Various drivers have voiced their unease on the FIA’s “foolish” choice to make using cooling vests necessary at ‘warmth occasions’ from subsequent 12 months.
At current – as is the case this weekend in Singapore – use of the vest at races which were declared warmth occasions just isn’t necessary. Nevertheless, all automobiles should be fitted with the mandatory gear to energy them and people drivers that do not put on them should have a compulsory 5kg in ballast added to their automobiles.
Talking on the drivers’ briefing on Friday, and once more after qualifying, a variety of drivers voiced their unease with the ruling.
“I have not used the vest,” stated Max Verstappen on Saturday after qualifying. “I am additionally not intending to make use of it as a result of I really feel like this must be a driver alternative.
“After all, from the FIA facet, they may all the time throw it on security,” he added, “however then we are able to discuss numerous stuff that may be improved on security, together with pit entries in sure locations. I feel that has a bit extra precedence than a vest within the automotive as a result of I do not prefer it.
“I do not just like the tubes which are on you, in your physique, with the belts that go subsequent to you,” he continued. “Then they’ll say it is only a dangerous design. I disagree. It simply must be an choice for the drivers to decide on.
“Some prefer it, some do not, and that is effective. But it surely must be a private choice. And I do know this 12 months we are able to, however most likely subsequent 12 months they do not need to do this, and I really feel that’s not the correct factor.
“The issue is that in GT automobiles or every other automobiles, prototypes, you’ve a bit extra space to place stuff or a minimum of put the cables. In our cockpits, it is so slim that there is no such thing as a house, or a minimum of not sufficient house. And that’s additionally somewhat little bit of an issue I discover.
“Plus, the place are you going to place the dry ice?” he requested. “The automobiles usually are not designed actually to have this additional type of house, and inside 15, 20 laps, it is anyway gone. After which you’ve sizzling water… or tea!”
“I am comfortable to not make it necessary and those that do not need to use it have a drawback within the race,” stated Carlos Sainz, the Grand Prix Drivers’ Affiliation (GPDA) chairman. “For me it is so simple as that.
“I am satisfied it really works and it helps, regardless that I’ve carried out ten Singapores with out struggling bodily and having the ability to end. As quickly as you examine a little bit of physiology you perceive that there is a efficiency benefit,” he insisted.
“I feel if it is not an enormous security problem they need to go away it open,” he stated of the selection to put on it. “I agree with the blokes that do not need to use it. If they do not need to as a result of they really feel actually uncomfortable then do not use it.”
“I do not suppose it ought to ever be pressured on drivers,” agreed Lewis Hamilton. “They preserve saying it is a security problem, however there is no driver that is ever died from overheating within the race, other than clearly in flames again within the day. It is like, it is simply getting foolish. That must be our option to have it.
“I admire they’ve made it out there to us and we’ll proceed to work and enhance on the system and I feel it may be doubtlessly useful in loopy sizzling locations, however if you wish to use it as a result of it is comfy, it ought to by no means be like you need to put on this.”
Requested if he’ll put on one this weekend, he replied: “I’ve tried it, yeah. I’d use it tomorrow, relying how sizzling it’s.”
“I am going to run it,” stated George Russell, ever the goody-goody. “I ran it in a few races this 12 months. It is not the proper resolution but.
“The very fact is, you haven’t any testing,” he continued, “you may solely take a look at it in a race surroundings. The race in Bahrain, I used to be proud of it. I ran it in Saudi as effectively. I used to be proud of it.
“However, after all, right here it’s a lot hotter. The dry ice will soften sooner. However the crew have made massive enhancements with the automotive cooling of itself. We recognise some fairly main problems with type of sizzling air seeping in.
“The cockpit massively exceeded 60C at sure races and simply shifting a number of digital packing containers round and hydraulic strains which are working at 120C round your ft have a serious impression on the warmth. I am going to offer you a solution tomorrow…” he smiled.
“I nonetheless do not know if I’ll use it,” admitted Oscar Piastri. “I used it yesterday.
“The issue with the go well with is it is nice when it really works. But when it fails, it is even worse than not having it.
“The initiative is nice. However, like Max stated, having the selection to make use of it or not is vital as a result of there are advantages and disadvantages.”
