F1 summer shutdown explained
F1 has a three-week break after a race in the last weekend of July or the first weekend in August. F1 has a shutdown for half the time, with most teams choosing the middle two weeks. This allows teams to debrief straight after the last race and prepare for the upcoming event.
The shutdown means teams can’t complete any work on the car’s performance, including design, development, production, or any simulator work. Only repair work to damaged parts can be done during the shutdown, and only with the FIA’s approval. All communications via phone and email are also prohibited.
↗︎Mercedes Technical Director James Allison explains: “We are not allowed to work, think, or do anything that could make an F1 car go quicker. It basically means we get to go home and have a holiday for 14 consecutive days.”
However, departments that are not directly linked to the race team, like the finance department, can still operate. Teams are also allowed to complete maintenance work on their factories to make sure they are in good shape once the shutdown is over.
The summer shutdown gives F1 personnel a much-needed rest
F1 personnel spend a lot of time working behind the scenes, from the pit crew to members working at the teams’ factories. The shutdown gives team members a rest and time to reset away from the pressure cooker, which is F1.
Mercedes Chief Operating Officer Rob Thomas explains: “During the season, you are on this treadmill of working so hard. As the shutdown approaches, you do start to notice that the team are starting to think about the break.
“You do not really notice how tired you are until you have that time off. When the team returns to work, you can tell they are refreshed. You can feel a renewed energy across the whole factory.”
After the shutdown is complete, teams will get to the factories for everyone to get ready for the remainder of the season. There is still a long and gruelling championship to prepare for. Teams will want to kick off the second part of the season with good results. So they must make sure their cars are in optimal condition to do so.
