Drivers welcome new cooling device for hot races
F1 drivers welcome the introduction of the brand-new cooling device that the sport is about to introduce in races that are deemed dangerous due to the heat.
Ahead of the last season before the sweeping technical changes kick in, the F1 Commission has recently approved a range of technical changes for the 2025 F1 cars. Among the changes is the introduction of a driver cooling kit.
Following multiple test runs in past months, the sport is now confident that the cooling device will help drivers in challenging situations such as last year's Qatar race when several drivers encountered unexpected difficulties in the heat. The brand-new cooling kit will only be used when heat hazard gets declared.
Asked about the cooling device which pumps cooled air around the overall, Williams driver Alex Albon has revealed that his team has tried out with Franco Colapinto at Sao Paulo, but the conditions did not suit any testing with the device.
"I think Franco tried it in Brazil, but it was quite cold in Brazil. So it didn't work. I think it made him too cold, actually. So he asked to take it off before FP1. So in that sense, it must work. But I think it's great that they're taking initiatives to try to help us.
"And so, yeah, I mean, in hot races, hot climates, especially with all the travel we're doing and the toll it's taking on our bodies, if there's any extra support we can get, then I think we would definitely take them. Last year was very not comfortable, I think, for the drivers that did race. And yeah, I think all good steps."
Despite having completed the final race with Sauber at the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the sport's first Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu noted the cooling device could also become helpful in Singapore.
"Yeah, actually, we haven't actually tried anything yet. So I wouldn't really give much opinion on that. But I think I'm more than happy, of course, to have this cooling just to help.
"I think races like Singapore every single year has been very difficult for drivers, losing a lot of water. And I think that will just only help us. So yeah, let's see.
Red Bull driver Sergio Perez has revealed that he has experienced races when drivers got close to the limit of their mental and physical strengths, and the new device could avoid dangerous situations.
"I think there has been a few occasions in my career where things have gone quite to the limit. And I think the speeds that we're traveling, you don't want to see someone collapsing in the car or something like that.
"So I think it's a really, really good thing, a very good initiative. I haven't tried it. I haven't seen the system. So I don't know if it works. But yeah, hopefully we can do something for those sort of races like the one we had last year here."
