The FIA’s Formulation 1 Fee has permitted the introduction of driver cooling kits for the 2025 season, for use in excessive warmth situations.
Driver cooling has turn into a subject for the reason that 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, with a number of drivers affected by signs of warmth exhaustion after the chequered flag.
As first reported by Autosport in July, the FIA and all F1 groups initiated analysis to enhance the venting and cooling of drivers in such excessive situations.
Preliminary proposals concerned becoming a simplified air con system to the vehicles however whereas actual technical particulars are but to emerge, Autosport understands the answer now agreed between the FIA, F1 and all groups includes a simplified system that not requires an AC unit.
The system will solely be mandated by the FIA as required in excessive warmth situations, with the minimal weight of the vehicles elevated correspondingly when relevant.
The Fee additionally agreed to alter the protocol for closing up the grid each time sure vehicles do not make it to the beginning of a race. The problem got here up in Brazil when Williams driver Alex Albon didn’t make the beginning after a heavy crash in that morning’s qualifying session, along with his crew unable to restore the automobile because of the compressed timetable.
Mechanics clear the grid previous to the beginning
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Pictures
Albon’s automobile was withdrawn lengthy earlier than the race, however per the prevailing grid protocols the definitive beginning grid had already been set and his seventh place on the grid was nonetheless left vacated.
Autosport understands the FIA will now tighten up its process by forming the ultimate grid one hour earlier than the beginning on the newest. Which means vehicles which can be withdrawn as much as 75 minutes earlier than the beginning will probably be not be included within the ultimate grid, and the next vehicles can all transfer up the related positions to shut up the grid.
Throughout the Geneva assembly the Fee, which was chaired by the FIA’s head of single-seaters Nikolas Tombazis and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, additionally tidied up components of the 2025 monetary guidelines, approving expanded exemptions towards the price cap for prices regarding sustainability initiatives.
The assembly mentioned the progress that has been made on the 2026 technical laws to enhance the efficiency ranges by rising downforce, as recently explained by Tombazis. The assertion stated the FIA is assured that the much-discussed technical laws for 2026 will probably be prepared in time for approval by the FIA World Motor Sport Council after the conclusion of the 2024 season.
There have additionally been revisions to the FIA sporting laws to include gender-neutral language, eradicating sure masculine pronouns and different gendered language. Related tweaks had already been made to the sporting laws of F2 and F3 late final 12 months.
