This week as F1 starts its Summer Shutdown we look in detail at how F1 driver contracts work and why this period of the season is critical for options being triggered (or not), renewals being signed and decisions being taken by drivers and teams about next season.

To help James Allen go deep into F1 driver contracts is one of the best known and most successful driver managers in F1 history. Julian Jakobi has managed dozens of great names like Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Jacques Villeneuve, Juan Pablo Montoya and more recently Checo Perez. He continues to manage a stable of drivers across multiple race series.

What does a driver manager do? What is in the scope of the role? What kinds of considerations do teams have around drivers during the Summer Shutdown? 

And what was it like to manage Senna and Prost at the same time, while they were in open conflict?

Chapters

00:00 The Role of a Driver Manager

08:45 Understanding Driver Contracts and Options

12:05 The Impact of Rookies in F1

14:47 Key Clauses in Driver Contracts

18:14 The Influence of Team Management on Drivers

21:39 Future Driver Moves and Team Strategies