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The FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) has officially activated its extreme heat protocol ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, which is set to take place at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia.
The protocol is triggered by Race Director Rui Marques whenever temperatures are forecast to reach 31 degrees Celsius or higher during a sprint or Grand Prix session. The mandate requires all teams to fit driver cooling systems into their cars.
The cooling technology was introduced following the extreme weather conditions experienced by drivers at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix. It functions by circulating chilled fluid around the driver's body.
Drivers may choose not to use the system during the race. However, the cockpit-mounted components—specifically the pump and the chilling unit—must remain in place. In addition, an extra 500 grams of ballast must be fitted in the cockpit to offset the lighter race suit without the tubing and fluid.
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