Formula 1’s heat hazard protocols will be in effect at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, with temperatures at Monza expected to climb into the mid-30s Celsius.
The FIA confirmed the designation on Thursday after its official weather forecast indicated that the required heat index threshold would be exceeded during Sunday’s race.
“In accordance with Article B1.5.10 of the FIA F1 Regulations, having received a forecast from the Official Weather Service predicting that the Heat Index will be greater than 31.0°C at some time during the Race at this Competition, a Heat Hazard is declared,” FIA F1 Race Director Rui Marques said in a note to teams.
Temperatures are expected to remain above 30°C throughout the weekend, with Friday and Saturday forecast to reach the mid-30s. Sunday’s race is also expected to begin at around 33°C as another heatwave sweeps across northern Italy.
The declaration means teams must equip their cars with the FIA-approved Driver Cooling System. The system circulates cooled fluid through tubing integrated into a fireproof vest worn beneath the driver’s race suit, helping drivers manage cockpit temperatures that can rise significantly above ambient conditions.
However, drivers are not currently required to wear the cooling vest during the race. Those who choose not to use it must instead carry an additional 0.5kg of compensatory ballast on their cars.
The Italian Grand Prix is the second race of the 2026 season to be placed under a heat hazard designation, following the Austrian Grand Prix earlier this year.
The regulations were developed in response to the gruelling 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, which prompted the FIA to investigate additional measures to protect drivers competing in extreme heat.
The heat hazard provision was subsequently introduced ahead of the 2025 season, with the Singapore and United States Grands Prix among the events to operate under the protocol last year.
