The Formula 1 teams are talking about including a winter shutdown in the sports regulations as early as next year in order to promote the well-being of the employees.
Currently there is only one mandatory two-week shutdown during the summer break, during which the teams have to pause their operations.
So far, the regulations have not stipulated this during the winter break, even if the teams ensure that employees have time off over Christmas and in the winter. However, a winter shutdown has now been proposed in the sports directors’ committee.
This would take a similar approach to the summer break, adding a fixed period of time to the rules obliging all teams to pause their operations, giving employees time off. So far, however, there does not seem to be complete agreement among the teams.
But the signs are positive, reveals Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. He himself sees this as an important step in protecting the well-being of employees, who will be challenged and stressed more than ever with 24 races in the future.
Formula 1 team bosses for forced break
“Many of us team bosses would like to transfer what we have in summer to winter. At least from Christmas and in the first week of the new year,” explains Wolff about the planned shutdown. “Of course, that’s still up for discussion. But it was a positive sign, for the benefit of the people.”
Otmar Szafnauer from Alpine sees the talks a step further. “I think that’s already decided,” he says. “It won’t happen this year. But then it should cover the week from Christmas to the beginning of the year.”
Like Wolff, Szafnauer is positive about this move: “Definitely. We’re racing more and more and if you don’t force breaks people work through because it’s a strategic advantage. That’s true. So if you eliminate that advantage, does that mean everyone has to shut down.”
Even if the shutdown does not come immediately, the teams can at least go into the winter break earlier this year. With the final race taking place in Abu Dhabi on November 20, this year will see the earliest season finish since 2010 when the title fight took place on November 14.
In the past three seasons, the last Formula 1 race took place in December. In 2020 it was even December 13th and 2021 December 12th, after the Corona pandemic had forced changes in the schedule.
Longest Formula 1 winter break in years
The early end this year is due to the FIFA World Cup, which begins on the same day as the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in Qatar and will last until mid-December.
And with only one pre-season test scheduled before the season opener on March 5, this will be the longest winter break the staff has experienced in a number of years. “It’s great that the season is ending a few weeks earlier than in the past, because everyone is really on their toes,” emphasizes Wolff.
“These two extra weeks are very welcome. In the factory, however, work is done around the clock between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. For the racing team, which collects so many air miles, the earlier winter break is positive.”