Source: Reuters/Peter Cziborra
[Saba Sports News] According to an exclusive report from Motorsport, due to the high temperatures experienced during the previous F1 Qatar Grand Prix, which caused physical discomfort for many drivers, F1 plans to begin testing an air conditioning system in an F1 car starting from the Dutch Grand Prix in August. The aim is to help the drivers cool down. If the test proves successful, the FIA will make it mandatory for teams to install this system in future F1 races, but only in races where the FIA determines that there is a high temperature warning. The air conditioning system is relatively simple in design. It consists of multiple air outlet units positioned close to the car body and arranged around the seats, continuously providing cool air to help lower the drivers’ body temperature. During the Qatar F1 Grand Prix held last October, the track temperature never dropped below 31°C, even during the nighttime. Throughout the race, Logan Sargeant from the Williams F1 Team retired due to heatstroke, Esteban Ocon from the Alpine F1 Team vomited inside his helmet, and Lance Stroll from the Aston Martin F1 Team briefly lost consciousness. Subsequently, the FIA conducted an investigation into all teams and promised to take substantial measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring again.