Race director Rui Marques has declared a Heat
Hazard for this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, paving the way for
drivers to use cooling vests during one of the most physically demanding races
on the Formula 1 calendar.
The ruling, issued in a Thursday statement, followed a
forecast by the official Weather Service predicting race-day temperatures
exceeding 31°C.
“Having received a forecast from the official Weather
Service predicting that the Heat Index will be greater than 31C at some time
during the race… a Heat Hazard is declared,” Marques confirmed.
The Marina Bay Street Circuit, known for its
intense humidity, bumpy track, and night-race conditions, often pushes drivers
to their limits. Competitors can lose up to three kilogrammes (six pounds)
during the gruelling two-hour event.
The FIA-approved cooling vests, equipped with coolant
tubes, pumps, and a heat exchanger, were developed after the 2023 Qatar
Grand Prix, where several drivers required medical attention for heat
exhaustion.
While drivers will not be forced to wear the vests,
teams must equip their cars with the system. Those who choose not to use it
will carry an additional 0.5kg ballast to avoid gaining a performance
advantage. In F1, every kilogramme of weight saved can translate to a crucial
tenth of a second in lap times.
Mercedes driver George Russell, who tested the
vest in Bahrain earlier this year, said he was encouraged by the development.
“Of course there’s always room to improve. I wanted to
give it a whirl. So far, so good,” Russell remarked.
The new measure is expected to play a key role in
ensuring driver safety under Singapore’s unforgiving race conditions.
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