Esteban Ocon, the Haas F1 driver, has made it clear he will not be wearing Formula 1's new cooling vest during the 2025 season, citing significant concerns over the technology's practicality and comfort.
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) initially sought to make the cooling vest mandatory for drivers to safeguard their health during extreme heat conditions. Nonetheless, after consultations with teams, the FIA opted to allow the use of the vest to be voluntary for this year as the technology continues to develop.
"You have tubes everywhere, which is fine. On the back too, which is also fine. But there’s like a huge tennis ball on your hip," Ocon explained. This discomfort raises questions about the effectiveness of the cooling vest, particularly during the grueling races expected at higher temperatures.
Ocon elaborated on why wearing the vest poses challenges, stating, "If you have it here on the chest, it hurts because of the belts. And if you do it on the back, you don’t fit in your seat anymore." Such tight seating is typical for F1 cars, and Ocon pointed out these practical limitations effectively hinder the vest's intended purpose.
Ocon is not alone; his teammate Ollie Bearman has also expressed similar frustrations, stating, "It’s good they found a solution and came up with something, but at the moment neither me nor Ollie can use it. It’s too big. You know how tight the seat is in Formula 1." Their experiences reveal the broader discomfort with the cooling vest's design, urging improvements before mandatory adoption.
For the 2025 season, drivers who decide against using the vest under extreme temperatures will have to adjust their cars by adding 500 grams of ballast, which could impact performance. This decision forces drivers like Ocon and Bearman to weigh the benefits of comfort against the potential for reduced competitive edges during races.
"It’s not really necessary," Ocon admitted, reflecting uncertainty about the cooling vest's overall effect on driver performance and safety. He also noted, "Maybe sometimes, yes. I don’t know if there is any discussion about it, but I assume nobody is in a position to use it at the moment. It’s not I’m a diva and don’t want to - quite the opposite. It just doesn’t fit." Ocon's remarks encapsulate the current sentiment among drivers as they prepare for the 2025 season.
With the vest set to become compulsory from 2026, the FIA and design teams have time to fine-tune the technology. The challenges faced by drivers will likely continue to inform advancements as the organization aims to prioritize health without compromising competitive performance standards. It's clear Ocon and others will be keeping a close watch on these developments as the new regulations come closer to fruition.