Why Monza Was Declared an F1 Heat-Hazard Race and What Changes for Teams
The FIA has declared the Italian Grand Prix at Monza a heat-hazard race, a move that allows teams to fit a cooled-liquid system under drivers' fireproof overalls. This explainer covers why the declaration was made, how the cooling kit works, and why some teams may still race without it.
A Track Sitting in a Summer Heatwave
Monza sits north-east of Milan, and the region is in the middle of a hot spell. The BBC, reporting on the FIA decision, said ambient temperatures around the track are expected to sit in the mid-30s Celsius throughout the weekend. The heat has already peaked sharply: 36C was measured near Milan's Linate airport on Wednesday afternoon. Sky Sports' forecast expects no rain, with sunny skies across all three days and air temperatures around 30C.
The FIA's heat-hazard designation is a formal race classification, not just a weather forecast. It is triggered when temperatures are expected to go above 31C at some point during Sunday's Grand Prix. Once that threshold is crossed, the rules open up, and teams gain an extra option for managing driver heat.
What the Cooling Kit Actually Does
Drivers are required to wear fireproof clothing, but the heat-hazard ruling creates an exception. Teams may use a system that flows cooled liquid, such as glycol, through pipes built into a fireproof top worn beneath the outer overalls. The fluid is meant to carry heat away from the torso and help keep a driver's core temperature under control.
This matters because an F1 cockpit is not an air-conditioned space. The cockpit can climb above 40C even on less extreme days, and the driver is also wrapped in multiple fireproof layers, a balaclava and a helmet. Heat exhaustion is a genuine risk, not just a comfort issue.
The 5kg Catch
The cooling top is not mandatory. Drivers can choose to race without it. But they cannot simply take the weight advantage. Any driver who skips the cooling kit must carry 5kg of ballast in the car. That equaliser ensures the decision does not become a performance shortcut.
Yet the system is not universally popular. Some drivers find it uncomfortable. There have also been races where the coolant supply has run out before the finish. When that happens, the liquid stops being a cooling aid. It eventually reaches car temperature, which is considerably higher than the ambient air, so the system can stop helping and start adding heat at the worst possible moment: late in the race.
What the Ruling Means for Teams
Monza is the second race this year to receive the heat-hazard declaration. Austria was the first, earlier in the summer. For teams, the ruling adds a fresh set of decisions on top of the usual race strategy. They must judge whether a driver is comfortable enough in the cooling top, whether the coolant will last the full distance, and whether the benefit of lower core temperature outweighs the potential downside of a system that might fail.
The declaration does not force anyone to do anything. It simply makes a specific piece of safety equipment legal for the weekend. That neutral-sounding change can have a real impact on how the race unfolds, especially at a track like Monza, where physical exertion combines with extreme speed and high temperatures.