Overview

• Drivers must either wear an in-car cooling vest or teams must equip cars with a coolant tank, pumps and a heat exchanger.
• The minimum weight is raised to 805 kg for both the Sprint and the grand prix, with practice and qualifying lifted to 802 kg.
• Forecasts point to a heat index above 31°C for race sessions, with Saturday conditions projected to feel as high as 44°C.
• Max Verstappen again called the vest ineffective and labeled a reported 2026 mandate as “completely ridiculous,” while some rivals used the gear in Singapore.
• The safety activation mirrors the Singapore weekend and is expected to influence car setup, balance and race strategy in Austin.