The 2025 Singapore Grand Prix is set to be a test not only for the tyres and brakes but also for the drivers’ bodies. Due to the heat and high humidity, the FIA has for the first time labelled the Singapore race as ‘heat hazardous’. To prevent incidents related to this, drivers will be provided with a new cooling vest this weekend.
The FIA declares a ‘heat hazard’ when weather forecasts predict temperatures of 31 degrees Celsius or higher. All three days of the Singapore Grand Prix are expected to experience temperatures above 30 degrees and high humidity, even though some races take place in the evening.
Mandatory System
To better protect drivers from overheating, the FIA is introducing a new system: the Driver Cooling System. This is intended to alleviate the physical strain during the race. Teams are required to install this system in their cars, regardless of whether the driver chooses to actually use it.
At the heart of the system is a special fire-resistant cooling vest, equipped with thin tubes through which cold fluid flows. This fluid is supplied from a cooling tank in the car, using a pump and a network of pipes. This cools the driver’s upper body, even at cockpit temperatures above 50 degrees.
Comfort or Weight
However, wearing the cooling vest is not yet mandatory. The FIA leaves the choice to the drivers. The cooling vest is still under development, and not everyone finds it equally comfortable.
To prevent drivers from gaining a weight advantage by foregoing the vest, there is a mandatory half-kilo ballast for those who drive without a vest. This is the first time this system is officially used during a race weekend. The FIA announced the measure in 2023, following the grueling race in Qatar, where several drivers suffered severe heat-related issues.
