Singapore GP declared heat hazard as F1 drivers face extreme conditions
The Singapore Grand Prix has been classified as a heat-hazard race, marking the second consecutive Formula 1 weekend and the fourth event this season to receive the designation.
The classification permits teams to install cooling systems in their cars that circulate chilled liquid through a cooling vest worn by drivers to help regulate cockpit temperatures.
Under Formula 1 regulations, a race is designated a heat hazard when forecasts indicate temperatures could rise above 31°C during the event. The measure was introduced in 2025.
This year’s Singapore race is also taking place amid air-quality concerns linked to haze from wildfires in Indonesia. Formula 1 is monitoring the situation, which was also a concern at last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, although officials do not currently regard it as a significant threat.
Located close to the equator, Singapore has long been regarded as one of the toughest races on the F1 calendar from a physical standpoint. In 2024, Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton received medical attention for heat exhaustion after the race.
Temperatures typically remain between 31°C and 33°C throughout the race weekend, accompanied by high humidity and the possibility of rain. Although the event takes place at night, temperatures can still remain around 30°C after sunset.
The cooling system is optional, but drivers who choose not to use it must carry an additional 5kg of ballast in their cars to prevent them from gaining a competitive advantage.
The system generally consists of a cooling tank and pump positioned in the car, which circulates chilled liquid such as glycol through tubes built into a fireproof cooling garment worn beneath the driver’s race suit.
However, some teams and drivers have opted against using the technology because of its limitations.
One challenge is keeping the liquid sufficiently cold throughout an entire race, particularly in Singapore, which hosts the longest race of the season. Some drivers have also complained that the cooling garment can be uncomfortable inside the cramped cockpit.
If the liquid warms up, it can eventually reach temperatures close to those inside the car, which can be significantly higher than the outside air. Cockpit temperatures in Formula 1 cars can exceed 40°C.
Mercedes is among the teams that has chosen not to use the system, preferring instead to direct the resources required to develop a reliable full-race cooling solution towards improving car performance.
FIA regulations allow teams an additional $50,000 (£38,000) under the cost cap to develop a system capable of keeping the liquid cool throughout an entire race. A further $75,000 (£57,000) is available for developing a more comfortable cooling garment.
Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord said the allowance was too small to enable the team to develop a system that could reliably last an entire race.
Singapore joins Austria, Italy and last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia as the four races classified as heat hazards this season.
The Austrian and Italian races were held during a severe European heatwave that brought record temperatures to several parts of the continent.
While temperatures in Malaysia and Singapore are typical for the region, similar races in previous years could also have qualified as heat hazards had the official designation been introduced before 2025.
Source: BBC
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