With three race weekends complete under the brand-new regulations, and no racing on the calendar until May, the drivers have had the rare opportunity to review the opening chapter of the 2026 season – and to prepare themselves for what promises to be a thrilling return in Miami in three weeks’ time.
Despite the lack of on-track action, so far April has been anything but quiet for the drivers. From whizzing round local karting tracks, spending precious time at home with their loved ones, bumping into one another at sporting events, or even hopping behind the wheel to compete again – it’s not in the driver’s nature to slow down!
Staying ready
Of course, the hard work never stops. Whilst racing has paused, the drivers are still clocking plenty of hours in the gym and the simulator as they concentrate on fine-tuning themselves ahead of May’s return to action in Miami. But for Franco Colapinto, April comes with an extra special item on the agenda.
The Alpine man took to social media to announce a roadshow exhibition – a one-of-a-kind event set to take place on the streets of Buenos Aires. At the end of April, Colapinto will get behind the wheel of a 2012 E20 Formula 1 Car, an old Lotus with an Alpine livery, in his home city, in front of his home crowd – it’s set to be something special!
A reunion at the Monte-Carlo Masters
When you live in Monaco, the Monte-Carlo Masters tournament is your home event… and it seems the drivers couldn’t resist a day out at the tennis. Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Alex Albon, Gabriel Bortoleto, Ollie Bearman and Oscar Piastri all made their way to the clay courts – and what started as a few separate days out quickly turned into an impromptu paddock reunion.
Albon, Piastri, Bearman and Bortoleto were spotted sitting together in the stands, and with so many drivers in one place, there was no shortage of photo opportunities with the players and fellow VIPs all keen to get a snap with the F1 contingent.
Friend of F1 Jannik Sinner was in imperious form throughout the week, and on Sunday, the Italian overcame great rival Carlos Alcaraz in the final to claim his first clay-court Masters 1000 title – and with it, his return to the top spot in the ATP rankings. The F1 drivers in the crowd had plenty to admire, and perhaps a few lessons to take back to their own intra-team padel matches! Whether Sinner or Alcaraz provided them with any tips afterwards, we can only imagine…
More sports spectating
The drivers have also been watching plenty of other sports away from the track as well as the tennis. Lando Norris was spotted in the stands for the Sporting vs Arsenal football match, while Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon were in the French capital for Paris Saint-Germain’s clash against Liverpool.
Across the Atlantic, Albon shared a glimpse from the Dodger Stadium as he watched the defending MLB champions, the LA Dodgers, in action – plenty of sporting outings for the Thai driver.
French hang out
As well as the PSG game, it seems the French contingent have been spending some time together away from the track, as Gasly, Ocon and Isack Hadjar all appeared on French TV. The trio discussed the new season, some of their highlights over the years, and their future goals.
Fun in the desert
With a rare free month on their hands, some of the drivers have been seizing experiences that wouldn’t otherwise be possible in the middle of a normal racing calendar – and Lewis Hamilton has taken advantage of this.
After spending Easter with family and getting some tough training sessions in, the Ferrari driver let his hair down in the Californian desert at Coachella festival, where he was clearly in his element. Front row for a Justin Bieber return? That’s not a bad way to spend a Saturday night away from the circuit.
Extra engine time
When it comes to time behind the wheel, being away from the F1 track has not slowed the drivers down. Max Verstappen has been gearing up for a return to the Nürburgring Nordschleife as part of his ongoing GT racing programme, while Lance Stroll made his GT3 debut at Paul Ricard.
Elsewhere, Norris and Carlos Sainz went back to their roots, heading out karting together as they tested 100 years of go-karts. Over at Valentino Rossi’s famous ranch, Kimi Antonelli swapped four wheels for two, riding alongside MotoGP Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi.
Safe to say, wherever they are, the drivers are always finding a way to get laps in.
Home time
The end of the Suzuka race weekend marked a return home for many of the drivers – with a short break before racing gets back underway in early May. Russell has been enjoying some sea air at home, while Leclerc has reunited with his beloved dog Leo.
Piastri celebrated his birthday in typical nonchalant fashion, showcasing his personalised chocolate helmet in the design of his 2025 Las Vegas lid. Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas has been making the most of his time on the French Riviera, cycling through the streets of Monaco and marking Easter with a classic egg hunt.
Tokyo wrap-up
With the Suzuka race weekend bringing the paddock to Japan, the drivers made the most of everything the country has to offer, even after Sunday’s dramatic Grand Prix. From shopping sprees and sushi stops to scenic viewpoints and automotive culture, there was plenty to squeeze in away from the track.
Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad gave fans a glimpse into his 48 hours in Tokyo, documenting the trip with a packed vlog that included a visit to the iconic tuning house Liberty Walk. Meanwhile team mate Liam Lawson posted a photo in front of the famous Lawson Kawaguchiko Station.
When it came to time away from the racetrack, Hamilton was not slowing down. The seven-time World Champion posted a video of himself drifting a Ferrari F40 through the streets of Tokyo.
