The Italian Grand Prix has been declared a heat hazard. Image: XPB Images
The FIA confirmed the designation on Thursday after its official forecast indicated the required heat index threshold would be exceeded during Sunday’s race.
“In accordance with Article B1.5.10 of the FIA F1 Regulations, having received a forecast from the Official Weather Service predicting that the Heat Index will be greater than 31.0°C at some time during the Race at this Competition, a Heat Hazard is declared,” FIA F1 Race Director Rui Marques said in a note to teams.
Temperatures are expected to remain above 30 degrees Celsius throughout the weekend, with Friday and Saturday forecast to reach the mid-30s.
Sunday’s grand prix is also expected to begin in temperatures of around 33 degrees as another heatwave affects northern Italy.
The declaration requires teams to equip their cars with the FIA-approved Driver Cooling System.
The system pumps cooled fluid through tubing incorporated into a fireproof vest worn beneath the driver’s race suit, helping manage cockpit temperatures that can climb well beyond the ambient conditions.
While the cooling hardware must be installed, drivers are not currently required to wear the vest itself.
Anyone choosing to race without it, however, must instead add 0.5kg of compensatory ballast to their car.
The Italian Grand Prix becomes the second race of the 2026 season to receive the heat hazard designation after the Austrian Grand Prix earlier this year.
The regulations were developed in response to the gruelling 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, which prompted the FIA to examine additional measures to protect drivers in extreme heat.
The heat hazard provision was subsequently introduced ahead of the 2025 season, with Singapore and the United States Grand Prix among the events run under it last year.
2026 F1 Italian Grand Prix – Schedule, how to watch, TV times & more