How Formula 1 drivers have been spending the 2024 summer break

Follow us on Google Discover

While F1 is on the final week of a summer break before everything kicks off again, several drivers have been enjoying some much-needed respite.

The summer break is the time between the final Grand Prix of July and the first race to start the second half of the season in late August, which is the Dutch Grand Prix this year.

F1 teams do not shut down for the entire four-week period, but they do activate a mandatory 14-day period as part of the article 24.1 of the FIA Sporting Regulations.

During this shutdown period, teams cannot work on car design, development or parts production. This includes the planning or holding of meetings, nor can they run their wind tunnels at any period, but they are alllowed essential work like service and maintinence.

Teams can be penalised if they do not adhere to the rules, although are allowed dispensation from the FIA if they need to repair “seriously damaged” cars. Not all teams run the 14-day period at the same time, however most opt to do it as early as possible to leave time to prepare for the next race.

While using this period as a time to rest and recouperate, many of the drivers have given fans some insight into what they have been up to over the summer break.

Olympics, road trips and canyon adventures

Coming off the back of a win at the Belgian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton has been enjoying a lot of travelling. The seven-time World Champion was spotted enjoying himself at the Paris 2024 Olympics, cheering on Team USA’s Miles Chamley-Watson in the Fencing.

After a couple of days at one of the biggest events on the sporting calendar, Hamilton then went to Africa to spend time with friends in the sand dunes of Morocco. It is the second time he has visited the continant after also spending time in Kenya in 2022.

Elsewhere, his former teammate Valtteri Bottas has enjoyed some time mountain biking with his partner Tiffany Cromwell in the canyons of Finland. He later went to California where he posted a cryptic photo of himself beside an Audi roadcar, leading some fans to question whether he was hinting at a potenital driver with the team.

Off the back of his disqualification in Belgium, George Russell has been spending time with his partner Carmen Mentero Mundt in the sun. The Brit has shared various social media snaps from the holiday in Spain.

Lando Norris was also found enjoying himself with artists Swedish House Mafia, along with athlete Keegan Palmer who competed at this years Olympics. Teamate Oscar Piastri broke the news that he suffered a fractured rib while driving in the British GP, so he has spent time resting.

Williams drivers Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant made the most of the summer break by travelling to Switzerland and St Tropez respectively. Charles Leclerc has spent time in Monaco, while Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon, and Max Verstappen have all spent time with their partners.

Why does F1 have a summer break?

The summer break was implemented to ensure team personnel have adequte time off and to stop them from using the time to gain a competitive advantage.

There is now 24 Grands Prix in a season, which can take its toll on people if they do not have the proper amount of rest before the flyaway races across the Middle East and Americas.

It is also a great way to ensure costs are under control, as teams must conform to the $135 million (£105 million) cost cap.

Teams usually work through Christmas in preparation for the following season, so this is the only real mandated time they get to take off during a year.