News summary
- The FIA has declared a Heat Hazard for the 2026 Italian Grand Prix after forecasting a heat index above 31°C during the race at Monza.
- Drivers will have to use the required cooling system or, if they choose not to wear the cooling equipment, have 0.5 kg of ballast added to the car to compensate for the difference in mass.
- It is the second Heat Hazard declaration of the 2026 F1 season, following the Austrian Grand Prix in June.
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has declared a Heat Hazard for the Italian Grand Prix, which takes place at Monza from September 4-6. The decision was communicated to the teams on Thursday (3) after the governing body received a forecast from its Official Weather Service indicating that the heat index will exceed 31°C at some point during the race.
The declaration activates the heat-management procedures established in the FIA’s 2026 Sporting Regulations. Under Article B1.5.10, all components of the Driver Cooling System must be fitted to the cars for a race affected by a Heat Hazard.
Drivers may choose not to wear the personal equipment that forms part of the cooling system. In that case, however, the remaining components must still be installed and functional, while 0.5 kg of ballast must be added to the cockpit to compensate for the difference in mass between the driver’s normal personal equipment and the cooling-system equipment.
“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,” FIA F1 Race Director Rui Marques wrote in the notification sent to the teams on Thursday.
The FIA introduced the Heat Hazard procedure following the extreme conditions experienced at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, when several drivers suffered from severe heat-related symptoms. The system was introduced into the regulations for the 2025 season and was first used at the Singapore Grand Prix that year.
This is the second Heat Hazard declaration of the 2026 season. The first came ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix in June, when the FIA also activated the procedure after forecasts indicated a heat index above the 31°C threshold.
Temperatures are expected to be particularly high around Monza throughout the weekend. According to the FIA’s Official Weather Service forecast cited by Motorsport.com and Autosport, temperatures are expected to reach around 36°C during FP2 on Friday, 35°C for qualifying on Saturday and 33°C at the start of Sunday’s race.
The Italian Grand Prix is the 13th round of the 2026 Formula 1 season. The weekend begins on Friday, September 4, with FP1 and FP2, followed by FP3 and qualifying on Saturday. The race is scheduled for Sunday at 3:00 pm local time.
The GRANDE PRÊMIO will follow all the action from Monza throughout the 2026 F1 season.
FAQ
Why did the FIA declare a Heat Hazard at Monza?
The FIA’s Official Weather Service forecast a heat index above 31°C during the Italian Grand Prix, triggering Article B1.5.10 of the Sporting Regulations.
What does the Heat Hazard mean for F1 drivers?
The cars must be equipped with the components of the Driver Cooling System. Drivers can choose not to wear the cooling equipment, but in that case 0.5 kg of ballast must be added to the cockpit to compensate for the difference in mass.
How many times has the FIA used the Heat Hazard procedure in 2026?
The Italian Grand Prix marks the second Heat Hazard declaration of the 2026 season, after the procedure was also activated for the Austrian Grand Prix in June.
