FIA declares Heat Hazard for 2025 US Grand Prix as temperatures set to soar in Austin

Written by Kavi Khandelwal, Edited by Meghana Sree

A Heat Hazard has been officially declared by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) for the upcoming 2025 Formula One United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas.

Credit: Formula One

The official weather service forecast that the Heat Index will climb above 31°C during the sprint and race this weekend. This led to the declaration of a Heat Hazard made on 16th October 2025, a second consecutive one following the Singapore Grand Prix just a fortnight ago.

Issued by the FIA Formula One Race Director Rui Marques to all teams and officials, the announcement activates specific safety protocols under Article 26.19 of the Sporting Regulations.

The regulations necessitate that all cars be fitted with a mandatory driver cooling system.

For the current season, drivers have the option to wear a special cooling vest connected to this system. Those who choose to not wear the cooling vest are required to carry an additional 0.5kg of ballast in the cockpit to ensure an equal playing ground across the grid.

In the events of the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, several drivers suffered from severe heat exhaustion and dehydration in the cockpit, which forced the FIA to introduce such measures. The Singapore Grand Prix, known for its gruelling heat and high humidity, saw the first implementation of these new regulations.

Credit: Formula One

Driver opinion on the new cooling vests has been mixed. George Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA), has been a proponent of the system.

Speaking in Singapore, Russell stated: “When you're racing in 90% humidity and the cockpit [temperatures] are getting on for 60 degrees, it's a bit of a sauna inside the car, so I think we all welcome it”.

He did, however, acknowledge some initial discomfort with the placement of the tubes within the vest.

Conversely, reigning world champion Max Verstappen expressed his reluctance at the last round, stating: “No, I'm not going to wear it. I don't really suffer from the heat that much, and it's going to be warm anyway. Sweating a bit is fine for me, and after 15 to 20 minutes the vest gets really hot as well. So, it doesn't help at all”.

The heat hazard declaration in Austin will once again bring the debate over driver cooling to the forefront, adding a strategic element for teams and a significant physical challenge for the drivers as they prepare for the race weekend.

The cooling vests are set to become mandatory in 2026 for any event where a Heat Hazard is declared.