Formula 1 is bringing space jackets to fight Europe’s heatwave

The strangest image in Formula 1 this weekend may not be a front wing upgrade or a tire blister.

It could be a driver standing on the grid wearing a shiny silver cooling jacket, trying to cool down his body temperature before climbing into a 300km/h speed sauna.

you are welcome Austrian Grand Prix.

The FIA ​​has declared this weekend’s race a heat-risk event, with temperatures expected to climb above 31 degrees Celsius while the cars are on track. Sunday’s race at the Red Bull Ring is expected to be tough, and surrounding Europe is already battling a severe heat wave.

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Britain has broken its June temperature record. The temperature in Paris has reached close to 40 degrees Celsius. Museums, trains, hospitals and schools across Europe are all feeling the strain.

F1 now has to race through it.

It’s hot inside the car too

Grand Prix cars don’t give drivers much room to cool off.

They sit in layers of fire-retardant clothing, a balaclava and a helmet, with cockpit temperatures capable of climbing above 40 degrees Celsius. The Austrian GP is 71 laps, and unlike football, there is no hydration break at the halfway point.

Drivers can drink alcohol from bottles inside the car, but there are limits. Once the cockpit warms up, the drink can become so hot that it feels more like tea than water.

The FIA’s heat-hazard rules allow teams to use driver cooling systems. It sends chilled liquid through tubes into a fireproof top worn under the race suit. Drivers who choose not to use it must carry ballast with them so they do not have a weight advantage.

Not everyone likes this idea.

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Some drivers find the tubes inconvenient. Others worry that the system may stop helping as the coolant heats up. Red Bull’s Isak Hadjar has said that he does not like having too much extra equipment in the cockpit, while Oscar Piastri has said that he would be likely to use the kit if it helps.

space jacket and snow towels

Outside the car, teams are getting creative.

Mercedes is using silver cooling jackets developed with Adidas, instantly nicknamed “space jackets” because they look like something from a moon mission. The idea is quite simple: cool the driver’s body before the race starts, then let the in-car systems and ice vest do the rest.

Elsewhere on the grid, the methods are more old-fashioned. Ice towel around neck. Umbrellas over the cockpit. fan. cold drinks. The race suit was left open until the last possible moment.

Cars will also be damaged.

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The Red Bull Ring is already about 700 meters above sea level, where the engines have to work harder due to the thinner air. Add extreme heat and teams have to think carefully about cooling, reliability and tire wear. Hot track surfaces can chew up tires rapidly, turning the strategy into another survival test.

Austria used to be one of F1’s classic European summer stops. This year, it feels like a warning.

Extreme heat is no longer just a problem for Singapore or Qatar.

It’s reached the center of the European calendar, and F1 is coming out with a silver jacket, cooling tubes and a very modern question.

How fast can you go when staying calm becomes part of the race?