What Do F1 Drivers Do in Between Grand Prix?
After the tires cool down, after the champagne fizzes out and the checker flag is folded up, what exactly happens after a Grand Prix? Surely not every driver shimmies out of their suit only to be placed back into their F1 pod and let out before the first free practice. No! In fact, for most drivers, this is not the case. The time in between Grand Prix is spent in preparation for the next race. While we the fans tune in once the engines start revving, the team’s work never comes to a halt.
The time in between races can be split into two categories: scheduled activities, and ongoing ones. After landing back home, most teams take the succeeding Monday off. Many drivers report having a difficult time sleeping during the busy weekend, so a recovery day in their own beds is a necessary step before getting back into gear. Starting back up on Tuesday, the debrief takes place as soon as possible. It's where the whole team gathers together to discuss the previous weekend’s successes, failures, and, most importantly, where the car can improve on the next track. But these discussions are not just opportunities for the data engineers to run wild. It's collaborative and people-oriented. It's a chance for the team to bounce ideas off of each other. “We’ll always sit down and have breakfast and lunch together,” says Mercedes driver George Russell.
Then there are the activities that go on throughout the week or two off. Drivers maintain a strict exercise regimen, sometimes pulling double sessions in the gym. They also take a seat in their simulator, in lieu of being able to practice in their actual cars, per FIA regulations. Then, there’s the auxiliary, but necessary parts of the job like marketing and filming promotional content. Oscar Piastri takes this time to do his laundry. Thank goodness for Piastri’s renewed McLaren contract. He used to dry his laundry using the oven. “I have a tumble dryer now,” he stated, setting all our hearts at ease. Even while the foot is off the excelerator, the car is still moving. The work of an F1 team is never over. Slightly less adrenaline-heavy off the track, but no less important. With still a week left until the Japanese Grand Prix, we can only hope that the drivers are getting some well deserved down time.
