FIA declares Heat Hazard for US Grand Prix at COTA

The FIA issued a Heat Hazard warning ahead of this weekend’s US Grand Prix at The Circuit of the Americas, marking the second such alert of the season after Singapore.

Temperatures are expected to soar to 34C (94F) during Saturday’s Sprint race, exceeding the 31C threshold that triggers the advisory, while Sunday’s forecast predicts a high of 31C (88F).

This isn't just a warm welcome to Texas – it's a full-throttle reminder of how Mother Nature loves to throw curveballs at the 20-car grid, especially with just one practice session to dial in setups before the sprint chaos unfolds.

Under the revamped 2025 regs, the hazard declaration hands drivers a binary choice: strap on a cooling vest to chill core temps, or slap an extra 0.5kg of ballast into the car to even the scales.

It's a nod to brutal lessons from past scorchers, like Qatar's 2023 meltdown where dehydration hit several competitors. Those who used the gear in Singapore gave mixed reviews – Ferrari's Charles Leclerc called it a short-lived savior for about five laps, while Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso reported an hour-long relief.

Yet for many, the vest's tangle of tubes in a cockpit tighter than a budget airline seat feels like trading one headache for another, complete with malfunction risks that could turn a lifeline into dead weight.

Mandatory Vests Aren't Cool says Max

The FIA plans to make cooling vests mandatory in heat-wave conditions next season, a constraint that four-time world champion Max Verstappen has strongly criticized.

“I totally disagree with that,” he said in Singapore. “It’s a bit ridiculous. Ultimately, it’s about your own safety and how you feel with it.

“The heat doesn’t bother me that much, and it gets warm anyway. A little sweating is ok, and the vest gets warm after 15 to 20 minutes anyway, so it’s useless.”

Fellow multiple world champion Lewis Hamilton echoed his Red Bull rival’s view, emphasizing that the decision should rest with the driver.

“In my opinion, you should never force this on a driver. They keep saying it’s a safety measure, but no driver has ever died from overheating. Except, of course, when the cars caught fire back then,” he laughed.

“This has to be our choice whether or not to use it. I appreciate that they’ve made it available, and we’re trying to improve it. It could potentially be beneficial in very hot situations.

“However, it should never be mandatory to wear that vest.”

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Hamilton also highlighted practical drawbacks, noting the complex network of tubes in the cramped cockpit and the risk of malfunction, which can render the device ineffective.

As temperatures climb in Austin, teams and drivers will need to weigh comfort, performance, and safety in deciding whether to use the cooling technology – a debate that promises to continue well beyond this weekend.

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