By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
The heat wave affecting Europe has led to the FIA, the Governing Body of Formula 1, declaring the Austrian Grand Prix, on 28 June 2026, a heat-hazard race.
The temperature is forecast to exceed 31C at any time that the cars are on the racetrack.
The ruling means that drivers can use a cooling kit that flows cooled liquid, such as glycol, through a system of pipes in a fireproof top worn under their overalls.
The cooling kit is not mandatory, but any driver, who chooses not to use it, has to carry 5kg of ballast in their car to ensure that they do not gain any competitive advantage.
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