FIA warning on the cards as F1 drivers braced for Texan heatwave

F1's drivers appear set to be handed another heat hazard warning given the weather forecast for this weekend's United States Grand Prix.

A fortnight ago, the FIA was forced to issue the first warning of its kind due to the extreme heat conditions over the Singapore GP weekend breaching the 31°C threshold.

For the race at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, it appears almost certain that the FIA will announce back-to-back warnings due to the unseasonably hot temperatures in the area.

Underneath blazing Texan sunshine, there will be highs of 32°C on Friday and Sunday, with Saturday spiking at 33°C.

If the warning is issued, it means the drivers will again face a major decision over whether to fit a cooling vest or add ballast to their cars.

That was the debate in Singapore, with many drivers trialling the vest, featuring tubes through which ice water is pumped, for the first time.

The vest was created following the extreme conditions experienced during the 2023 Qatar GP, as many drivers required medical attention after the chequered flag.

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A matter of opinion

Mercedes driver George Russell debuted the vest at the Bahrain Grand Prix earlier this year and complimented the cooling benefit it offered, but admitted there was “room to improve” amid concerns over the restrictions it poses within the tight confines of the cockpit.

The vest is not mandatory this season but is due to become so next year, albeit to considerable consternation from the drivers, who feel it should be a matter of personal preference.

"I totally disagree with that," said Red Bull's four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen. "A bit ridiculous. We have to talk about that.

"In the end, it's just about your own safety, however you feel about it. They shouldn't force that on you, I don't think."

Verstappen was also not that impressed with the vest during his trial. "It doesn't bother me that much, and it gets hot anyway," he said. "A little sweat is okay, and that cooling vest gets hot after 15 to 20 minutes, so there's no use for it."

Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton agreed with Verstappen over whether the vest should be mandatory or not.

"I don't think it should ever be forced on drivers," Hamilton told the media, including RacingNews365. 

"They keep saying it is a safety issue, but there's no driver that's ever died from overheating in a race, apart from in flames back in the day, so it is just getting silly.

"Like it should be our choice to have it, and I appreciate they've made it available to us, and we'll continue to work on and improve the system.

"I think it can be potentially beneficial in crazy hot places, but it should be if you want to use it because it's comfortable."

The offset is that teams are required to add 0.5kg of ballast in the cockpit.