Formula 1\u2019s heat hazard protocol could come into play at the Austrian Grand Prix, with the air temperature peaking in the mid-30s\u00b0C and the track temperature forecast to exceed 50\u00b0C.<\/p>\n
Formula 1 introduced a heat hazard regulation in 2025 in response to the scorching temperatures at the 2023 Qatar GP, where several drivers required medical attention after suffering heat exhaustion.<\/p>\n
Austrian GP temperatures forecast above the 31\u00b0C heat hazard criteria<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n A heat hazard, which can be declared if temperatures rise above 31\u00b0C, signals that the conditions are not just uncomfortable for the drivers, but potentially harmful.<\/p>\n The protocol was first used at the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix, where Formula 1 race director Rui Marques announced: \u201cIn accordance with Article 26.19 of the Sporting Regulations, having received a forecast from the Official Weather Service predicting that the Heat Index will be greater than 31.0 \u00b0C at some time during the race at this event, a Heat Hazard is declared.\u201d<\/p>\n Once a heat hazard is declared, regulations come into play, requiring teams to equip cars with advanced driver cooling systems, and increasing the minimum car weight to accommodate this additional equipment.<\/p>\n Drivers still have the choice, however, of whether or not to wear a cooling vest. Should they opt out, the car is then fitted with extra ballast to ensure weight parity, and that drivers are not penalised for wearing the vests.<\/p>\n \u201cAny driver may elect not to wear any items of personal equipment that form part of the Driver Cooling System,\u201d reads Article 26.19 of the FIA F1 Sporting Regulations. \u201cIn such circumstance, all other components, including any cooling medium, of the Driver Cooling System must be fitted.<\/p>\n \u201cIn addition, the difference in mass between the driver\u2019s personal equipment normally used and any items of a driver\u2019s personal equipment that form part of the system must be compensated by the fitting of 0.5kg of ballast in the cockpit.\u201d<\/p>\n Europe is in the midst of a heatwave with scorching temperatures caused by a \u2018heat dome\u2019. That is a weather phenomenon where the atmosphere traps hot air as if capped by a lid, offering no relief from the heat.<\/p>\n More ahead of the Austrian GP<\/p>\n The five most dramatic Austrian Grand Prix moments: Title rivals collide and more<\/a><\/p>\n Austrian Grand Prix weather: What is the risk of rain this weekend?<\/a><\/p>\n FIA tweaks heat hazard protocol for Sprint weekends<\/p>\n Coincidentally, given Austria is not a Sprint weekend, the FIA tweaked the heat hazard regulations on Tuesday.<\/p>\n While the protocol initially stated that the heat hazard status would be enforced for the remainder of a race weekend after being declared, the FIA announced a change to the regulation on Tuesday. <\/p>\n It does, however, only relate to Sprint weekends.<\/p>\n The FIA\u2019s World Motor Sport Council ratified a change that states, \u201cThe declaration of a Heat Hazard may now be split between Sprint and Race. <\/p>\n \u201cA Heat Hazard will still be declared, for Sprint, Race or both, 24 hours prior to the start of the Competition.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n