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Heat battle in Singapore: Cooling vests are supposed to save Formula 1 drivers!
On October 3, 2025, a new Formula 1 rule for cooling vests in extreme weather conditions will come into force in Singapore.
Heat battle in Singapore: Cooling vests are supposed to save Formula 1 drivers!
Formula 1 is currently undergoing an exciting development that affects both the safety and comfort of the drivers. This weekend, at the Singapore Grand Prix, the first cooling vests will go into service. This new regulation, prompted by extreme weather conditions, is intended to help drivers in the sweltering heat. The forecast for race Sunday is over 31 degrees and humidity of 90%. These conditions have highlighted the need for real assets to be saved, with riders suffering extreme heatstroke and dehydration in the past. Rheinpfalz reports that several drivers, including Esteban Ocon and Lance Stroll, will drop out early at the Qatar GP in 2023 due to the heat had to.
The new regulation brings with it some interesting aspects. Drivers are now allowed to wear cooling vests, which are intended to keep the body at a comfortable temperature during the race. However, this is not without a catch: If you do without it, you have to take 500 grams of ballast weight with you in your car. Converting the vehicles requires additional coolant tanks, pumps and heat exchangers, which increases the minimum weight to 805 kilograms. Complicated? Yes. but necessary. This measure should be mandatory from next season, but no longer offers any advantage in Singapore. Auto Motor und Sport explains that drivers could lose up to five liters of fluid during the race, a circumstance that is simply unacceptable.
Challenges of cooling vests
Despite the positive aspects, there are also challenges. The cooling vest system is described as not yet fully developed. In tests, some models overheated after just 20 minutes. Some drivers also complain about the discomfort caused by the cooling tubes in the cockpit. While Charles Leclerc, for example, prepares for the extreme conditions through sauna training, Nico Hülkenberg sees pragmatic advantages in using the cooling vest. Rheinpfalz also reported on the dramatic images at the Qatar Grand Prix, which alerted the FIA and led to immediate action.
Long-term developments should also be mentioned in this context. The cooling system from Chillout Motorsports from the USA, which is planned for the next few seasons, could also alleviate the problems. The system consists of a refrigerator-sized box with miniaturized components and a fireproof T-shirt designed to support drivers in high temperatures. This technical innovation could be used next year at ambient temperatures of over 30.5 degrees. As with many developments in Formula 1, where safety is the top priority, great importance is attached to ensuring that everything runs smoothly. Formel1.de lists additional regulations that allow teams to improve the ventilation of their cockpits, which will be particularly important in extreme conditions.
In summary, cooling vests represent a promising but challenging innovation in Formula 1. Drivers and teams must adapt to the new technology, while the safety and well-being of the pilots comes first. It will be exciting to see how this system will prove itself in Singapore and what further developments will follow over the course of the season. One thing is clear for Formula 1: temperatures are rising and with it the need for action.