The 2023 Formula 1 season is drawing to a close after a dominant campaign for world champions Max Verstappen and Red Bull, but what happens now?
Teams and drivers will take some time off over the winter to recharge their batteries before the 2024 season.
How different personnel decide to recharge is up to them. In previous years drivers have been seen doing different activities whether it is Carlos Sainz spending time on the squash court, Sergio Perez cheering on Mexico in the 2022 FIFA World Cup or Mick Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel previously competing in the Race of Champions event in snowy Sweden.
However, it really is not long before teams are back working hard in the factory to prepare for the upcoming campaign.
So, what exactly happens during the off-season and does the whole of motorsport take time off over winter? Here is everything explained.
F1’s off-season is the period between the end of one season and the beginning of another. So, taking 2023-24 for example, it will begin when the post-season Abu Dhabi test finishes on the 28 November. This is when teams give their cars one last shakedown before they get stored away.
It then comes to an end with the start of pre-season testing ahead of the 2024 F1 season. This takes place in Bahrain between the 21-23 February with the season opener a week later. However, teams are back working well in advance so even though they have a few months away from the track, much work is done behind the scenes.
Source: Autosport