Do you think drivers deserve a summer break?

Question

I guess the teams do because they do all the hard work behind the scenes, but the drivers who only show up for the races and spend most of their time getting massages and eating fancy health foods should be made to do PR stuff for our amusement, or have meetings with other drivers where they actually get results and changes to improve the sport.

Answer 1

I think the drivers should at least get one week vacation and the mechanics, etc should get 2 weeks!  

Answer 2

"the drivers who only show up for the races "?  Most of the drivers have hardly any time off during the season due to testing the car between the races and PR commitments.

The GPDA HAS made changes to the sport over the years.  Without them drivers would still be driving around without seatbelts and would only have a couple of bales of hay to stop them if they left the circuit.

Answer 3

I think they do deserve a break - but it won't be much of a break.

You say the teams do 'all the hard work', but by far the biggest income from an F1 team is from it's sponsors, and the sponsors want to see the drivers, whoring themselves out with all variety of logos and products... and there has been a GPDA meeting this week too...

Answer 4

I don't think such a long break benefits anyone really other than the mechanics-who certainly deserve a break. I don't think the drivers should get one. Maybe if they put in more hard work it could be justified?

Answer 5

Yes the drivers do live pretty charmed lives, but everyone deserves a break. I'm sure the mechanics garner the same joy out of seeing their families and getting some well earned rest as a spoilt superstar would reclining on a super yacht with his silicone enhanced gal pal!

Its all relative!

Answer 6

I don't think the drivers do, but the teams definitely deserve one. As Frank Williams said when the provisional calendar for next year was published, it is the mechanics who are going to notice not having any holiday for 10 months next year.

Answer 7

I think they do, yes. F1 drivers do a lot more then you seem to think:

-Firstly there's the driving itself. Both physically and mentally demanding for 1 1/2 - 2 hours with no significant break.

-They do a significant amount of testing as well. Both in practice sessions before the race and at testing sessions.

-They also do a huge amount of PR work! Especially the bigger stars...adverts, promotions etc. They even do interviews on the grid just before a race! Totally unlike almost any other sport.

Sure, they get paid a lot and they get to travel around the world, but they undoubtedly do more and more varied work then most sportsmen/women.

Answer 8

LIKE PRO.FOOTBALLERS,You take whats on offer,if that packsge includes PR etc.then so be it,I honestly believe most (all) drivers want to put something back in one form or another,so yes,they deserve a break.

Answer 9

Actually that's one of the good things of being an F1 driver and not an F1 mechanic.

So rather than having the drivers pull tractors in the Summer whilst whipping their behind for our amusement, we should be thankful for being given a clear choice of which career path to pursuit.

Answer 10

not a chance

Answer 11

I think they do. The provisional calender for next season doesn't have one. The problem is that once you start something like that and try to take it away you're gonna hear a lot of moaning and groaning and rightfully so.

Answer 12

The thing is, the top drivers don't just turn up at the weekend, they're constantly working on either their own fitness or working with the team to try and improve things on the car, whether this is at the factory or at testing sessions or what... plus they have all the PR they have to do inbetween...

So maybe a summer is deserved, but not half as much as the rest of the team deserve one... that's why I am happy to hear about McLaren's rotation policy next year... http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php...

A summer break gives everyone a chance to cool down and get ready for the crucial last few races...

Answer 13

Hmm hmm... the team really needs this as they are always moving the entire team all over the world. Drivers only have to show up for the race weekend. What do they do otherwise? The mechanics have lots of work to do, setting up the car, making sure all the parts are available and in good condition etc... The drivers have to drive the car yes, show up for testing yes but do they do more than that?

While drivers don't really need to meet the fans and all that because their success depends on their performance and not fan support, it won't hurt to do a bit of promo for the sport eh? After all, do they want to race on a track with no spectators? And it' because of spectators and fans that the teams get sponsorship (read: high salaries for the drivers too)