The Singapore GP has gained a serious competitor in F1 – at least in terms of the great physical challenge imposed on the drivers. The combination of heat, high humidity and extreme effort during the Qatar GP, won this Sunday by Max Verstappen, made several drivers ill.

Logan Sargeant dropped out of the race with symptoms of severe dehydration and flu, and Esteban Ocon vomited on his helmet between laps 15 and 16.

– We expected it, but this weekend it was too hot to drive. If we come back here, this race must take place towards the end of the year. It was 40°C outside. It was quite extreme. Many drivers with whom I spoke after the podium were lying on the ground, – warned race winner Max Verstappen.

After the checkered flag, the onboard camera of Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin filmed the Canadian erratically getting out of his car: he headed straight to an ambulance, where he was treated. On their social media profile, the British team thanked the public for their messages and confirmed that all team members were well after the race.

– These temperatures… everything was blurry, in high speed turns we almost fainted. The pressure drops. With the G-force in the high corners, in the last 20 laps it was no longer possible to see anything, because it was like we were losing consciousness in those stretches – the Canadian told “SkySports F1” , after the race.

Likewise, Alexander Albon also needed help getting out of his car. After the race, Williams confirmed that the Anglo-Thai was taken to the circuit’s medical center and received treatment for acute heat exposure, before being released shortly afterwards.

Albon and Sargeant weren’t the only pilots in need of medical attention, however. Third in the Lusail race, Lando Norris also revealed that some of his rivals fainted during treatment.

– It was a difficult race. Some pilots almost fainted at the medical center. This shows how difficult our job is. It’s easy to say that we need to prepare better, but we are exposed to 50, 60 degrees in the cockpit, that’s not normal for the human body. Even for me, my vision was blurry at times, and that’s dangerous. In this race we have reached the limit of the human body – he explained.

Another problem was the overheating of the cars: during the race, Fernando Alonso complained about the extremely hot saddle and asked for help from Aston Martin, who regretted that they could not help him. Albon also complained for the same reason to Williams, and George Russell even drove for a few periods without his hands on the wheel to try to cool them in the air.

– It was the hardest race I have ever participated in. It was crazy how hot it was. I was trying to get some air (when he held out his hands). We pushed our bodies to the limit, but it was very hot. To be honest, sometimes I thought I was going to pass out in the middle of the race – said the Briton from Mercedes, adding:

– I was happy to have seen the checkered flag. It was almost 50°C there, you were wearing explosion-proof clothing and hot air was coming out of the cars in front of you. You can’t cool it, even the water is hot. It’s like having a hairdryer on your face for an hour and a half.

Mentioned above, one of the cases that attracts the most attention is that of Esteban Ocon: the Alpine driver reported on the team radio that he had vomited in his own helmet between laps 15 and 16. Josh Peckett, the Frenchman’s engineer, recommended that at the end of the race make sure to stay hydrated as much as possible. After being informed of Esteban’s condition, Peckett even asked if he was okay.

– It was very hot. I didn’t tell you, but I vomited in the 15th lap – said Ocon, via Alpine radio.

Another driver who also complained of not feeling well while still inside the car was Guanyu Zhou. From 19th to ninth in the race, the Alfa Romeo starter commented on the situation to Jorn Becker, his engineer.

– Damn, I’m exhausted. I pushed myself every lap like it was a fast lap. Oh my God.

Why was it so hot in Qatar?

The problem in Qatar, as in Singapore, is the combination of heat and high humidity, which affects the body’s cooling process through sweating. In October, it is autumn in the region, but temperatures reach around 35°C during the day and 26°C at night. High humidity can also affect heat perception, increasing wind chill.

F1 returns in two weeks on October 22 with the United States GP at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. There are five stages left before the end of the seasonwhich has already crowned Max Verstappen triple world champion.