Hadjar sides with Verstappen over Russell in cooling vest debate
Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
Kada Sárközi joined GPblog as an editor ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 season. He graduated with a BA in Sports Journalism in the UK and has covered Grands Prix and other F1 events live.
Isack Hadjar, similarly to his teammate, Max Verstappen, is against Formula 1 drivers wearing cooling vests.
Speaking to GPblog, among others, the Frenchman was clear in his verdict on having cooling vests in Formula 1 in Singapore. He said: "I think it should be banned."
Asked why he thinks that way, Hadjar added: "It's supposed to be tough, yeah."
The Frenchman's teammate, Verstappen, is also on the same page. The four-time world champion commented: "For me it's not needed. Yes, it's hot, but it's not a sauna. And with this cooling vest, have these stupid cables in your car, so it's just limiting your movement as well.
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"I don't need it. Even if it would work for one and a half hours, like cool, I don't need it. It doesn't work anyway for one and a half hours. I've never... I think in any category that it has worked for one and a half hours.”
Russell argues in favor of cooling vests
On the other hand, George Russell supports the idea of having cooling vests on. "I mean, I'd race it every weekend bar, you know, your Vegases and tracks that are really cold. I definitely see a benefit in it. I really like it, yeah.
"I guess just collectively between the teams and the FIA, we need to find a way to make it work. You know, I spoke a little bit last week about cost cap, that was actually incorrect. Because it is excluded from the cost cap, but still we need the people to design the hardware to manufacture the stuff and that's people you're taking resource away from something else."
Hadjar looks ahead to the Singapore Grand Prix
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The Singapore Grand Prix also hosts the final Sprint race of the season. Hadjar added that this can make the upcoming weekend more challenging.
"Yeah, I mean, it's not gonna be easy. I like on street circuits the fact that you get to build up to the limit through all the free practice sessions. So, yeah, it's going to be a bit different.
"The risk approach is going to be a bit different as well, but, yeah, I guess you just have to do it. It's not going to be easy. I think there's still going to be a good learning, you know, for Sunday's race even though the Sprint is going to be during the day. I still think there's valuable data to get on for Sunday.
"I don't really mind the format, but it's not the most ideal to prepare something," he concluded.
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