Climate Risks in Motorsport: Setting Boundary Conditions in Formula 1

Formula 1 (F1) is a sport that travels the world each season as part of its championship. This sees F1 exposed to a variety of climates and therefore climate risks that must be mitigated to protect circuits, drivers, teams, fans, and other personnel working the grand prix races. This paper describes an evidence-based process of determining the climate risks that sport faces, boundary conditions beyond which motorsport -- particularly F1 -- can no longer ensure safety for drivers and staff, and offers adaptation solutions to the risks identified for F1.

The boundary conditions were determined based on temperature risk thresholds for heat-related illness and hypothermia, air quality for sensitive groups, precipitation levels for visibility and tyre performance, flood risk data historically, and sea-level rise projections, as well as other potential climate-related natural disasters (e.g., wildfire, drought). Additionally, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projections were projections were considered for future changes to the climate. Twenty-five Formula 1 circuits were assessed for these climate risks: the twenty-four 2024 season circuits, in addition to one potential future circuit. Historical weather data, air quality records, and flood risk projections were reviewed site-by-site against the identified boundary conditions to identify records and projections in excess of the boundaries. Findings suggest that heat is a threat to nineteen of the circuits, flooding is a risk to eighteen circuits, poor air quality is a risk to ten circuits, and heavy precipitation is a threat to seven circuits. Singapore and Qatar emerged as the two circuits with the most vulnerabilities (e.g., heat, flood potential), while Austria was the least vulnerable circuit. The boundary conditions will require further refinement in the future to be applicable to other sports, and the projections here, while confident, are not guarantees of future performance.

These findings strengthen the need for F1 officials to employ adaptations to the race calendar and operations in accordance with the climate risks faced. Future research should build on these methods by deepening the rigor behind the boundary conditions and climate risk data, as well as by providing the necessary adjustments to align the boundary conditions with the climate sensitivities of other sports.

Formula 1 has an opportunity to not only protect itself from climate change but also to demonstrate to sport and the world what good climate resilience can be.

CITE: Orr, M., Kellison, T., Ross, W. J., Trendafilova, S., Pelcher, J. A., Watanabe, N. M., Howell, J. P., & Rouhas, Z. (2025). Climate risks in motorsport: setting boundary conditions in Formula 1. European Sport Management Quarterly, 1-22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2025.2503163

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