FIA issues heat alert for the Austrian GP: what changes for F1 teams and drivers
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) announced this Thursday (25) the activation of a heat alert for the Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix, scheduled for this weekend. The measure was taken because forecasts indicate that temperatures during the event could exceed 31ºC.
According to meteorological data released by the official Formula One Management (FOM) website, the expected maximum temperature is 32ºC for Friday and 33ºC for Saturday. The tendency is for the strong heat to persist on Sunday as well, something atypical for the Austrian Grand Prix, historically held on a mountain circuit with milder conditions.
A statement from race director Rui Marques made the situation official, declaring a “heat risk” due to the Official Meteorological Service’s forecast that the Heat Index will exceed 31.0 °C during the competition. This decision is in alignment with Article B1.5.10 of the FIA F1 Regulations.
In light of this decision, the teams will need to meet new FIA requirements, aiming to reduce thermal discomfort for drivers in the cockpits. The most important measure requires the installation of a specific cooling system for drivers in each car, excluding items for personal use.
The guidelines establish that the entire cooling apparatus must be implemented before the start of the races, covering both the main Sunday races and the sprint format races, if they occur – which is not foreseen for this Austrian Grand Prix.
In addition to in-vehicle installations, riders also have the option of wearing an individual cooling vest. However, this item does not find consensus among participants, which led the FIA to maintain its use as optional.
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If a driver chooses not to wear the vest, the respective team is obliged to add 0.5kg of ballast to the car. This weight compensation aims to ensure competitive parity between all vehicles.
In an interview given this Thursday, Mexican driver Sergio Pérez, representing Cadillac, stated that he does not intend to use the cooling vest. His decision is based on concern about the possible loss of performance due to the extra weight and his familiarity with high temperatures, taking the opportunity to make a joke about his European colleagues in the category.
“I don’t want to use it; as you know, there is a penalty in terms of weight. I’m Mexican, so for me, the heat isn’t that intense. The concern of Europeans with this level of temperature amuses me, because for me, it’s something quite usual”, declared the pilot.
The heat warning concept was implemented in Formula 1 last year, making its debut at the Singapore Grand Prix. Although the FIA had initially intended to make cooling equipment completely mandatory for the current season, the organization reconsidered and opted to maintain the use of the vest as a driver’s choice.
The initiative to implement the drivers’ cooling system originated from the health problems faced by competitors after the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix. On that occasion, American driver Logan Sargeant, then on the Williams team, had to abandon the race in Lusail due to symptoms of severe dehydration and flu.
Sargeant was not the only one to be affected by the intense heat in Qatar. Esteban Ocon, currently racing for Haas, reported vomiting inside his helmet. Lando Norris and Lance Stroll also described suffering from blurred vision and episodes of loss of consciousness. The Canadian Aston Martin driver demonstrated great difficulty leaving his vehicle at the end of the race, and several other competitors almost fainted in the medical center.
