Formula 1 is under the Texas sun again as the US Grand Prix 2025 becomes the second consecutive race to be labelled an “F1 Heat Hazard” event by the FIA. After Singapore’s sweaty showdown, the grid now braces for another weekend where the battle isn’t just for points, but survival in brutal heat. So, did it earn this warning? Let’s find out.
US Grand Prix 2025’s Scorching Setup
The Circuit of the Americas, known for its undulating layout and passionate crowds, is embracing an uninvited guest this year: mid-October heat touching 34°C during the Sprint and hovering above 31°C on race day. It’s not exactly the fall vibe anyone expected, but Texas clearly didn’t get the memo. The FIA officially triggered the “F1 Heat Hazard” index on October 16 after forecasts predicted extreme cockpit conditions that could hit drivers harder than the infamous Qatar Grand Prix 2023 nightmare, where several racers suffered severe heat exhaustion.
The New Safety Regulation
Under Formula 1’s latest safety protocols, each driver now faces a choice: wear a cooling vest connected to a car-based cooling system or run 0.5 kilograms of ballast to counterbalance their weight. The goal is equality, but the experience? Far from easy. While some, like George Russell, found the vest helpful during Singapore’s sauna-like conditions, others, including Max Verstappen, have called it more frustrating than functional. Verstappen bluntly said, “It should be a choice, not a rule,” criticising the discomfort of the tubes constricting the cockpit.
These cooling systems circulate glycol-based liquid through tubes layered beneath the fireproof suit, but they’re not foolproof. Once the dry ice melts, the whole system can reverse in effect, sending warm liquid coursing through instead of relief. Yet given Texas’s unforgiving heat, nearly everyone in the paddock agrees something is better than nothing.
Lessons From The Past
This “F1 Heat Hazard” classification didn’t appear overnight. It was born out of safety reform after the Qatar Grand Prix 2023, a race so excruciatingly hot that drivers were collapsing post-race and others nearly blacked out mid-corner. The rule aims to prevent such extremes from repeating when the calendar heads to hot-weather circuits. The cooling vests will actually become mandatory from 2026, signalling Formula 1’s modern push toward driver welfare, even if some champions aren’t huge fans of the tech.
Racing Under Fire
Beyond survival, the heat adds an unpredictable twist to performance. Tyres degrade quicker, brakes overheat faster, and cockpit temperatures soar close to 60°C. For teams like Red Bull, Mercedes, and McLaren, this means juggling strategy around not just fuel or tyres, but human tolerance levels. One thing’s certain: managing hydration could matter as much as managing pit stops.
US Grand Prix 2025 fans will still fill the grandstands, cowboy hats and all, but this weekend, the race might be remembered less for the wheel-to-wheel drama and more for human endurance. Formula 1, after all, has always been about pushing limits, and this time, those limits are being tested by the Texas sun itself.
Also read: United States Grand Prix 2025: Key Details, Track Details, And Full Schedule
