👉 Winter break: what happens in F1 when there are no races

The quietest pause of the year is also the most decisive one

Published

19 Dic 2025

Est. reading time

2 min

🏁 The season is over… or is it?

Yes, we already saw the final chequered flag in Abu Dhabi, but that is not when Formula 1 switches off. We have now entered a different phase: the winter break (right in the middle of summer in Latin America), the period between seasons when there are no races, but plenty of key decisions that shape the future of the championship. It is the moment when the paddock takes a breath, teams reorganise, and drivers prepare both physically and mentally to come back stronger.

Before we go in depth about the well-deserved rest...

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The winter shutdown: when factories stop

During the European winter, F1 enforces a mandatory factory shutdown for all teams. This is a continuous two-week period during which no work on car development is allowed. The goal is to prevent unfair advantages and protect team personnel. No design, no production and no new parts development. Only non-technical areas continue (such as Franco’s communications on the FC43 app 😉), along with basic maintenance.

It is one of the very few moments of the year when Formula 1 truly comes to a halt.

👀 What do drivers do during the break?

It is usually a very specific mix: real rest, targeted training, simulator work and mental preparation. There are no races, but the body and mind remain in competitive mode.

Franco will spend the holidays with his family and friends, taking the opportunity to rest a little and recharge the energy that we all need at this time of year.

The first major milestone: pre-season testing

The winter break ends with pre-season testing, the first time the new cars hit the track. This is not about seeing who is faster between Franco and Pierre, but about collecting data, checking reliability and validating simulations to start the season on the right foot.

👉 Why the winter break matters so much

It is not an empty space on the calendar. It is where the foundations are built for everything that comes next.

And Franco will keep pushing all the way!

Remember you can follow him on Instagram and here on the FC43 app to stay up to date with everything he is doing, plus exclusive updates and surprises for the Fran Club.

Do not forget to keep sharing everything you see on social media tagging us with #FranClub43, so we can feature it here and keep supporting Franco even during the winter break 🩵

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