The ruling, announced by the FIA, was triggered by forecasts predicting temperatures above 31\u00b0C in Singapore\u2019s humid tropical climate. The decision means all teams must install cooling-vest systems in their cars, although use by drivers will not be mandatory. The measure is designed to prevent any competitive advantage if some drivers choose to race without the additional weight of the system.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Singapore has long been considered one of the toughest venues on the F1 calendar due to its relentless heat, high humidity, the bumpy Marina Bay street circuit, and the length of the race, which typically runs close to the two-hour maximum.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The idea of a driver-cooling system gained traction after the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, when extreme conditions left several drivers on the brink of collapse. Frenchman Esteban Ocon vomited in his helmet mid-race, Williams\u2019 Logan Sargeant retired due to exhaustion, and others required medical attention afterwards.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Williams driver and Grand Prix Drivers\u2019 Association director Carlos Sainz called the FIA\u2019s move \u201cfair.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cOnly hot is not too bad for us. We have that, for example, in Hungary, where it gets really hot but it\u2019s not humid. Humidity on its own is not too bad at all if it\u2019s not too hot. But when it\u2019s 28C, 30C degrees plus humid, that\u2019s when it gets to Singapore levels and it\u2019s tough,\u201d Sainz was quoted by BBC Sport as saying.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sainz, who has raced 10 times at Marina Bay, added that while the cooling vests are still evolving, they are improving: \u201cTeams are managing to make it work better and better every time we run it. At the beginning, we had to work more or less for half an hour or so. Hopefully, now the whole system can work at least for an hour. It\u2019s a two-hour race. If it breaks or it doesn\u2019t work, I\u2019m not worried. I\u2019ll do the race and jump out fresh like I always do. But if it works, it\u2019s better, because then you suffer a bit less.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cOnly hot is not too bad for us. We have that, for example, in Hungary, where it gets really hot but it\u2019s not humid. Humidity on its own is not too bad at all if it\u2019s not too hot. But when it\u2019s 28C, 30C degrees plus humid, that\u2019s when it gets to Singapore levels and it\u2019s tough,\u201d Sainz was quoted by BBC Sport as saying.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAt the start of the race, it was about 16\u00b0C pumping around my body, which feels quite nice when you\u2019re in a cockpit that\u2019s 50\u00b0C-plus,\u201d Russell said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n