The new technically advanced cooling vests for drivers, are still optional in 2025, according to various sources. The vests were introduced by the FIA in response to drivers overheating during the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix and the overly complex task of introducing air conditioning.
During the 2023 race at the Lusail International Circuit, several drivers experienced overheating. For instance, Logan Sargeant had to prematurely end his race for Williams, and Esteban Ocon vomited into his helmet. The FIA subsequently announced plans to introduce a type of air conditioning in the cockpits of the F1 cars. However, this proved too complex to implement in every vehicle. The FIA therefore switched to a portable solution.
Cooling Vests
The new technology, the so-called cooling vests still being developed by the FIA, combines a shirt with nearly fifty meters of tubes that circulate cold fluids around the driver’s upper body. The F1 commission decided earlier this week that the vests will be used when the outside temperature exceeds 31 degrees Celsius.
According to Motorsport, the cooling system will be permanently installed in the cockpit of the 2026 vehicles. In the 2025 season, the driver still has the choice whether or not to use the system. If a driver chooses not to use it, an additional 500 grams of ballast will be added to the car.
