Formula 1 will enter uncharted territory this weekend after the FIA confirmed it has activated its severe weather protocols for the first time in the sport’s history.
According to forecasts, air temperatures in Singapore are expected to exceed 31°C, with cockpit conditions inside the cars potentially rising above 50°C. The new measures were introduced in 2023 following the Qatar Grand Prix, where several drivers struggled to finish the race due to extreme heat and exhaustion.
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— Formula 1 (@F1) September 29, 2025
“After receiving the weather forecast for the upcoming weekend, according to which the heat index will exceed 31 degrees Celsius, the FIA has decided to activate the high temperature protocols,” the governing body announced. Among the key measures is the use of cooling vests, which circulate cold liquid to help drivers manage the heat.
Williams driver Carlos Sainz confirmed he will be one of those testing the vest in Singapore, though he remains skeptical about its durability over a full Grand Prix distance.
“It is normal for them to activate the protocol. In principle, just heat or just humidity does not affect us that badly, but when you combine the two at 28-30 degrees in a place like Singapore, then it can become difficult and dangerous,” Sainz told Reuters.
“I have raced there ten times, so I’m not worried about what will happen if it breaks or doesn’t work. I will race until the end, as I always do. If it works, even better, because that way the suffering will certainly decrease,” he added. The cooling vests will become mandatory from 2026 in high-temperature races.