Overview

• Race director Rui Marques notified teams on Thursday after forecasts hit the 31°C threshold on Saturday and Sunday, putting the protocol in effect for the entire weekend.
• Under Article 26.19, cars must carry the driver cooling system hardware, including pump, coolant reservoir and heat exchanger, with the system required to be operational.
• Drivers may opt out of wearing the liquid‑circulated cooling vest, in which case 0.5kg of ballast must be added in the cockpit to offset the weight difference.
• The measures follow 2023 Qatar’s extreme heat incidents that sent several drivers for medical attention, with Singapore’s humid night race historically among the most physically demanding.
• Driver feedback is mixed: some cite tight‑cockpit discomfort and potential failure concerns, while George Russell’s Bahrain trial reported meaningful relief with ~16°C water improving comfort and focus.