The 2023 Formula 1 season in Qatar marked a turning point for the entire series: extreme weather conditions led to serious health issues for drivers, including fainting and dehydration. Following the incident, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) decided to implement new measures to protect athletes from overheating.
In 2024, changes were made to the design of the cars: the ventilation openings in the nose were enlarged to improve airflow in hot conditions. At the same time, specialists began developing an individual cooling system for drivers. By 2025, the development was completed and the technology received official approval from the FIA.
Unlike conventional solutions such as air conditioners or vests with frozen gel, the new system is a lightweight hydraulic device. It attaches directly to the driver’s heat-resistant underwear and consists of thin tubes running along the chest and back. Aston Martin confirmed that Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll will be the first to test this setup at the Grand Prix in Singapore, where cockpit temperatures can exceed 55 degrees and airflow to the feet is limited.
This season, the use of the system remains at the discretion of the teams, but starting in 2026 it will become mandatory for all championship participants. Alonso has already tested the device during the second practice in Monza, though the weather conditions at the time were far from extreme. The main model chosen is the Cypher Pro Micro Cooler from Chillout Motorsports: it is a special shirt with almost 50 meters of tubing through which cooling fluid circulates. Temperature is controlled by a microprocessor, and the system itself is housed in a separate compact unit.
In February, the FIA officially announced the completion of the project and its approval by the teams’ technical departments. According to the regulations, the system is activated when the air temperature reaches 31 degrees, as detected by special sensors at each circuit. For now, the device operates autonomously and is not connected to the car’s electronics, but starting in 2026 it will be integrated into the overall safety system, alongside elements such as Halo and Hans. Although this is not a full-fledged air conditioner, its effectiveness is comparable.
