Hamilton skeptical of using ‘itchy’ cooling vest in blazing Singapore

Formula 1 is gearing up for a sweltering Singapore Grand Prix weekend, but Lewis Hamilton has expressed some hesitation about wearing the FIA-mandated cooling vest that’s available to drivers this weekend, citing comfort concerns while acknowledging he may test it during practice.

The seven-time world champion and his colleagues are facing unique challenges at Marina Bay following the FIA issuing a formal heat hazard warning ahead of the weekend.

Teams have been mandated by the governing body to add extra cooling components to their machines this weekend, although drivers are free not to use the optional vest. However, in doing so they will be required to carry an additional 500 grams of ballast to compensate for those who do chose to wear the cooling vest.

Hamilton, known for his cool-headed racing, isn’t sold on the garment’s comfort, describing it as an itchy nuisance that might cramp his style under the floodlights.

“I've never used it but I'll try,” Hamilton said on Thursday. “It's quite uncomfortable. It itches a lot so I'm not sure I want to drive with an itchy top on.”

While it’s unclear if Hamilton wore the vest in Friday’s opening practice, his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc did evaluate the system.

A Cool Idea Born from Qatar’s Inferno

The FIA’s cooling vest, introduced after Qatar’s 2023 meltdown, is no mere suggestion – it’s a response to real health risks. That race saw drivers battling dehydration and exhaustion in cockpit temperatures exceeding 50°C.

The vest, first trialed in Jeddah earlier this year, circulates cool liquid to regulate body temperature, a game-changer on circuits like Singapore, where a two-hour night race tests endurance as much as skill.

While Hamilton remains wary of trading one discomfort for another, Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg is all in on using the system after suffering a grueling race in Jeddah earlier this year.

“We haven’t actually had it properly running yet, so we still need to verify and try it out and sign it off. I will, yeah,” Hulkenberg said.

“After Jeddah, I was toast after the race. It was bloody hot. And I had Alex next to me on the plane, and he ran [the vest], and he was fresh like a spring chicken.

“So I said, next time I'm going to run that thing.”

Hulkenberg’s enthusiasm atleast underscores the vest’s potential to turn post-race zombies into sprightly contenders.

Sainz Shrugs, Ready for Anything

Not everyone on the grid is as fazed by the heat – or the vest. Williams’ Carlos Sainz is taking a laid-back approach. For the Spaniard, the vest is a nice-to-have, not a must-have, though he’s open to its benefits if it delivers.

“It’s a two-hour race. Again, I’ve done Singapore 10 times,” he said. “If it breaks or it doesn’t work, I’m not worried. I’ll do the race and I’ll jump out fresh like I always do.

“But if it works, it’s better because then you suffer a bit less.”

Will F1’s vest prove a game-changer or a scratchy distraction? By Sunday, we’ll know who’s cool, calm, and collected – and who’s left red-faced in the Lion City’s heat.

Read also: FIA warns of sizzling Singapore – cooling vests in focus

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