FIA Officially Declares Italian GP as Heat Hazard Race
The heat is on at Monza, literally.
The FIA has officially declared a Heat Hazard for the upcoming Italian Grand Prix at Monza. This comes after the official weather service made a forecast of the race's heat index, which could exceed 31°C.
Under Article B1.5.10 of the FIA F1 Regulations, current race director Rui Marques can declare a Heat Hazard when the weather forecast predicts the heat index to exceed 31°C at any point during the race.
This protocol was introduced after the brutal conditions at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, where several drivers suffered from extreme heat and dehydration. Logan Sargeant, who was already feeling unwell before the race, had to retire due to dehydration.
According to George Russell, the temperatures in the cockpit hit almost 50°C. Alpine's Esteban Ocon described the "sauna-like" conditions in the Qatar GP, while Aston Martin's Lance Stroll felt like "passing out" in his car.
This prompted the FIA to analyze what they can do to help the drivers cope with such conditions.
What changes for the drivers?
When the Heat Hazard is activated, the biggest change for the drivers is the Driver Cooling System. It is a special fireproof cooling vest that circulates cooled liquid around the driver to help regulate body temperature during the race. The vest is connected to a pump and a cooling medium that the team will install on the car.
But the drivers have a choice. They are not actually required to wear the vest. If they don't want to do so, the cooling system still has to be installed on the car, and the driver has to carry an additional 0.5kg of ballast. The additional ballast compensates for the difference in weight between their normal personal equipment and the cooling system.
What do the drivers say about the cooling vest?
It's a mixed reaction on the grid. Last year, Red Bull's Max Verstappen said that he would not use the vest if he were given the choice. Verstappen went on to say that the vest actually gets warm later on.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto, and Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli had experiences where the cooling vest worked for a limited number of laps before losing effectiveness.
But there are other drivers like George Russell and Oscar Piastri who welcome the idea. So, let's see which drivers will wear the vest when F1 races in the Temple of Speed this weekend.
