Following a thrilling Hungarian Grand Prix, the F1 paddock departed for the summer break and the mandatory 14-day factory shutdown period.
It gives team members, staff and media the chance to take some time off, relax and return to normality for a little while, as well as enabling the drivers to reflect on their season so far.
The two-week window for the shutdown is different for each team and the dates have to be submitted to the FIA 30 days before the first round.
Despite there being no on-track action for a month, this time is crucial for the F1 circus to look back on the season so far and take some time off before what is likely to be an exciting but frantic final eight races.
The sport never really stops. Even over the winter, and the cars are on track from February (winter testing) until late November (the final post-Abu Dhabi test). This year’s 19-race calendar is even more demanding thanks to the four in-season tests.
This season I have had a small taste of what life is like in the F1 paddock, having attended the races in Austria, Germany and Hungary for Richland F1.
The last two months have been incredible and I have loved every second of covering the sport from the tracks, but even after two weeks on the road for races at the Hockenheimring and Hungaroring, I was already exhausted and took a few days to catch up on sleep and settle back into normality.
Over the next week or so I will be posting several mid-season review pieces on this blog, taking a look back at F1 2014 so far, as well as rating the performances of the 22 drivers on the grid.
For me personally, I think it has been one of (if not the best) seasons I have ever seen, and I started following the sport religiously in 2004. I love F1's new sound - there is so much negativity but it is much better in person. We have seen some great wheel-to-wheel action, plenty of drama and the championship battle is shaping up very nicely indeed.
By the end of August, when the sport heads to Spa-Francorchamps for round 12, the F1 circus will be refreshed and ready for the final part of the season. Will it be Rosberg or Hamilton who takes the title? Can anyone challenge Mercedes? Who will be best of the rest?
I can't wait to find out the answers to those questions, it should be a fantastic end to what has been an exciting year for Formula 1.
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| © Red Bull |
The two-week window for the shutdown is different for each team and the dates have to be submitted to the FIA 30 days before the first round.
Despite there being no on-track action for a month, this time is crucial for the F1 circus to look back on the season so far and take some time off before what is likely to be an exciting but frantic final eight races.
The sport never really stops. Even over the winter, and the cars are on track from February (winter testing) until late November (the final post-Abu Dhabi test). This year’s 19-race calendar is even more demanding thanks to the four in-season tests.
This season I have had a small taste of what life is like in the F1 paddock, having attended the races in Austria, Germany and Hungary for Richland F1.
The last two months have been incredible and I have loved every second of covering the sport from the tracks, but even after two weeks on the road for races at the Hockenheimring and Hungaroring, I was already exhausted and took a few days to catch up on sleep and settle back into normality.
Over the next week or so I will be posting several mid-season review pieces on this blog, taking a look back at F1 2014 so far, as well as rating the performances of the 22 drivers on the grid.
For me personally, I think it has been one of (if not the best) seasons I have ever seen, and I started following the sport religiously in 2004. I love F1's new sound - there is so much negativity but it is much better in person. We have seen some great wheel-to-wheel action, plenty of drama and the championship battle is shaping up very nicely indeed.
By the end of August, when the sport heads to Spa-Francorchamps for round 12, the F1 circus will be refreshed and ready for the final part of the season. Will it be Rosberg or Hamilton who takes the title? Can anyone challenge Mercedes? Who will be best of the rest?
I can't wait to find out the answers to those questions, it should be a fantastic end to what has been an exciting year for Formula 1.
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