Why F1 Cars Have No Air Conditioning: Shedding Every Gram for Records

The design philosophy behind Formula 1 is simple: speed is everything.

With the recent box-office success of “F1: The Movie,” which premiered on June 25, interest in motorsports has surged. In the film’s intense racing scenes, drivers cross the finish line drenched in sweat, mirroring what happens on real F1 circuits.

Lewis Hamilton, the most decorated F1 champion who contributed to the film’s production, explained on a talk show, “There’s no air conditioning in an F1 car because weight is critical. Even if I personally gain 1kg, it could slow me by two seconds over a race.” He added, “The heat is so extreme that in a typical 1 hour and 45 minute race, a driver can lose as much as 4kg.”

At the heart of these extremes are two key concepts: weight and power. In F1, a difference of just 1kg can decide the race’s outcome.

Installing air conditioning would add at least 20kg to the car, including the compressor, refrigerant, piping, and fans. This additional mass is detrimental to acceleration, braking, and cornering. F1 teams go so far as to use carbon fiber even for minor parts to shave off every unnecessary gram—they have no reason to carry equipment that does not enhance performance.

Moreover, air conditioning draws power from the engine or hybrid system, making it undesirable when every bit of energy must go toward maximizing speed and aerodynamic efficiency.

Structural factors also come into play. With F1’s open-wheel and open-cockpit design, there is no sealed space to trap cool air, and sustaining air conditioning at top speeds is practically impossible.

Instead of fitting air conditioners, F1 prioritizes aerodynamic cooling for brakes, engines, and electronics, while drivers rely on specialized wearable cooling equipment.

Prominent examples include cooling vests, integrated drinking (coolant) systems, and helmet airflow devices.

Coping with the environment is a brutal test. Even in Korea’s endurance races, cockpit temperatures easily soar beyond 50 to 60 degrees Celsius. Professor Sanghyun Park of Ajou Motor College noted, “Even domestic endurance drivers lose 2–3kg by the end of a race because the cabin gets so hot that all body fluids are lost.”

Professor Eunjeong Lee, who lectures at Hanyang University’s business school and is also a professional racing driver, shared, “After a race, I’m soaked in sweat head to toe, typically losing between 1 and 2kg from fluid loss.”

However, these rapid changes in body weight are not necessarily dangerous. Professor Lee added, “It’s simply temporary dehydration, and as long as sufficient fluids are replenished afterwards, there’s no risk.” Professor Park agreed, saying, “These athletes are thoroughly prepared physically and quickly recover since it’s only short-term water loss.”

Training to cope with high temperatures is crucial for racers. “Personally, I run on hot days to acclimate myself to heat stress,” said Professor Lee.

During a race, the driver’s heart rate soars to an extraordinary 170 beats per minute, fueled by both heat and adrenaline. In the end, F1 driver performance hinges on the cooling efficiency of the car and equipment, as well as the athlete’s own stamina, cardiopulmonary endurance, and ability to concentrate in extreme heat.

The cost is also staggering. Counting research, development, design, parts, and testing, an F1 car costs upwards of 27 billion KRW (about $20 million USD) to build. This is why every decision is focused on saving 0.01 seconds—through lighter weight, greater power, and superior aerodynamics—rather than comfort.

The paradox of the world’s highest-performance cars lacking air conditioning serves as proof that F1 machines are, indeed, “built for racing—nothing else.”

Photo credit: Red Bull

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=Red Bull