FIA declares Heat Hazard for Italian Grand Prix
Drivers will be facing brutal temperatures in Italy (Photo: Race Pictures)
Updated: 09:07, 03 Sep
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Connor Andrews is Formula 1 and MotoGP writer for GPblog and various outlets. Having worked in motorsport for 15 years for leading companies, he has interviewed the sports biggest names and attended multiple Grands Prix.
The FIA has issued a Heat Hazard for this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, with temperatures to exceed 31 degrees.
The guideline, which was introduced for the 2025 season, allows teams to fit advanced driver cooling systems during the race weekend.
The systems are not mandatory, however, and if drivers opt against them, their cars will be fitted with ballast to offset the 5kg weight of the devices.
A statement from FIA Formula 1 Race Director Rui Marques read: “In accordance with Article B1.5.10 of the FIA F1 Regulations, having received a forecast from the Official Weather Service predicting that the Heat Index will be greater than 31.0 °C at some time during the Race at this Competition, a Heat Hazard is declared.”
Friday sessions are expected to take place at 33 degrees, rising to 34 degrees for Saturday and Sunday.
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The first Heat Hazard was issued at the swealtering 2025 Singapore Grand Prix and again at the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix.
The cooling vest goes under race suits, as displayed by Ollie Bearman (Photo: Race Pictures)
The FIA's Heat Hazard explained
Regarding the cooling devices, Article 26.19 of the FIA F1 Sporting Regulations reads: “Any driver may elect not to wear any items of personal equipment that form part of the Driver Cooling System. In such circumstances, all other components, including any cooling medium, of the Driver Cooling System must be fitted.
“In addition, the difference in mass between the driver’s personal equipment normally used and any items of a driver’s personal equipment that form part of the system must be compensated by the fitting of 0.5kg of ballast in the cockpit.”
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Mercedes' George Russell, who is the director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, explained the cooling device in further detail
"We've used the driver cooling vest already a few times at the hot races but this is the first time it's been mandatory," he commented.
"I think it's good news. Not everybody finds the top comfortable but over time you'll be able to adjust it to your own preferences.
"The concept is good and when you're racing in 90 per cent humidity and the cockpits at 60 degrees it becomes a sauna inside the car so we all welcome it."
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Italian Grand Prix
Overview
Friday 04.09.26
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Friday 04.09.26
Practice 1
Fri 10:30 AM
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Saturday 05.09.26
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Qualification
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