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.
George Russell, unlike Max Verstappen, is in favor of having cooling vests on except in certain cases.
Russell continues to support having cooling vests in Formula 1. Speaking to GPblog, among others, the Mercedes driver explained that he sees the benefit of wearing one.
Russell in favor of cooling vests
He began: "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.
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"You know, it's all open source. I've spoken with other drivers who say their system work really well, so there's nothing stopping you, you just copy paste what somebody else has. So, yeah, that's very much under consideration right now," the Briton explained.
As of now, having a cooling vest on is not mandatory, however, drivers who are not wearing one receive a ballast.
Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
Verstappen is against the idea
The four-time world champion has stated on multiple occasions that he is against having the cooling vests on.
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He also told, GPblog, among others, in Singapore: “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.
“I don't need it. Even if it would work for one and a half hours, like cool, 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.”
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