F1 is ready to use a rare rule at the Austrian Grand Prix
The FIA is expected to put a special protocol in place during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend. This eighth race of the 2026 F1 season will happen on Sunday, June 28, at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria. Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli leads the Drivers’ Championship with 156 points, followed by Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton with 115 points, and Antonelli’s teammate George Russell is third with 106 points.
The Austrian Grand Prix is known for being a tough track since it’s located in the Styrian mountains, 700 meters above sea level. The track is short, which often leads to exciting overtakes and quick lap times. But it’s not just the tricky layout the drivers will have to think about.
BBC Weather says temperatures are expected to get quite hot during the three-day event, with highs of 34 degrees Celsius forecast for Saturday’s qualifying and Sunday’s race. When SPORTbible asked, the FIA said a “heat hazard” is usually announced if the temperature goes above 31 degrees before the race starts.
Heat hazards were introduced before the 2025 season as a safety measure. If declared, teams have to install a Driver Cooling System in the cars. Drivers can wear cooling vests to stay comfortable, but it’s not required. Some drivers found the vests uncomfortable, like Hamilton, who said they were “itchy” during the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix. However, the car’s cooling system must be used if a heat hazard is declared.
Despite the heat, the FIA doesn’t expect the race will be delayed or stopped. When asked how hot weather affects the cars, they said it has a big impact, especially on the engine and tyre wear, so teams will need to adjust their strategies.
Hot conditions have been common at the Austrian GP before, with 2025’s race reaching an average of 30.7 degrees Celsius without any issues. The Driver Cooling System works by pumping cold fluid through a special fireproof vest worn by the driver, helping to keep them cool. All parts of this system must be installed in the car if there’s a heat hazard, though drivers can choose not to wear the vest itself.
Because of the extra equipment, the minimum car weight limit will increase slightly—by 2kg for practice and qualifying, and by another 5kg before the race. According to FIA rules, if a driver decides not to wear the cooling vest, the system’s other parts still have to be fitted, and the team must add 0.5kg of ballast inside the cockpit to balance things out.
The FIA also says that a heat hazard can be declared separately for the Sprint and Race, 24 hours before the competition starts. So far, the FIA hasn’t confirmed whether there will be a heat hazard declared for this year’s Austrian Grand Prix.