The obligatory vacations of Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz – Spain’s News

With the World Cup little less than decided after eight wins in a row for Max Verstappen –the streak lasts until twelve if we talk about Red Bull–, the F-1 faces the summer break.

The Formula One calendar not too many years ago barely included 16-17 races during the season. Most were held in Europe, some in South America, and the grand prix in Asia was exceptional. Plans have changed radically. This course includes 22 races and the next few years the goal is to shoot up to 25. That is, almost half of the weekends of the year would be used.

There is more. The calendar no longer follows a more or less reasonable order from the logistical or geographical point of view and it is exhausting for all its protagonists. In fact, the teams are beginning to rotate their groups of mechanics and engineers as if they were soccer squads. His work is little less than incompatible with family life and the reconciliation thing is a chimera.

For this he F-1 regulations incorporated in 2009 one of its most “kind” articles. Its about 21.8: «All teams must meet a period of cessation of activity for 14 consecutive days located between two consecutive events that are separated by at least 24 days during the months of July and/or August. If two consecutive events were separated by only 17 days in this period, the cessation of activity must be 13 days. In any case, competitors must notify the FIA ​​of their period of cessation of activity within 30 days prior to the start of the championship.”

The sports organization forces the teams to completely stop the activity to ensure that all the members of the “circus” can enjoy a true rest and disconnection without thinking that others are working in the factory and can take advantage while the Others are enjoying the holidays. The FIA ​​specifies that Any action that affects the performance of the car is canceledbe it the use of the wind tunnel, simulations, development and production of new parts, car assembly…

The only thing that is allowed is repair work, maintenance or pure revisions. The only ones that have complete freedom to work are the marketing, legal or financial departments.

And how does the IFRC control all this? The teams have made a commitment to the FIA ​​and their representatives have the doors open to control any parameter that could mean a breach in compliance with the norm. From controlling the physical work in the factory to being able to check if the email accounts of engineers and managers are working or have messages sent during these 14 days. They can even request access to servers to check whether or not there is activity at the headquarters on duty.

The issue of emails and other aspects related to less physical jobs can be more complicated to control, but it is about making the task of the teams difficult so that there is the necessary rest and nobody can take advantage. In fact, as an engineer who works in a team has confirmed to LA RAZÓN, from the Human Resources Department of the teams they warn their workers to strictly comply with this rule under threat of sanction. Even email accounts are blocked to avoid any risk. Each team chooses whether to start this period as soon as the last race in Belgium is over or, on the contrary, continue with the work this week and return 14 days later to prepare for the test in Holland that marks the restart of the activity this year.

To control this stoppage, the International Automobile Federation hires different companies so that they can supervise that no one is working in the factories during this period or sending parts to test other wind tunnels than their own.