Formula 1 drivers have highlighted ongoing problems with their cooling vests, with some going as far as to call for the device to be banned altogether. When races are declared heat hazard events, F1 teams are allowed to fit their cars with cooling systems that pump cool liquid through a vest worn by the driver. The safety regulation is not mandatory and drivers can decide not to wear the cooling vests, though they will have to run with extra ballast to ensure a competitive advantage is not gained.
An F1 heat hazard has been declared for the fourth time this season, and second weekend in a row, at the Singapore Grand Prix, with temperatures forecast to exceed 31C at some point during the race. Despite this, several drivers will not wear the cooling vests, citing comfort and reliability concerns. Red Bull star Max Verstappen voiced his firm rejection of the system, arguing that it creates unnecessary mechanical obstructions inside the cockpit.
"For me, it's not needed. Yes, it's hot, but it's not sauna. And with this cooling vest, you have these stupid cables in your car, so it's just limiting your movement as well," Max Verstappen told reporters in Singapore, as reported by Crash.net. Echoing a similar stance, Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar explicitly stated that the cooling aid should be banned entirely to preserve the inherent physical toughness required in the sport.
Meanwhile, strategic priorities have led other teams to forgo the technology. Mercedes driver George Russell revealed that his team decided against running the system to redirect crucial resources into overall car development. Although F1's governing body has granted financial allowances under the cost cap for teams capable of developing a fully efficient grand prix cooling mechanism, debate among competitors remains deeply divided regarding its practical utility.
Aston Martin veteran Fernando Alonso dismissed the notion that the FIA should enforce stricter mandates, maintaining that the current framework appropriately leaves the choice to the discretion of teams and drivers. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc added technical nuance to the discussion, noting that while the system functions adequately for the opening 15 to 20 laps, its cooling capacity diminishes significantly for the remainder of the race.
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