A New Cooling System in F1 for 2025
Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc are among the drivers who had the opportunity to test the first cooling device for drivers in Formula 1, nicknamed “air conditioning”. This innovation was tested the previous year, mainly during the first test sessions for the Mexico Grand Prix. According to Leclerc, this experience was conclusive, offering comfort and ease of driving.
The latest races, notably in Singapore and Qatar, have revealed worrying images. Many drivers had to be evacuated from their cars, while others were seen in a state of exhaustion in the cooling room before the podium. These incidents prompted the FIA to respond, seeking a supplier for a new system to be introduced for next season. If the Dakar already has it (although some drivers choose to do without it to lighten their vehicles), and Le Mans has made it compulsory since 2007, F1 has long ignored the need for such a system, where each gram counts.
The cooling system is now ready, each team will be able to customize it in 2025 with their own technologies, as long as the final effect remains the same. This system may use air, water or certain diluted chemicals to optimize thermal conductivity.
From 2025, regulations require the use of these systems when the track temperature exceeds 30.5°C, which often equates to an interior temperature of 15 to 20 degrees additional in the passenger compartment. This information will be communicated to the teams 24 hours before the race.
To facilitate the implementation of this system, the minimum weight of cars will be increased from 800 to 805 kilos, this device weighing approximately five kilos with its microcompressor, evaporator and condensing unit. What is particularly interesting is that the pilots will wear a sort of “T-shirt” under their suit, equipped with 48 meters of refrigerated tubes to provide them with comfort.
This system is capable of absorbing up to 4.4°C of excess heat through a state change process, thus avoiding the use of more bulky cooling systems. The comfort temperature is expected to be around 15°C. Leclerc, who tested the system, even recommended its use during all races to benefit from this freshness.
Until now, pilots used ice cubes, bulky cooling jackets or ice baths after races, methods which were not very effective in the long term. When body temperature exceeds 38°C, this leads to a significant drop in performance and concentration, thus posing real risks during competition.
Chillout Motorsport is currently at the forefront of this technology, having already proven itself in other disciplines such as NASCAR, WEC and even Formula E. This miniaturized system, designed in carbon fiber, has undergone rigorous testing for meet FIA safety standards. In 2026, new cars, less polluting and more electric, will integrate these systems, making them easier to install by the different teams.
Good to know
- Formula 1 drivers tested the cooling system as part of the 2023 test sessions.
- The 2025 regulations will introduce specific requirements related to track temperature.
- The Chillout Motorsport system has been designed taking into account the strictest safety standards.
- Other motor sports, such as the Dakar and Le Mans, use similar cooling systems.
- These new features aim to improve the safety and comfort of drivers during races.
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- Source image(s) : www.marca.com
- Source : https://www.marca.com/motor/formula1/2025/01/05/f1-estrena-aire-acondicionado-pilotos-2025.html
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