What the break means for fans and the teams, and how to not have withdrawals from F1..
Summer break is difficult for many F1 fans: No races, limited content, and worst of all, counting down the days until the next race weekend. However, drivers and their teams are often relieved to have a brief hiatus from the chaos that occurs every odd weekend.
Many drivers choose to head back to their respective home countries: Spain, Monaco, the UK, you name it. Others, though, decide to use the four weeks to travel the world in search of new experiences they otherwise would be unable to accomplish. Lewis Hamilton, 7x World Champion, traveled to Morocco, Senegal, Benin, Mozambique, and Madagascar.
“This has been an amazing Summer break, [definitely] one for the books.” Says Hamilton in his recent Instagram Post. “So many great memories and experiences I’ll carry with me forever.”
While not every driver participated in such an extensive trip, many did decide to spend time with those they don’t see so often: family and friends. Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris of the Mclaren F1 Team, spent time with their friends and partners, respectively. The entirety of their summer breaks can be found on Instagram, X, and TikTok. (P.S. F1 fans- if you don’t follow the individual drivers’ pages yet, you might want to check that out).
Nevertheless, with the FIA Formula One calendar continuing its expansion of its race season, now with 24 from the previous 23, it is incredibly difficult for drivers to get the relaxation and time off they so desperately deserve. Many fans are distraught with the lack of racing during these excruciating four weeks but don’t fear, there are many opportunities available for the entire spectrum of fans.
Grill the Grid
Grill the Grid is an interview-style YouTube video that tests the Drivers’ knowledge of various things related to F1. Most are lighthearted; with games such as “Never Have I Ever” or “Guess the Driver by Baby Photo”, but others test the ability of drivers to remember past F1 teams and World Champions. It is the perfect way to fill the empty time and is usually available every couple of days to ensure dedicated fans are up to date on their content. If you need a good laugh or something to take the edge off of no racing, this is a surefire option.
F1 TV:
This option is slightly more pricey and requires a membership, but F1 TV offers race replays (from basically every year of F1 to date), Race analysis, historical facts on F1, as well as pre/post-race shows. This is a good choice for those fans who are more interested in the racing than the drivers, as everything truly is in the palm of your hand. As I mentioned earlier though, it does come with a hefty price tag, usually around $30 for a year of regular access and $90 for a year of TV pro, which allows events to be streamed live, as well as no commercials. I would recommend this option, as it was beneficial when I started my F1 journey.
Social Media:
Probably the easiest and most accessible way to stay updated on F1 during the summer break is to check your social media. Most people by now have some form of social media, whether it be Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, etc. All of the teams, as well as the drivers, have multiple accounts on these sites and post *very* frequently. It’s likely that every time you check any of these sites, there will almost always be new content for you to explore. Since the teams cannot be doing technical things to their cars at this time, most of their attention gets focused on their fans- and keeping them happy.
No matter what option, or combination of options, you might choose, there are plenty of ways to keep your F1 heart beating strong. It is not the best time in the world, but teams and drivers try their best to make it as painless as possible for their fans. Luckily for us, The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort is upon us, shortly followed by the Gran Premio Di Italia at the Temple of Speed, Monza on September 1st. The end of break is upon us, and new content will be posted as races continue!
