Formula 1's hottest races

Formula 1 is bracing itself for what could be its hottest ever race this weekend in Hungary.

Early forecasts have suggested that air temperatures could peak above 40C on race day, producing a challenge not just for the drivers who will have to cope with the extreme heat, but also the tyres at the tough Hungaroring circuit.

F1 is no stranger to racing in hot conditions, but it is very rare for temperatures to get into the 40s.

The Malaysian Grand Prix is widely talked about as the toughest physical challenge of the season, because the tropical heat is compounded by the high humidity.

However, while punishing enough for the drivers, the temperature usually only peaks in the high 30s.

F1 also goes some way to try to avoid races taking place at venues with extreme temperatures.

The inaugural Austin Grand Prix was originally scheduled to take place in the summer heat of June before it was moved to the much more acceptable autumn temperatures of November.

The June weather in Austin can be very hot, with peaks of 40C there last year when the race should have been on.

It is also a no-brainer for F1 to avoid having either the Bahrain or Abu Dhabi Grands Prix taking place in the middle of the season, when temperatures can get in to the 40s.

All eyes will be on the thermometers this weekend to see if such highs will be experienced this time out during Europe's heat wave, or if it falls short of F1's previous super-hot races.

1955 Argentine GP - Buenos Aires

January 16, 1955

AIR TEMPERATURE: 40 degrees Celsius

Giuseppe Farina leads Karl Kling in Argentina © LAT

AUTOSPORT's race report called it the 'Argentine Inferno' - as Juan Manuel Fangio charged to victory in 40 degrees heat at the 1955 season opener.

Although weather measuring equipment was not as accurate as it is now, anecdotal claims are that it was 37C in the shade - with the track temperature as high as 52C.

Driver swapping became the order of the day due to the searing heat, with Fangio in his Mercedes and Roberto Mieres in the Maserati the only two drivers of the 20-car field to go from start to finish alone.

Much of the field took to the pits for water and shade.

1959 French GP - Reims

July 5, 1959

AIR TEMPERATURE: 40 degrees Celsius

The start of the 1959 French GP © LAT

Unbearable heat coupled with changeable track conditions were the story of the day as Tony Brooks delivered Ferrari's first win of the 1959 season around the Reims circuit.

Conditions were so hot, hitting the 40C mark, that the bitumen in the track started to melt.

A number of drivers were forced out of the race through heat stroke and dehydration, while others fell foul of the deteriorating track surface.

Masten Gregory was left nursing mild concussion (on top of his heat stroke) after being hit on the head by a stone that had been flung up from the track.

1984 United States GP - Dallas

July 8, 1984

AIR TEMPERATURE: 40 degrees Celsius

Rosberg leading at Dallas in 1984 © LAT

The inaugural Dallas GP pitted crumbling track surfaces against colossal temperatures - a sure-fire recipe for chaos.

The air temperature was measured at 40C when the race started, while tyre supplier Goodyear recorded the highest track temperatures it had experienced in racing when its readings nudged the 66C mark.

The heat and punishing abuse handed out by F1 machinery resulted in the track breaking up, and the race was as much a battle to make it to the finish as for actual position.

Keke Rosberg overcame the chaos to win - with his cool head no doubt helped by an water-cooled skull cap he wore that had been supplied in an exclusive deal for his Williams team.

Even super-fit men like Ayrton Senna suffered with fatigue, despite the best efforts of his mechanics who filled his overalls with ice cubes during practice to keep him cool.

2005 Bahrain GP - Sakhir

April 3, 2005

AIR TEMPERATURE: 42 degrees Celsius

Alonso leads the field in Bahrain © XPB

This race was easily the hottest grand prix in recent history, with official data suggesting that the minimum temperature during the race was a mighty 41.9C.

The heat played havoc with the drivers and cars - as tyre boffins and engine engineers pondered for hours about the impact of the temperature on the cars.

Nick Heidfeld was the only driver not to change his engine from Malaysia the previous week; paying the price as his Williams-BMW couldn't handle the heat and failed.

Modern driver fitness and track design prevented any weather-induced chaos, as Fernando Alonso prevailed in the desert to lead home Toyota's Jarno Trulli.