Mercedes defends its decision to reject crucial FIA driver aid
With the extreme heat and humidity of the Southeast Asian double-header taking a brutal physical toll on the 2026 grid, driver cooling systems have become a massive talking point. While the FIA specifically created a financial allowance for teams to develop liquid-cooled driver vests to prevent heat exhaustion, Mercedes shocked the paddock by confirming they opted out of the program ... Keep…
Mercedes shocked the Formula 1 paddock by rejecting crucial FIA driver aid, opting for raw speed over comfort. Following George Russell's frustrations over stifling cockpit temperatures, Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord defended the team's decision, stating that the rigid cost-cap constraints forced a compromise. The drivers supported the decision, acknowledging the improved cooling in the cockpit compared to previous years.
However, the strategy backfired, as Russell retired his car due to a power unit issue, potentially facing an engine penalty before the Abu Dhabi finale.
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