The summer break in Formula 1 is a mandatory 14-day period when all teams must stop any work related to car performance. This rule comes from the FIA, the governing body of the sport. During these two weeks, teams are not allowed to design, develop, or produce parts, use simulators, or run computer tests for the current car. They also cannot build or partially assemble car components. Even phone calls, emails, or meetings about performance are forbidden. This means no one can gain an unfair advantage during the break.

The break usually happens between the end of July and the end of August. In 2025, it started on Monday, 4 August, just after the Hungarian Grand Prix, and will end when the Dutch Grand Prix weekend begins on Friday, 29 August.

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Each team must choose any 14 consecutive days within this period for their shutdown, and they must tell the FIA in advance. Most teams select the middle two weeks, giving them time to review the last race before the break and prepare for the next one afterwards.

There are some exceptions. Teams can repair seriously damaged cars during the shutdown, but only with FIA approval. They can also work on show cars that do not have current parts, run wind tunnels or simulations for non-F1 purposes, and carry out maintenance on factory equipment and IT systems. Departments such as marketing, finance, and legal are allowed to continue working as normal.

The rule also applies to engine manufacturers. They must stop all performance-related work and testing. Finally, there is a second shutdown at the end of the season. This one lasts nine days, starting on 24 December. Just like the summer break, no work on performance or development is allowed, but other types of work can continue.