FIA DECLARES HEAT HAZZARD FOR AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX AS EUROPE BATTLES EXTREM TEMPERATURES

 

Europe’s first major heatwave of the summer has forced the FIA to declare an official Heat Hazard for this weekend’s Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix, as temperatures at Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring are forecast to exceed the regulatory threshold for driver safety.

With Austria among several countries breaking June temperature records, the governing body confirmed that the combination of heat and humidity will push the heat index beyond 31°C, activating additional cooling requirements under Article B1.5.10 of the FIA F1 Regulations.

According to the FIA’s official weather service, temperatures are expected to reach 32°C during Saturday’s FP3 and qualifying sessions, with Sunday’s race start at 15:00 local time predicted to take place in 33°C conditions.

While these figures may appear moderate compared to some of the sport’s historically hottest events, the heat index calculation—combined with cockpit heat soak, altitude, and the Red Bull Ring’s short‑lap intensity—creates a significantly harsher environment for drivers.

The FIA therefore issued a formal statement confirming the Heat Hazard declaration once forecasts showed the heat index surpassing the 31.0°C limit at some point during the competition.

Under the activated protocol, drivers must now choose between wearing an FIA‑approved cooling vest or adding 0.5 kg of ballast to their cars to compensate for not using the device.

The federation had originally intended to make cooling vests mandatory across the grid, but driver feedback over comfort, mobility, and inconsistent effectiveness led to the system remaining optional. Even so, the FIA insists that some form of mitigation is essential, as cockpit temperatures can exceed 50°C during long stints, especially at high‑altitude circuits where reduced air density limits cooling efficiency.

The Red Bull Ring is deceptively demanding in hot conditions. Its short lap—typically around 65 to 70 seconds—offers drivers almost no recovery time, while long full‑throttle sections increase engine and brake temperatures.

The circuit’s elevation of roughly 700 metres further reduces cooling capacity, and the aggressive kerbs add to the physical strain. Combined with the heatwave gripping central Europe, the Austrian Grand Prix is shaping up to be one of the most physically taxing events of the season.

Teams are expected to adjust hydration strategies, cooling system settings, and cockpit airflow management, while drivers will rely heavily on pre‑session cooling routines and grid‑formation ice vests. The Heat Hazard protocol, introduced after several high‑profile cases of driver exhaustion in recent years, will now face a significant real‑world test as the sport continues to adapt to increasingly frequent extreme‑temperature events.

- Balazs Szabo

FORMULA 1 RETURNS TO THE RED BULL RING FOR THE 12TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

Round 8 is here at the heart of the Styrian hills! 🇦🇹

Formula 1 returns for the 12th consecutive year at the Red Bull Ring.

#FIA #F1 #AustrianGP

- FIA

SLATER RETAINS CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD IN AUSTRIA | R07 SPIELBERG - FRECA RACE REPORT

Freddie Slater exited the seventh round of the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine on top of the driver standings despite a tricky weekend at Red Bull Ring. The British driver faced some issues on Saturday, qualifying in row 9, and maximized what he could achieve with P12 in the first race. In qualifying 2, Slater secured third in his group and then proceeded to finish the race in a positive P4.

Rashid Al Dhaheri continued to show a great pace and achieved a double points finish after being impressive in qualifying and putting up a solid and consistent pace. The Emirati had a best finish of P5 at the Austrian venue. 

Jack Beeton had an improving weekend. The Australian had a tough qualifying session and was affected by contact in race 1. For Race 2, he delivered progress, qualifying in the top seven and equalling his best finish of the year with P6

Last but not least, Alex Powell returned to PREMA to make his FRECA debut and focused on gaining chemistry with the new series for him. Lining up with more experienced drivers, he took the weekend as a learning process, gaining miles and experience aboard the Formula Regional car. 

The next round for FRECA will be in a two-week time in Barcelona.

#14 RASHID AL DHAHERI

"A positive weekend after a difficult one in Imola. This time, we made a good step forward. I think the conditions were quite tricky for all when it's cold and the track grip isn't high. We did a good job in improving and fixing the car, and improved from Q1 to Q2. In the races, the pace was quite good. So overall, a positive weekend, and Barcelona should be a good track for us. We'll see how it goes."

#27 FREDDIE SLATER

"It was a pretty tricky weekend for us. The pace was very good in practice. We knew we were fighting for the front, but we also knew it was going to be close. Unfortunately, we had two technical issues in qualifying and in race 1 that were out of our control. For qualifying 2 and race 2, we were there, but the step we had to take was huge, and there was not much chance for overtaking. We need to bounce back in Barcelona and hopefully have a few things go our way. We need a bit of a flow, and we hope it will happen there."

#41 ALEX POWELL

"First FRECA weekend done. For sure, a learning experience, and a lot of lessons to take forward. Very different from what I'm used to, but I'm happy to be back with PREMA and to get the good vibe again. A challenging weekend to say the least, but I learned a lot and I should be in a better place the next time I will race."

#45 JACK BEETON

"The pace was great in testing, but everything went a bit downhill after that. I was quite slow on Friday and Saturday, a combination of circumstances, some of them in my control and some not. In Race 1, I was involved in a contact. I went back to the pit lane to change the front wing and finished at the back. On Sunday, the car was fine, I ended up with P7 on the grid, and I stayed there for the whole race. I got up to P6 due to penalties, but the pace was pretty decent. Cheers to the team for that. We keep pushing, three more rounds to go!"

- Prema Racing SRL/Prema Racing LLC

F1 ANNOUNCES AUSTRIAN GP EXTENSION UNTIL 2041

The Austrian Grand Prix returned to the F1 calendar in 2014

Formula 1 has confirmed that the Austrian Grand Prix will remain on the calendar until at least 2041, following a new long-term agreement with race promoters.

The extension ensures the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg will continue to host the popular race, strengthening its place in the F1 calendar for years to come.

A post via F1 Media’s X account confirmed the news: “Formula 1 has confirmed that the Austrian Grand Prix will remain a fixture on the calendar until at least 2030, following a new long-term agreement with race promoters.

“The extension ensures the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg will continue to host the popular race, strengthening its place in the F1 calendar for years to come.”

Stefano Domenicali added via F1’s website: “Austria has long been an incredibly special race for Formula 1 so it’s fantastic we have secured the long-term future of a Grand Prix so deeply rooted in the sport’s history.

“The vision and passion of Dietrich Mateschitz gave the race the investment and attention that allowed it to return as an incredible event on the Formula 1 calendar.

“Each year, returning to the stunning Styrian mountains is a highlight – an experience that evokes incredible emotion among our drivers, teams, and fans alike, creating an atmosphere unlike any other.

“I want to extend my sincere thanks to Mark Mateschitz and Thomas Überall and his team for their unwavering dedication to excellence, and to our incredible Austrian fanbase, whose enthusiasm and loyalty continue to elevate this iconic race.”

- Harry Whitfield

MCLAREN'S ANDREA STELLA: MAX VERSTAPPEN'S DRIVING UNPUNISHED

Andrea Stella said the FIA should tighten the rules around racing incidents. Mark Thompson/Getty Images

 SPIELBERG, Austria -- McLaren team principal Andrea Stella believes the collision between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen at the Austrian Grand Prix was a legacy of the Dutchman's driving style going unpunished during his title battle with Lewis Hamilton in 2021.

The contact between the two drivers at the head of the race at the Red Bull Ring resulted in punctures for both, allowing George Russell to inherit the lead and take the victory.

The stewards gave Verstappen a 10-second penalty for causing the collision, but Stella believes it would not have happened if he had been punished for transgressions earlier in his career.

"The entire population of the world knows who was responsible except for a group of people," The McLaren boss said.

"If you don't address these things honestly, they will come back. They weren't addressed properly in the past when there were fights with Lewis that needed to be punished in a harsher way.

"Like this, you learn how to race in a certain way."

Asked if he was referring specifically to the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix, where Verstappen forced Hamilton off the track in a battle for the lead but was not punished, Stella said: "There were many episodes.

"We have so much respect for Red Bull, and for Max, that they don't need to do this.

"Almost compromise your reputation? Why would you do that? The stewards found Max was fully to blame in this episode. It's not about racing in a driver's way. It's about driving within the regulations.

"The regulations must be enforced in a way that is effective. When a car is out of the race, as a consequence, then the punishment needs to be proportionate to the outcome.

"Before this episode, twice he moved in braking. It is evident that we have to enforce the way to go racing."

Stella called on the FIA to review its rules around racing and enforce stronger penalties or face a situation where Verstappen continues to push beyond the limits of what's acceptable.

"I think that's it. In every kind of human dynamics, if you don't address things, as soon as you introduce competition, as soon as you introduce a sense of injustice, these things escalate. It's like anything.

"Here there was incomplete job, let's say, that comes from the past, and is a legacy that as soon as there was a trigger, immediately there is an outburst.

"Immediately it became a case that escalated. So I think this one like I said before, this episode today should be taken as an opportunity to tighten up, to plump up the boundaries, and in fairness, enforcing some of the rules that are already in place.

"But we need to be very clear that these rules cannot be abused in a way that then leaves a margin to do a couple of times the same manoeuvre, and you know the third time there is going to be an accident.

"Like I say, there is obviously frustration to today, but for me what is important is this is now taken as an opportunity for the FIA, for the sport, so that we can in the future hopefully enjoy more of these battles that means McLaren is in condition to race Red Bull, but knowing that this is not going to end up with a collision.

"For us, there's a lot of points gone. And a victory which I think Lando deserved to have the opportunity to have. It could have been Max, it could have been Lando. That's racing. But racing like with collisions, we don't like it."

- Laurence Edmondson, F1 Editor

AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX 2023 | RED BULL RING STATS

 

ALEX ALBON TAKES HIS DTM CAR FOR A RED BULL RING HOT LAP