The summer break is officially over, and Formula 1 is gearing up for the second half of the calendar. According to Max Verstappen, his vacation has ‘flown by’. But don’t worry, the Dutch champion will have a few more breaks later this year. This unusually long season ends with two triple-headers, so two more stops will be scheduled soon.
As the GP of the Netherlands approaches, the drivers have been alerted to the ‘bizarre’ schedule of 2024. Particularly towards the end of the year, the drivers will be very busy. At the end of September, Formula 1 will take another three-week break, only to race for three consecutive weekends. There will also be a few weeks of silence in November, followed by a final triple-header.
Esteban Ocon’s Thoughts on Formula 1 Breaks
“At first, I didn’t realize there would be breaks,” responded Esteban Ocon. “I think Formula 1 and the FIA have thought this through well. Triple-headers are just very heavy and everyone also has to deal with jet lag. It’s good to get the space to recharge the battery. Of course, this also makes the season extra long, so it has its downsides. But I’m glad we can try this.”
Oliver Oakes: The New Challenge for Ocon’s Team
For Ocon’s team, the second half of the season is extra challenging; Alpine was assigned a new team boss during the summer break. The British Oliver Oakes came from Formula 2 team Hitech GP. “He has a lot of work to do,” said Ocon. “It’s never easy to become the boss of a new team in the middle of the season. But I know he has a lot in him, so I’m convinced he will quickly find his way.”