Szafnauer urges permanent F1 spring break 'by design'
Szafnauer urges permanent F1 spring break 'by design'
Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer has suggested making the unofficial F1 spring break a permanent fixture on the calendar.
The cancellation of this year's Chinese Grand Prix saw a three-week break open up in the schedule between events in Australia and Azerbaijan.
In a regular season, the only time there is such a margin between races is in August, when teams are required to shut down entirely for two weeks in order to give personnel some time to rest.
“I think this break, although not planned, in a calendar that has 23 races and a lot of back-to-backs and triple-headers, it’s nice to have a three-week break now, a three-week break in August and then a break at Christmas," said Szafnauer.
“Maybe, if it is just by luck that we gain the knowledge that it is good to do it this way, maybe it should be by design in the future."
A break at the right time
Accepting that, for fans of the sport, the season is only in its infancy, this is not the case for those working within the teams with the hard graft starting long before the cars hit the track for pre-season testing in February.
“I know the season has just started, but it’s not just about the start of the season, a lot of people have worked hard over the winter preparing the car for testing and then the races," Szafnauer added.
“Now, to have a bit of a break, it just helps you with what is coming up and then, in August, you have another break. It might be a way forward.”
After Alpine's Australian Grand Prix ended in a collision between drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, when asked how the team will spend the break, Szafnauer quipped: “Some time off, some busy at work making car parts."
READ MORE: Wolff admits Mercedes have NO Plan B if Hamilton leaves
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Ferrari bound Bearman set to make key F1 move
- 39 minutes ago
F1 News Today: Verstappen delivers MAJOR Newey warning as Hamilton hints at Ferrari swoop
- 1 hour ago
F1 decision announced regarding points system change
- 1 hour ago
Verstappen sent Horner CLEAR message before Newey bombshell
- 2 hours ago
Horner admits Red Bull star may NEVER return to team
- 3 hours ago
F1 team OFFICIALLY confirms signing of new lead driver
- Today 08:57
Related news
F1 boss delivers team SALE verdict with new targets set
F1 pundit slams 'EMBARRASSING' team and predicts driver exodus
F1 team announce shock RESIGNATION of two key figures
F1 team boss issues BRUTAL put down for star driver
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860