Formula One drivers say cooling vests should remain optional
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Williams' Thai driver Alexander Albon wearing a cooling vest to keep body temperature down ahead of the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix night race on Oct 3.
PHOTO: AFP
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SINGAPORE – Champions Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton urged Formula One’s governing body not to make cooling vests mandatory at hot races.
The race weekend in Singapore was declared a heat hazard because of the high temperatures, meaning drivers could either wear a vest which circulates cold liquid through tubes to maintain body temperature, or add extra ballast to their cars.
The vests are set to become mandatory in hot conditions from next season.
Red Bull’s four-time champion Verstappen on Oct 4 said the vests should remain optional.
“I haven’t used the vest. I’m also not intending to use it because I feel like this needs to be a driver choice,” he explained.
“From the FIA side, they will always throw it on safety – but then we can talk about a lot of stuff that can be improved on safety, including pit entries in certain places.
“I think that has a bit more priority than a vest in the car because I don’t like it.
“I don’t like the tubes that are on you, on your body, with the belts that go next to you.”
Verstappen pointed out that F1 cars were very different to sports cars and the narrow cockpits had limited space for extra equipment.
“Where are you going to put the dry ice?” he asked.
“The cars are not designed really to have this extra kind of space, and within 15, 20 laps, it’s anyway gone. And then you have hot water... or tea.”
Ferrari driver Hamilton, who won six of his seven titles with Mercedes, told reporters the vests should not be “forced” on anyone.
“They keep saying it’s a safety issue, but there’s no driver that’s ever died from overheating in the race, apart from obviously in flames back in the day,” said the Briton.
“It's just getting silly. That should be our choice to have it.”
The heat hazard regulation was introduced after drivers suffered exhaustion in the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix. Some are also fans of the vests.
Mercedes’ George Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), said he had used it already in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
“Of course, here it is much hotter. The dry ice will melt faster,” he said, adding that the team had also managed to reduce cockpit temperatures by moving electrical boxes and hydraulic lines.
McLaren’s championship leader Oscar Piastri said he had used the vest in practice but was yet to be convinced and it was important to have a choice.
“I think the problem with the suit is it’s great when it works,” said the Australian.
“But if it fails, it’s even worse than not having it.”
Williams’ Carlos Sainz, another GPDA director, said he would be happy for it to remain optional, even though he was convinced the vest worked and had advantages. REUTERS
