Formula 1 summer shutdown and 2026 driver contract status

The FIA requires every Formula 1 team to observe a mandatory 14‑day shutdown during July or August, typically after the Hungarian Grand Prix and before the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. During this period factories must cease work to reduce costs and give staff a break. Each team sets its exact dates at least 30 days before the season starts.

As the sport enters the break, attention turns to driver contracts that expire at the end of 2026. Lewis Hamilton is expected to remain at Ferrari under a 2+1 deal, while George Russell’s 1+1 contract with Mercedes includes an option that may keep him for 2027. Kimi Antonelli also holds a 1+1 agreement with Mercedes. Red Bull’s French rookie Isack Hadjar is likely to stay for 2027, and Carlos Sainz’s two‑year deal with Williams ends in 2026, leaving his future uncertain.