Lewis Hamilton questions new F1 innovation: 'Not what I want to see'

04/18/2025 05:30 AM

Lewis Hamilton has admitted he is not a fan of the new cooling vest system being developed for use in extremely hot conditions. Its use was originally intended to be mandatory for this season for events that were held in sweltering temperatures, however difficulties arose when drivers complained about how the tubes connecting the system interfered with cockpit comfort. As a solution is being researched, its use is voluntary for races that exceed a temperature of 30.5 °C - however any driver who elects not to use the system must fit 5 kg of ballast to their car to match the weight of the competitors who fit the vest.   George Russell gave the device its debut in Bahrain last weekend and spoke positively about it, insisting it did not give him much discomfort at the venue. However, he highlighted it would likely be more of an issue at a higher speed circuit such as the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, host of this weekend's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Providing his thoughts on the cooling vest, Hamilton told media including RacingNews365 : "It's an ongoing process. I think there are people still developing it. "It's not mandatory at the moment. I think one of the drivers has used it in practice or something, or testing, and really liked it." When it was pointed out to him that Russell used it during the race in Bahrain, Hamilton expressed surprise: "Oh really?  "I'd be surprised if he did, because it's five kilos - you have to add five kilos to the car for it and no one else would." Hamilton 'loves' physical challenge of F1 A push to introduce a new cooling system was accelerated by the harsh conditions drivers were subject to at the Qatar Grand Prix in 2023. Several drivers sought medical attention after the chequered flag, while Williams' Logan Sargeant had to retire due to feeling so unwell. Although the system is being rolled out for the sake of driver comfort and safety, Hamilton stated F1 drivers should be pushed to their physical limits. "I've only had two races in my career when it's been [extreme conditions]," he said. "My first year in Malaysia, my drink didn't work and I was dehydrated at the end of the race. "And then Singapore last year was pretty brutal. But I love that. We're supposed to be at the top, the highest of the highs in terms of athletes. It needs to be tough. "If anything, the cars today are easier to drive than when I started in F1. They're a lot heavier. "I don't want to use it if I can avoid it. I want to look at how I can prepare better, how I can use a cooling vest before, how I can pre-cool my body, how I can make sure I'm hydrated. That's a part of the whole process. "I do understand that it's tough and we don't want drivers passing out when we go to Qatar, where [we had] that one race where it was extremely hot for the drivers, which I actually crashed out of, so I didn't get to do it. "I think it's good that they've got the technology in there, but for me, it's not what I want to see in my car. That's just my opinion."