Formula One’s governing body is to take action to protect drivers from the sort of extreme heat and humidity they experienced during Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix, it said on Monday.
Some of those racing in the heat ended up on the verge of collapse, vomiting and severely dehydrated after the checkered flag, while Williams’ rookie Logan Sargeant felt too ill to continue.
The governing body of motor sport FIA said in a statement that it had “begun an analysis into the situation in Qatar to provide recommendations for future situations of extreme weather conditions.”
Photo: AFP
“Measures may include guidance for competitors, research into modifications for more efficient airflow in the cockpit, and recommendations for changes to the calendar to align with acceptable climatic conditions, amongst others,” FIA said. “Research from other series, such as cross-country events in extreme climates, will be examined for potential applications to circuit events.”
FIA said measures would be discussed at a meeting of its medical commission in Paris.
The track temperature during the night race at the Lusail circuit, where Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claimed a third world title, never dropped below 36°C, while daytime temperatures exceeded 40°C.
FIA said that next year’s race in Qatar will be held in December, when temperatures should be lower, but said it preferred “to take material action now to avoid a repeat of this scenario.”
Verstappen told reporters on Sunday that “some of the guys who were struggling today are extremely fit, probably even fitter than me, but just the whole day it’s like you’re walking around in a sauna.”
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