F1 committee meeting brings big change after concerns over extreme heat

Following the health concerns at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, which saw drivers develop symptoms of heat stroke while racing in high temperatures, FIA was spurred into action to find a solution to keep drivers cool while driving in similar conditions. As a result, the F1 The Commission has given the green light to the use of driver cooling kits, which are expected to ease the challenges of racing in high-temperature countries.

The details of the cooling kit are yet to be revealed, but a report is forthcoming Motorsport.com suggests that it is expected to be a simple system that directs cool air to drivers, rather than the small air conditioning unit initially proposed. However, the system will be used specifically under severe conditions after approval by the FIA. This means that the minimum weight of the car is also increased to accommodate the cooling kits.

The introduction of cooling kits during F1 races in high temperatures and high humidity would provide an extra layer of safety for drivers, addressing recent concerns about extreme conditions. Some drivers reported feeling dizzy in Qatar last year, while others fell ill in their helmets. In the wake of the challenges, FIA single-seater chief Nikolas Tombazis revealed that a lot of work had gone into investigating ways to cool down the drivers and explained the importance of making the procedure mandatory. He said:

“Which we still have not introduced as regulations, but it is a broad intention that, when the weather conditions exceed a certain level, we, the FIA, will declare that the race takes place under those conditions and then give an extra. bit of weight for the cars – something like probably two kilos – which will be mandatory.

“And it is required to be used to cool the driver.

“This allows solutions such as cooling vests and things like that to be fully investigated.

“We have wondered whether it would be best if we regulated exactly what needs to be fitted and we feel that if we start trying to standardize a system, the addendum and all that would be quite a slow process.

“We think that if we tell the teams: ‘You have two kilos, you have to use it for this purpose’, it will be in their interest to do that because that will keep the drivers cool and focused and not lose any performance. ”

With the introduction of cooling kits, the 2025 technical regulations will now include these improvements. The FIA ​​revealed details after the F1 Commission meeting in Geneva:

“The committee has approved a series of technical changes for the 2025 season, including the introduction of a driver cooling kit when there is a heat hazard following encouraging test results.”