Formula One’s governing body has issued a heat hazard designation for this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix at Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring, marking the first time the measure has been implemented this season.Race Director Rui Marques confirmed that the official weather service is forecasting temperatures exceeding 31C.The declaration mandates that teams install a driver cooling system, such as a liquid-cooled vest, although drivers are not compelled to use them and may opt for a ballast penalty instead. This requires an increase in the car’s minimum weight to accommodate the additional hardware.The heat hazard designation, which was added to the rules in 2025, was first applied at last October's Singapore Grand Prix, followed by the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, that same month.Sunday’s race will be the eighth round of the championship, with 19-year-old Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli currently leading the standings by 41 points.Kimi Antonelli is currently leading the way in the F1 standings (Getty)However, Lewis Hamilton reduced his lead by winning his first race since joining Ferrari in Barcelona last time out.Following that victory, Hamilton spoke about the lows he had to endure during his first season with Ferrari last year, before bouncing back to rediscover his best form in 2026.“My fans really saved me through such a difficult moment last year,” he said. “Every day, I had this dream as a kid. I remember watching the red car and wondering what it’d be like to win in that car. There’s nothing like it, absolutely incredible.“I came from quite a low place – it’s about never giving up on yourself, keep on trying.”He now has his sights set on chasing down Antonelli, but it will not be easy as the Italian has won five of the seven races so far this season.Hamilton also has fellow Brit George Russell just nine points behind him in the standings, with the pair having both won a race each this year.After the Austrian Grand Prix, Hamilton and Russell will return to home soil to compete at the British Grand Prix on the first weekend in July, before further races in Belgium and Hungary prior to the summer break.