As a driver who famously suffered heat exhaustion after the Singapore Grand Prix back in 2024, George Russell raised eyebrows when he revealed that there was no scope for him to wear a cooling vest this year.
The Mercedes driver said he was not allowed to use the device because his team could not afford to develop it under the cost cap. Instead, it felt better to divert that cash directly toward crucial car improvements.
Speaking to The Times, Russell called on the FIA to step in and do more to help drivers because, when he had worn a cooling vest in the past, it had proven to be a massive help.

"We won't be running the cooling vest because we haven't put the resource into making it robust enough," he said regarding the development hurdle.
Russell further explained, "I feel we need the FIA just to step in and say, 'Here's some money extra in the cost cap,' or there's an external company who's going to develop it for everybody, you just put the money towards it. Because we should all be wearing it."



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