This time next week drivers will be gearing up for the opening practice sessions of the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix, meaning this season’s summer break will finally be over.Before then, as drivers enjoy their last few days on various yachts, golf courses and beaches, we’re answering questions posed by subscribers to The Athletic’s growing F1 WhatsApp channel, a place where you can receive updates on all our stories.Madeline Coleman and Alex Kalinauckas have been sifting through the questions after a first half to the season in which Kimi Antonelli shone for Mercedes and several big stars fell short, all around a schedule disrupted by global geopolitical issues.Editor’s note: Questions have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.What can teams do to the car during the summer break? — AdamThere’s strict regulations around what teams can and cannot do during this mandatory shutdown.They aren’t allowed to design, manufacture or develop their current cars. This covers a slew of activities, ranging from designing new parts to using the wind tunnel and assembling car parts. Anything pertaining to the performance of the car is not allowed to happen.The summer shutdown itself only lasts for 14 consecutive calendar days. It is worth noting there’s a 26-day gap between the Hungarian GP on July 26 and first practice at Zandvoort for the Dutch GP on August 21. Development and adjustments to the cars can be conducted on the 12 days not covered by the shutdown.The shutdown doesn’t mean everything within a team stops, though. There are 10 activities that are allowed to occur, which are detailed in Article F3.1.4 of the 2026 F1 regulations, and these are strictly monitored. Here are a few examples: