Formula 1 heat warning also for Austin: Cooling vests again an option
(Motorsport-Total.com) - At the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Singapore two weeks ago, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) issued a heat warning for the first time. As a result, Formula 1 drivers were permitted – but not required – to wear special cooling vests during the race. Those who chose not to wear them were required to carry additional weight in their cars.
Two weeks later, the same picture emerges: The US Grand Prix is scheduled for this weekend, and another heat warning is in place. For the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) near Austin, Texas, this warning applies to Saturday, the day of the sprint. A high temperature of 34 degrees Celsius is expected. The current forecast for Sunday's Grand Prix is a maximum of 31 degrees Celsius.
Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto was one of those who opted to wear a cooling vest during the race in Singapore. "The race was physically demanding, but honestly, I imagined it would be worse," said the Brazilian Formula 1 rookie.
"Everyone had said beforehand that it would be one of the most demanding races of the year," said Bortoleto, who admitted: "It didn't seem like that at all. I don't know if the cooling vest had anything to do with it. I mean, it was certainly tiring. But I only had the vest on for the first 10 to 15 laps. After that, it gets very hot in the car, so it's better to turn it off."
The Formula 1 version of the cooling vests isn't actually a vest in the true sense of the word. Rather, it's a special version of flame-resistant underwear with small tubes built into it that allow cold water to flow through them. That's not for everyone.
Among the reasons why some of the Formula 1 drivers refrained from using this option in Singapore was the risk that the cooling method might not work as promised. The hoses themselves are also a reason for some to avoid it in the already cramped cockpit.
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