FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[bud]

McLaren are set to introduce a rotation system next season in order to compensate for the axing of F1's three-week summer break.

The F1 circus usually takes a break in August, which allows for not only the drivers but also the other team personnel who are on the road all the time to head back home.

However, next year with the extending of the calendar to include 19 grands prix, the August break has fallen by the wayside.

As a result, though, McLaren team boss Ron Dennis says he will introduce a rotation system that allows team personnel time at home.

Dennis told CNN: "This break is absolutely essential for all the people who travel.

"They don't get the right amount of time with their families and this gives them an opportunity to have at least one week where they are not at the office or workshop.

"It's a key ingredient of keeping people motivated and happy when you are addressing the calendar, which makes next year's difficult for them.

"We will have to accommodate that by rotating people. They will not be expected to go right through the season."

whats the confusion?

[McLaren Fan]

I think he's wondering why you posted the news story when it has been quoted in the opening post of the thread.

[texasmr2]

I think he's wondering why you posted the news story when it has been quoted in the opening post of the thread.

[McLaren Fan]

From autosport.com

Teams trying to save summer break

By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, August 26th 2008, 11:12 GMT

Formula One team managers have been asked by their bosses to look into the best way to reshuffle next year's calendar to try and continue the tradition of a summer break, autosport.com has learned.

Next year's schedule runs from the end of March until mid-November, but does not include a three-week gap in the summer that has been a feature of recent calendars.

That move has led to concern from some teams, who fear that they may have to start paying out to rotate team members in a bid not to cause burn-out among their staff.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis said recently: "This break is absolutely essential for all the people who travel. They don't get the right amount of time with their families and this gives them an opportunity to have at least one week where they are not at the office or workshop.

"It's a key ingredient of keeping people motivated and happy when you are addressing the calendar, which makes next year's difficult for them. We will have to accommodate that by rotating people. They will not be expected to go right through the season."

Concerns about the cost implications of such a move were discussed in Valencia by team principals, who have agreed to try and come up with some way of reshuffling dates to create a bigger gap in the calendar.

It was agreed that team managers should be given the task of trying to work out how best to come up with a solution, as they were more aware of the logistical requirements of ferrying men and equipment to races than team principals.

An initial idea of stretching the calendar out by moving the Australian Grand Prix forward has been ruled out by Bernie Ecclestone, however, because the March 29 date will ensure a better television audience for the race in Europe as it coincides with the hour change switch to British Summer Time.

It is understood that the focus is now on trying to achieve a gap by revising the dates of either the 2009 German, Hungarian or Turkish Grands Prix.

One possibility is to make Germany and Hungary back-to-back on July 12th and 19th, with Turkey then moving forward to August 2nd. This would then provide a gap before the Valencia race on August 23.

Toyota team president John Howett told autosport.com: "We seem to have a long break at the beginning of the season and no summer break. There should be more discussion to optimise the race schedule in terms of the burden to the teams."

[Rob-F1]

I was speaking to an ex McLaren employee and he said that travelling around the world with a Formula 1 team is not as amazing as it sounds to a fan. Apparently its extremely hard work and, for a mechanic, its not all smiles that the camera shows us. Still... I wouldn't say no to a job like that.

[FerrariFan63]

Is McLaren doing this just because they think it's unfair on staff for them to lose their mid-year holiday. Or do they think that if the staff work too long without a break, that performance will suffer. You'd think that a large engineering organisation like McLaren would have people considering the consequences of this policy on overall team performance. Including both short term performance such as at races, and long term effects such as staff retention. I don't think it's Big Ron smiling like Santa Claus and telling everyone "yes, have a holiday on me".

[McLaren Fan]

Is McLaren doing this just because they think it's unfair on staff for them to lose their mid-year holiday. Or do they think that if the staff work too long without a break, that performance will suffer.

Both.

[texasmr2]

Is McLaren doing this just because they think it's unfair on staff for them to lose their mid-year holiday. Or do they think that if the staff work too long without a break, that performance will suffer.

Both.

I agree . Who's to say that the other front runner's or for that matter any other team dont do the same? Mental not motivational burnout lead's to the most error's and F1 being the pinnacle of motorsport's has no room for error. A team is only as good as it's member's which is something that is constantly overlooked.