The FIA has declared an Italian GP heat hazard for this weekend’s round 13 at Monza, with Italy’s sixth heatwave of the summer pushing forecast temperatures into the mid-30Cs across all three days of running.
What the Italian GP heat hazard means for drivers
The designation is triggered when the official weather service predicts a heat index above 31.0C at any point during the race. “In accordance with Article B1.5.10 of the FIA F1 Regulations, having received a forecast from the official weather service predicting that the heat index will be greater than 31.0°C at some time during the race at this competition, a Heat Hazard is declared,” the governing body stated, as reported by Motorsport.com.
That unlocks the driver cooling system — chilled liquid circulated through pipes in a fireproof top worn beneath the overalls. It remains optional after driver pushback over comfort and effectiveness, so anyone who declines must instead carry the equivalent ballast in the car, removing any weight advantage. Cockpit temperatures can exceed 40C even before several layers of fireproof kit, a balaclava and a helmet are factored in.
Monza forecast: 36C on Friday
Temperatures near Milan’s Linate airport peaked at 36C on Wednesday. The FIA’s weather service expects 36C during Friday’s FP2, 35C for Saturday qualifying and 33C ambient for Sunday’s 15:00 local start. Italy becomes the second heat-hazard race of 2026 after Austria, per the BBC.
The heat adds another layer to an already awkward weekend for championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who arrives at his home race 59 points clear but facing a grid penalty for a fifth Mercedes power unit and no ADUO upgrade until October.
