Formula 1 is targeting an additional mandatory shutdown period in the winter to help with the intensifying schedules. Currently, the sport has a compulsory two-week break during the summer to protect the wellbeing of the team's personnel. With the F1 calendar expanding to 24 races for next season, there are concerns that the schedule could become too intense for employees working in F1. Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff pledged his support to the idea and believed that this season's earlier finish - due to the World Cup being played in winter - will help his staff, but also called for an agreement to a winter shutdown. "I think it's great that the season finishes this couple of weeks earlier than in the past, because everyone is really in the limit," Wolff told media, including RacingNews365.com . "I think we plan to introduce a shutdown in the coming year. "Not everybody is in agreement, but I would very much hope that we can do that for our staff and having this one week or two weeks more is definitely a nice welcome. "For the race team that's clocking many airline miles that's a positive."
Wolff backs replication of summer shutdown
Current F1 regulations have a mandatory two-week factory shutdown period during August, in a traditional four-week gap between races in the calendar. Whilst employees can take other holidays, Wolff believes that another mandatory shutdown period would benefit the staff of F1 teams. "Many of us Team Principals would like to replicate what we have in the summer, at least starting with Christmas and then going into the new year for two weeks," Wolff continued. "Obviously, that's still up for discussion, but there was positive indication. It's about the wellbeing of the staff."
Most read
