So, you’ve just started following F1. Maybe it was Drive to Survive, or maybe you just wondered what drivers do when they’re not racing. Let’s clear up a common myth right away. When someone says “Formula 1 is in its off-season,” you probably picture drivers stepping out of their cars and straight onto yachts, sipping champagne in the Riviera until March. Well… not quite. The F1 off-season is short, only about three months from December to March. For fans, it feels long. For drivers, it’s a mix of mental resetting, physical training, handling sponsors, and fitting in some fun. Every choice matters, because even small decisions in the off-season can make a difference when the racing starts again. So, what do F1 drivers really do in the off-season? Let’s look at their routines.
Step 1: The Mental Reset
Even superheroes need to recharge. For drivers, that means unplugging—sometimes with glamour, sometimes with family dinners in sweatpants.
- Party & Play: Lando Norris kicks off with DJ Martin Garrix. George Russell and Pierre Gasly have been spotted on dance floors, too.
- Out of Signal: Leclerc, Sainz, Verstappen, Russell, and Gasly often rent yachts together around the Riviera.
- Family First: Verstappen, Piastri, Ocon, Tsunoda, Albon, Hulkenberg, Lawson, and rookie Antonelli prefer quiet time at home. Russell? He heads to the Cayman Islands.
- Adventure Mode: Leclerc splits his time between skiing in Italy and golf in Mexico. Norris swaps Dubai’s sand dunes for snowy slopes. Hamilton goes totally off-grid—backcountry snowboarding in Canada with Shaun White.
- Giving Back: Alonso, after a quick recharge in Dubai, spends his time mentoring young karters in Spain.
Some drivers go wild. Others disappear. But the purpose is the same: to reset the mind and let go of the past season’s highs and lows. You can check for more on Formula 1’s insights.
And just before the reset ends, there’s the FIA Prize Giving Ceremony—a reminder that publicity and sponsorship never truly stop.
Step 2: Personal Reboot Through Hobbies
Once rested, hobbies keep drivers creative and grounded.
- Outdoor Sports: Cycling, skiing, surfing, diving, tennis, golf. Carlos Sainz has added boxing, which he credits for improving his defensive maneuvers on track, enabling quicker reflexes and strategic positioning. Alonso? Skiing in Val Gardena, which boosts his balance and agility. However, football remains the number one hobby of racers, fostering their teamwork and stamina.
- Sim Racing & Gaming: Verstappen and Norris compete in virtual endurance races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual. Norris streams on Twitch, Antonelli, and Albon also join in.
- Creative Outlets: Leclerc makes music (his single “AUS23 (1:1)” hit iTunes charts). Hamilton and Leclerc are both dog lovers and musicians. Tsunoda experiments in the kitchen. Hadjar sketches.
- Relaxation Mode: Stroll and Ocon are film buffs with full home theaters—yes, think Marvel marathons and Bond re-runs.
These quirks remind us: F1 drivers aren’t machines. They’re people with hobbies, passions, and downtime.
Step 3: Getting Race-Fit Again
Formula 1 is all about developing the superhuman endurance necessary to handle G-forces and make split-second decisions. You are wondering, “How do F1 drivers stay fit off-season”? They dive into structured training that mirrors the demands of racing. By January, vacation mode fades. Training takes over.
- Strength & Stamina: Camps in Dubai or Portugal rebuild endurance. Gasly’s UAE training mixed cardio with weights. Back home, drivers rely on cryotherapy and physio support.
- Mind Games: Reaction drills—light boards, tennis balls, hand-eye tests—keep reflexes razor sharp. Verstappen’s legendary here.
- Simulators: Virtual laps mimic real circuits in any condition. Norris and Verstappen spend hours fine-tuning. Teams also use these sessions to tweak strategy.
Additionally, off-season simulator training allows teams to adjust their strategies. Read Mercedes’s insights on how the F1 simulation works.
The takeaway? Off-season is less about rest, more about discipline. And it explains why some drivers look unstoppable from the first lap.
Step 4: Off-Season Business
F1 is speed, yes, but it’s also big business.
Ambassadorships:
The F1 off-season is the prime time for brand deals and entrepreneurship. A single Instagram post can net mid-six figures, underscoring why sponsorships flood this period.
Who is whose ambassador?
| Max Verstappen | AlphaTauri, Red Bull’s fashion |
| Yuki Tsunoda | Neuro Gum |
| Lando Norris | UM, Ralph Lauren Fragrances |
| Oscar Piastri | My Room Children’s Cancer Charity |
| George Russell | Tommy Hilfiger, PUMA, UBS, Adidas |
| Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Police (Italian brand of fashion accessories) |
| Charles Leclerc | PUMA, Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, Chivas Regal, Bang & Olufsen, APM Monaco, and Ray-Ban |
| Lewis Hamilton | Lululemon |
| Isack Hadjar | Hugo Boss |
| Liam Lawson | Tony Quinn Foundation (TQF) |
| Alex Albon | Monsoon Valley Vineyard (Thai wine brand) |
| Carlos Sainz | L’Oréal Paris (L’Oréal Men Expert) |
| Fernando Alonso | BOSS, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya |
| Lance Stroll | Metro Supply Chain |
| Nico Hulkenberg | Admin by Request (cybersecurity company), Right To Play |
| Gabriel Bortoleto | KitKat. |
| Esteban Ocon | KILIAN Fragrance, Bianchet Watche |
| Oliver Bearman | Modex, Aventum Group |
| Pierre Gasly | Givenchy Gentleman fragrances, AIX Investment Group |
| Franco Colapinto | Renault’s Esprit Alpine |
Entrepreneurship:
No, not all of the F1 drivers have their own business, but someone strikes while the iron is hot.
- Verstappen runs Team Redline, a pro sim-racing outfit.
- Hamilton co-founded Neat Burger and fields an Extreme E team.
- Norris co-owns Quadrant, a gaming and lifestyle brand.
- Gasly co-owns FC Versailles and backs a padel team.
- Leclerc invests in luxury watches.
- Sainz and Alonso? Next-level businessmen. Sainz runs CS55 Karting, owns a restaurant, and co-founded Apex Capital Fund. Alonso founded Kimoa and co-created A14 Management, which mentors drivers. He has also invested in a museum and a karting circuit in Spain.
It’s financial freedom and the proof: the hustle doesn’t stop when the cars do.
About The FIA’s Summer Shutdown
One bonus fact: F1 also enforces a two-week summer shutdown in July/August. Teams must stop car development, sim work, and wind tunnel testing. Drivers usually use the time for family trips.
It’s a pause that levels the field and builds anticipation for post-break races.
Why the F1 Off-Season Matters
The off-season is where champions are built. By Bahrain testing, the quiet work done in December and January decides who arrives strongest.
For fans, this period isn’t a waiting room. It’s a window: it’s the perfect time to pick a favorite driver and follow their every move. Spot clues about who’s sharp (Verstappen grinding sims, Hamilton off-grid training). Dive deeper and take it a step further. Why not choose one driver to track this off-season and try to predict their early-season form? Engage with their updates and see if you can guess who will come out strong when the lights go out in Bahrain.
- See the humans behind helmets—through hobbies, Twitch streams, and socials. You can check our review of the F1 drivers’ lineup 2025.
- Understand the rhythm of F1 beyond the race calendar. Here’s our guide on what F1 fans can do when there’s no racing.
So, stay tuned. Follow your favorites off-track. And soak in the stories that make them more than just names on a timing sheet.
That’s how you’ll move from a casual fan to someone who really gets Formula 1.
