After an extremely tiring and demanding streak of 13 races in 20 weeks, the Formula 1 paddock entered its summer break in August, right after the 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring circuit. There will be no official F1 events for a full month, with the teams meeting up at the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps from 26 to 28 August.
That means more than three weeks off the routine of the F1 circus and travel around the world, but even if everyone involved will enjoy some well-deserved rest, it doesn’t mean that everything closes for the entire period.
What is the Formula 1 summer break?
The F1 summer break is so fundamental that it has even been included in the sporting regulations, complete with penalties for teams that do not abide by the rules. In a general sense, the F1 summer break is the period between the last race in July – for 2022 it is the Hungarian GP on 29-31 July – and the first return race in late August or early September. This year it is the Belgian GP, August 26-28.
For teams, when there are no official races or tests to participate in or prepare for until the end of the F1 summer break, there is also a mandatory closure of factories where work is strictly limited to basic functions only.
This rule is governed by article 21.8 of the FIA sporting regulations: “All competitors must observe a closing period of fourteen (14) consecutive days during the months of July and / or August”.
During this time, teams cannot work on the design, development or production of car parts, including planning or conducting meetings.
Wind tunnel work or component development are also not allowed at any time during the 14 day period, but essential work such as service and maintenance is permitted.
F1 teams can repair damaged cars, but must obtain FIA clearance to operate, while all activities not directly related to the team are allowed. F1 teams can activate the 14-day stoppage period at any time during the summer break, and most teams usually opt for the two weeks in between to have time to unpack from the previous race and prepare for the race following the break.
But F1 teams are not required to take the 14-day break in the same period, so some teams may start or end the period earlier than others. The summer break was also used during the 2020 season, conditioned by COVID-19, when it was brought forward in March and April to allow the season to start in July.
Although the rules of the Sporting Regulations apply to all teams, in general this also goes for the FIA, race marshals, suppliers, media and other stakeholders involved in the series who ensure that F1 can race.
Why does Formula 1 have a summer break?
Since the F1 calendar has lengthened to over 20 races each season, the summer break has been introduced to ensure free time, with rules established to prevent teams from exploiting it to gain a competitive advantage. It is also a way to keep costs under control, having been introduced long before the budget cap, because it means that every F1 team has to put development and research work on hold.
It also allows team staff to spend time away from F1 and from work in order to relax with family and friends before the action resumes in the frantic period of the second half of the season. As F1 teams get to work right after the Christmas break, this is the first real time off work for many departments on each team. It is also a timely break before work resumes for the end of the season and focuses on the next championship.
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What happens during the F1 summer break?
What happens during the summer break varies according to each department of an F1 team, but for the vast majority all work stops during the 14 days of closure. This applies to all areas that work specifically on performance or managing the F1 team and cars from top to bottom.
Only a few departments can continue to work, those that do not have a direct impact on the performance of the car: mainly marketing, finance and the legal department.
Outside the mandatory 14-day closing period, all areas of an F1 team can operate normally, subject to the rules and limits set forth during the season.
F1 drivers also take a break and usually debrief with the team only the day after the last race before the summer break and fulfill any media or marketing commitments. Then the drivers are free to go on vacation and usually return to the factory the week before the championship race resumes to work on the simulator.
When is Formula 1 back?
The 2022 F1 season will continue after the summer break with the Belgian GP in Spa-Francorchamps on August 26-28, which will kick off the final nine races over the next 12 weeks.
The championship will end with the Abu Dhabi GP on November 18-20.
F1 2022 race calendar after the summer break:
Belgian GP – August 26-28
Dutch GP – 2-4 September
Italian GP – 9-11 September
Singapore GP – 30 September-2 October
Japanese GP – October 7-9
United States GP – 21-23 October
Mexico City GP – October 28-30
GP of San Paolo – 11-13 November
Abu Dhabi GP – November 18-20
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