Following the scorching 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, the FIA has decided to experiment with new ways to cool drivers during a race. For the first time, Formula 1 will test air conditioning at the Zandvoort GP. The FIA has developed a special system that directs some cooling air to the cockpit during a Grand Prix.
The 2023 Qatar GP went down in history as one of the hottest races in modern Formula 1, with significant consequences. Rookie Logan Sargeant had to prematurely end his race due to the extreme heat, and Esteban Ocon vomited in his helmet. As drivers once again face high temperatures in the run-up to the Hungarian GP, the FIA has revealed that Formula 1 could get an air conditioning system in the future.
Testing at Zandvoort
Starting from the upcoming Grand Prix at Zandvoort, an experimental system will be installed in one car to test direct air cooling in the cockpit. Unlike standard air conditioning, several smaller structures will be placed around the cockpit in Formula 1 cars. These are designed to direct cooled air to the driver. If the tests prove successful, the FIA will mandate the system in the Formula 1 regulations. Teams could then be required to install the air conditioning units when conditions necessitate their use.
“In response to the extreme temperatures experienced during last year’s Qatar Grand Prix, the FIA and all F1 teams immediately initiated research to improve driver ventilation and cooling under such conditions,” reads an official statement from the FIA. “Since then, the technical regulations have been updated to allow the introduction of a passive air intake on top of the cockpit for improved ventilation.”
