The organization of Formula 1 declared this Thursday “extreme heat” for the Singapore Grand Prixwhich takes place this weekend, a new regulation to keep drivers protected from the expected high temperatures.
Race director Rui Marques published a statement on Thursday notifying teams of the regulation, which allows drivers to wear cooling vests, because the ambient temperature is expected to be 31ºC or higher.
“After having received a forecast from the official Meteorological Service that the Heat Index will be higher than 31ºC at some times during the race… ‘extreme heat’ is declared,” declared Marques.
The Marina Bay circuit is one of the most demanding, mainly in F1, where extreme heat and humidity play an important role.
Pilots lose up to three kilos during this night race, which sometimes lasts up to two hours.
The vests have cooling tubes connected to pumps and a heat exchanger. Several drivers find it uncomfortable, especially in the already tight space inside the cars.
For this reason, the FIA announced that their use is not mandatory, but those drivers or teams that choose not to wear them will have to keep the necessary equipment inside the car for them to work.
Pilots who do not wear the vests will have to carry 0.5 kg of ballast so as not to gain an advantage over those who do wear them.
This system began to be developed after the Qatar Grand Prix in 2023, in which several drivers needed medical attention after suffering the consequences of the heat.
British Mercedes driver George Russell tested this vest during the Bahrain Grand Prix and gave his thumbs up.
“Of course you can always improve. I wanted to give it a chance. For the moment, everything is good,” he said.
