F1 Declares Heat Hazard at the Singapore GP: What the New Rules Mean and Why Those $700 Cooling Vests Matter

In my video I walked you around the paddock at the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix and unpacked the first-ever official F1 heat hazard declaration. In this article I’ll expand on that footage and explain what the FIA’s new heat rules require, how the cooling vests work, what teams and drivers are saying, and a few other paddock and fan-facing observations from around Marina Bay. If you missed the sidelines coverage, here’s everything you need to know — from safety measures to street food recommendations.

What the FIA Heat Hazard Warning Actually Means

The FIA issued a heat hazard warning for this race because trackside temperatures are forecast to reach 31°C or higher the day before the event. That triggers mandatory measures: teams must install cooling units in the cockpit and drivers are expected to wear cooling vests during the event. The aim is straightforward — protect the drivers from heat-related collapse in one of the most physically demanding night races on the calendar.

There are a few specific details worth noting about the implementation:

• The cooling unit itself weighs 5 kg, so teams are permitted an additional 5 kg allowance on the combined weight of the car and driver to compensate.
• Drivers are encouraged to wear the cooling vest while in the car. I was told the vest isn’t strictly mandatory to wear — but if a driver chooses not to, the team must add 0.5 kg of ballast to the car to account for the weight of the vest.
• Teams have been testing fit, routing and comfort; drivers have reported that the inlet and outlet valves for the cooling circuit can be a little intrusive in high-G corners, digging into the torso at times.

The cost of these vests is often quoted around $700 each, reflecting the high-spec materials and F1-grade integration required. One trainer told me his driver comes out of the car “cold to touch” after wearing one, which is precisely the intention: rapid thermal relief to avoid symptoms like dizziness or fainting during and after stints.

How the Cooling Vests and Units Work

These systems are fairly simple in principle but complex in integration. There’s a cockpit-mounted cooling unit that circulates chilled fluid (or air, depending on supplier) through a vest worn under the race suit or inside the suit layer. The system has inlet and outlet couplings with flexible hoses routed through the cockpit and clipped into the vest.

Key things I observed and was told by crews:

• The vests are designed to reduce core temperature quickly and keep it down during intense stints, which is crucial on a street circuit like Marina Bay where humidity and temperatures stay high even at night.
• Because of the valves and hoses, fitment around the ribcage and shoulders needs careful attention. Drivers reported the valves can press into them during heavy cornering, so teams are experimenting with routing and padding solutions.
• Given the weight allowance, teams won’t be penalized for using the kit — but any deviation from wearing it must be balanced by ballast rules to maintain fairness.

It’s worth remembering why this matters: we’ve seen incidents in recent years where drivers were on the edge of collapsing in extreme heat. The cooling systems are a simple, practical step to mitigate those risks and keep racing safe.

Driver and Team Line-up News: V-Car Seats and Testing Tidbits

Off the back of the heat discussion, there’s plenty of transfer gossip circulating. For the 2026 season, there are five drivers contesting four seats across the Red Bull V-car teams. One name I can confidently flag: British-Swedish F2 driver Arvid Lindblad looks very likely to land one of those seats. He’s currently P7 in the F2 standings and has completed F1 testing — even though he had a crash after Monza during a TPC (test of previous cars) session, that hasn’t dented the team’s confidence. Right now he’s 99% sure to be driving for a V-car next year; only something bizarre would stop that from happening.

That leaves a squeeze on the remaining seats: Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri are already locked in their spots elsewhere, and so the battle comes down to the likes of Liam and Yuki for the final run. Tough call — who’s your money on?

Paddock Observations: Ricciardo, Horner and Helmet Choices

There were a few notable human-interest stories floating around the paddock. Last year at this race I stood for hours to capture Daniel Ricciardo leaving the paddock for what felt like the end of an era. Ricciardo is now an ambassador for Ford — not motorsport Ford, more the off-road vehicle side — and I don’t expect to see him back here full-time anytime soon.

Another name on people’s lips is Christian Horner. There’s genuine interest within F1 for a 12th team and I’ve heard credible whispers that Horner could lead a consortium to bring a new outfit into the sport. It won’t be next year — it’s a multi-year plan — but don’t rule out Horner’s return to the paddock once legal matters are settled. He’s too shrewd an operator not to find his way back into F1 if the opportunity arises.

On a lighter note, a driver I chatted with will reuse a darker helmet from Bahrain because it “pops” at night under the floodlights here at Marina Bay — keep an eye out for that visually striking look during the evening sessions.

Where Drivers Stay and Track Logistics: Marina Bay Sands

Most drivers are based at Marina Bay Sands — it’s iconic, hugely profitable, and this weekend it’s at full occupancy. I was told nine F1 drivers are staying there, plus at least one reserve driver. The hotel marketing manager gave us a quick tour and confirmed the famous rooftop pool closes at midnight. Fun fact: one driver had exclusive use of the pool after midnight with his partner earlier in the week — discretion observed, obviously.

Logistics are tightly controlled: drivers are ferried using Marina Bay Sands cars and dropped at swipe gates; they do not walk publicly through the hotel, which disappoints fans who camp out hoping for a public stroll. Instead teams prefer discreet, secure routes to protect privacy and keep transit times tight.

Trackside Changes and Fan Tips: Pit Lane, Grandstand, and Food

Two notable operational changes at this event:

• Pit lane speed limits have been raised from 60 km/h to 80 km/h. That’s a significant change that will alter pitstop timing calculations and could have strategic implications for teams as they balance tyre wear and pit delta times.
• There’s a brand new grandstand at the final turn which promises some fantastic rear-shot photography under the floodlights — a very photogenic spot for night racing.

If you’re trackside and want local flavour, Newton Circus is a must-visit. It’s got open-air hawker stalls, great value and a buzzing atmosphere — think $55 for a mixed grill share plate (about four types of satay or barbecue), $7 for quality noodles that punch above their price, and don’t skip the chicken satay from Stall 76. If you want cheap, cheerful Michelin-style bites, Newton Circus delivers.

Merchandise and Retail Notes from Suntec Mall

Suntec Mall is always an interesting retail snapshot. Expect steep prices: jackets for $270 USD, replica t-shirts from around $70 USD up to $250 USD for premium pieces. Some of the stock feels mismatched to local climate — heavy jackets won’t see much wear here — and I noticed a surprising absence of Liam Lawson merchandise at several stalls given his profile. V-car stalls were still unloading last year’s Yuki Tsunoda tops, indicating some old stock clearance rather than a clear alignment with current driver line-ups.

Conclusion: Practical Steps for Safety and a Better Race Weekend

The new heat hazard rules are a sensible, practical response to a predictable problem. Chilled vests and cockpit units are not glamorous, but they could be race-saving. For fans and visitors: plan for heat and humidity, enjoy the local food scene (Newton Circus is my tip), and be mindful of logistics around the hotel and closed roads. On the sporting side, watch the pit lane and final corner grandstand — the small changes this weekend can create big visual and tactical differences.

FAQ

• Q: When is the FIA heat hazard triggered?
  

  A: The rule triggers when temperatures reach 31°C or higher a day prior to the race, prompting mandatory cockpit cooling units and guidance on wearing cooling vests.

  
  
• Q: Are drivers forced to wear the cooling vests?
  

  A: Drivers are strongly encouraged to wear them. If they opt not to, teams must add 0.5 kg of ballast to account for the vest weight — the cooling unit itself adds a 5 kg allowance to the car and driver combined.

  
  
• Q: Do cooling vests make a big difference?
  

  A: From what crew and trainers are saying, yes — drivers come out markedly cooler, which reduces risk of dehydration, fainting or heat exhaustion, particularly on humid night circuits like Singapore.

  
  
• Q: Will the new 80 km/h pit lane speed change strategy?
  

  A: Potentially. Teams will re-run pit delta calculations and adjust strategies to account for faster pit lane transit times; those tenths can alter undercut or overcut viability.

  
  
• Q: Where’s the best local food near the circuit?
  

  A: Newton Circus hawker centre — excellent value, great atmosphere and a good variety. Try the chicken satay, noodles and local carrot cake for authentic tastes without breaking the bank.

  
  

Thanks for reading — I’ll be keeping an eye on how the cooling vests perform in race conditions and what tactical changes emerge from the pit lane speed adjustment. Stay tuned for more paddock observations and post-race takeaways.