Overview

• Race director Rui Marques invoked the protocol after an official forecast showed the Heat Index exceeding the 31°C trigger, with F1’s forecast at 32°C on Saturday and 33°C on Sunday.
• Every car must carry the Driver Cooling System hardware, including pumps, a coolant reservoir, and a heat exchanger, with the system available for use by the driver.
• Drivers may choose not to wear the cooling vest but must add 0.5kg of ballast in the cockpit to remove any weight advantage.
• The rules were created after heat-related illnesses at the 2023 Qatar GP; testing this year brought mixed feedback on comfort and reliability, though George Russell reported clear benefits after a Bahrain trial.
• Reports indicate the vest will be mandatory in hot conditions from next season, as teams balance comfort, reliability and weight considerations for Singapore’s humid night race.