George Russell says he will not run a cooling vest this season, revealing in Malaysia that Mercedes opted against developing the device under cost-cap constraints.

Mercedes prioritises performance spend on the car, not driver-worn cooling. Russell argues the FIA should step in to support more robust, accessible solutions.

The 2024 Singapore Grand Prix exposed the risk, with Russell and Lewis Hamilton nearing heat stroke in a safety-car-free race, intensifying pressure for better protection.

Russell says past vests offered short-term relief, but reliability and consistency proved elusive within capped budgets. That echoes how drivers have pushed for changes to cooling support.

Cooling vests appeared in 2025, but engineering compromises quickly surfaced. Liquid-cooling circuits deliver an initial drop, then steadily lose capacity as the fluid warms.

Once heat-soaked, the garment can trap warmth, increasing discomfort. That trade-off keeps vests optional, with some drivers preferring ballast during designated heat-hazard events to avoid uneven weight penalties.

Standardising a single system remains tricky. Cockpit and seat geometries vary, complicating packaging and routing, and making a universal fit difficult to mandate.

The FIA granted limited financial flexibility to pursue fixes, as noted by Mercedes, but results lagged. By late 2025, two issues dominated: short duration and invasive tubing.

Governing guidance offered $50,000 under the cap for race-long performance, and another $75,000 for resolving comfort complaints, subject to proof through practice or simulator testing.

Mercedes concluded the upside did not justify the spend or risk. Internal analysis suggested only a handful of events would be severely affected by heat this season.

Deputy team principal Bradley Lord says drivers contributed to the evaluation, and that the allowances were insufficient to guarantee a robust, reliable vest package.

Malaysia’s late addition heightened exposure, but Mercedes leaned on pre-race cooling measures such as ice packs, which are prohibited inside the car.

The team has also invested in improved cockpit airflow and thermal management, reducing peak cabin temperatures versus 2024. That mirrors the broader cooling development push across rivals.

For now, the debate boils down to cost, comfort, safety, and performance. Without a spec solution or broader exemptions, teams will continue to optimise locally rather than pursue heavy vest redesigns.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.