What happens during the Formula One mid-season break?

With 10 races to go in the 2024 Formula One season, we’ve reached the summer break, with drivers given a month off to recharge their batteries.

The season will resume at the end of August with the Dutch Grand Prix so to fill the void until then, we’ve taken a look at how the season has gone so far and explained how the summer break works.

The story so far

There have been two F1 races since our last update, which had seen Max Verstappen hit a sticky patch having looked to have been running away with the title. Sadly for the reigning champion, that sticky patch has continued.

He failed to win either of those two races, which took place in Hungary and Belgium. First up, Australian youngster Oscar Piastri raced home to win in a race that saw the Brits do well, with Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton third.

Then in Belgium, Hamilton followed up on his record-breaking win at the British Grand Prix with his second win in three races. The Mercedes star was promoted to first after teammate George Russell was disqualified for having an underweight car. Verstappen was once again nowhere to be seen on the podium, with Piastri second and Charles Leclerc in third.

F1 standings after 14 races

Why is there a summer break?

The Formula One season has been paused for a hiatus that’s set to last for almost a month. The break in the racing calendar gives everyone involved, from racers to staff, a much-needed opportunity to rest and recharge.

The first half of the campaign has been a gruelling affair, with 14 races packed into just 21 weeks. As well as the intense competitiveness of each grand prix, there’s also been a huge amount of travelling. Teams have been flying across the globe to compete ever since the season kicked off in Bahrain in March, with races in the likes of Australia, Japan, Miami, Canada and throughout Europe.

The relentless racing and travel often takes a toll on all involved, so the break ensures everyone can take a step back, relax on the beach and spend some time with their friends and family.

While some of the break will be used to make plans for the rest of the season, it also includes a mandatory 14-day ‘summer shutdown’ for all teams. During this period, all teams must completely down tools, with no meetings allowed and no work on improving car performance permitted.

Only essential maintenance and servicing can take place, which ensures that everybody gets an equal amount of time off and nobody gains an unfair advantage. Failure to comply with the shutdown regulations can result in severe punishments.

Who will benefit from the summer break?

While all teams will welcome the summer break as an opportunity to relax, some drivers may find it more beneficial than others. Verstappen will be grateful for the hiatus – he’s failed to win any of the last four races despite coming out on top in seven of the first 10.

He remains in pole position to win his fourth consecutive Drivers’ Championship but his loss of form is worrying and he risks losing his way if he doesn’t turn things around soon.

In contrast, the summer break has arguably come at a bad time for Hamilton after winning two of the last three races. In fact, in the last six races the 39-year-old has won two, finished third twice and finished fourth twice. His best finish in the eight races before that was sixth.

Hamilton likely would have been keen to continue building momentum ahead of the season’s home straight. He’s finally back in form and while he remains a long way behind Verstappen, if their performances continue in the same vein then he may have his sights on securing a record-breaking eighth title before he moves on to Ferrari at the end of the year.

The break will be welcome for Sainz Jr, the man who Hamilton is replacing next season. The Spaniard has slipped down the standings in recent weeks and he needs to find a way to get back onto the podium. He remains fifth but with just one podium finish in the last six races, he’s allowed Piastri to leapfrog him, with Hamilton not too far behind.

Similarly, Leclerc hasn’t had the best time of late and Ferrari will be hoping, like Sainz Jr, that he can return from the break with a new lease of life. The 26-year-old finished third in Belgium last time out but he failed to finish in the top 10 in both Austria and at Silverstone.

F1 schedule

Dutch Grand Prix– Sunday 25th August
Italian Grand Prix– Sunday 1st September
Azerbaijan Grand Prix– Sunday 15th September
Singapore Grand Prix– Sunday 22nd September
United States Grand Prix– Sunday 20th October
Mexican Grand Prix– Sunday 27th October
Brazilian Grand Prix– Sunday 3rd November
Las Vegas Grand Prix– Sunday 24th November
Qatar Grand Prix– Sunday 1st December
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix– Sunday 8th December

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