It’s that time again! This past weekend marked the beginning of the official Formula 1 summer shutdown, the annual two-week period when teams are required to take a break from the relentless pace of the Grand Prix circuit schedule.

During this period, teams are not allowed to manufacture car parts or work on development. For Lotus F1 Team, while no technical work is done onsite during the summer shutdown, the team does take the opportunity to focus on other priorities, like stock-taking, maintenance and capital installations, to ensure that they are ready to hit the ground running as soon as the break is over. And, with the Spa Grand Prix just days after the summer shutdown ends, it’s crucial to make sure the team is set up for success before everyone goes on holiday.

This means that scheduling and planning are critically important leading up to the break to ensure there is no impact on the team’s production cycle. Avanade helps Lotus F1 Team manage the shutdown more easily with one integrated system, where all the dependencies are visible, so that the team can preempt manufacturing and development needs before the shutdown begins.

By planning ahead, the team can enjoy the two-week period without worrying about missing critical delivery deadlines or facing an onslaught of deliverables when they return. Instead, they can take a real break to spend time with family and friends or pursue hobbies, and come back refreshed and ready to tackle the next circuit.

We’ll see you later this month in Belgium!