FIA declares Heat Hazard for sweltering 2026 Italian Grand Prix

FIA activates heat-stress protocol at Monza

The FIA has declared a Heat Hazard for the Italian Grand Prix, the 13th round of the 2026 Formula 1 season, after temperatures at Monza were forecast to rise well above normal early-September levels.

The circuit is expected to experience conditions exceeding 31.0°C, compared with typical temperatures of around 25–27°C for this period. In response, the governing body has activated its formal heat-stress protocol ahead of the race weekend. The outlook adds a significant physical variable to an event already defined by sustained high-speed running.

The FIA’s decision follows the introduction of the Heat Hazard framework for the 2024 season. That measure came after the extreme conditions at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, where heat and humidity left several drivers in serious physical distress.

Esteban Ocon vomited inside his helmet but continued racing, while Logan Sargeant was forced to retire on medical grounds. Lance Stroll and Alex Albon required treatment after the race for heat exhaustion, and several drivers said they had come close to blacking out at high speed.

Cooling measures expanded for drivers

At Monza, drivers will receive enhanced cooling support on the grid. Fans, ice vests and shade structures will be available to reduce the immediate impact of the heat before the race and during the pre-start period.

Cars will also be permitted to run the FIA-approved driver cooling system. The equipment circulates cooled fluid through tubing in a vest worn beneath the race suit, helping regulate the driver’s body temperature while the car is on track.

Use of the system is not compulsory. Drivers may choose not to wear it, but those who opt out must carry equivalent ballast. That requirement removes any potential performance advantage from avoiding the additional weight associated with the cooling equipment.

The extreme forecast is also central to the wider weekend picture, as outlined in this preview of Monza’s sweltering Italian Grand Prix weekend.

Mandatory medical checks

Post-session medical checks will be mandatory throughout the weekend, with dedicated cooling areas available immediately after track running.

The intervention underlines the FIA’s priority: preventing a repeat of the physical consequences seen in Qatar while ensuring that drivers have practical options to manage the heat during one of the most demanding weekends of the season.