Oliver Bearman challenges FIA’s heat safety rules, arguing unfair penalties stop teams like Haas from using life-saving cooling vests.
Haas driver Oliver Bearman has made his frustration clear, urging the FIA to rethink its policy on the use of cooling vests during races, a hot topic ever since the grueling 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, where extreme heat left drivers physically drained.
The FIA originally introduced these cooling vests to combat intense heat during so-called “thermal risk” races. The idea was simple: make them mandatory when track temperatures soar. But after mixed feedback during pre-season testing, the FIA softened its stance. The vests are now optional, even in sweltering conditions. However, teams that choose not to use them are penalized with a five-kilogram weight disadvantage, a significant burden in such a performance-focused sport.
The reason? Early versions of the vest were poorly received.
Esteban Ocon didn’t mince words during Bahrain testing, calling the system “unusable” due to the mess of tubing that drivers struggled to fit into their already cramped cockpits. While Mercedes’ George Russell became the first to use the vest in race conditions in Bahrain, he remained an outlier.
That said, the FIA has listened. Following complaints, a revised version of the vest was introduced. Bearman says the new design is far more practical.
“They adjusted the outlet to be more centered on your torso, so you can actually sit in the car,” Bearman explained. “The original design didn’t work for anyone, this one does much better.”
Bearman tested the updated system during free practice in Saudi Arabia and came away impressed.
“It felt really good. I’m glad they improved it and made it work. You do feel it in the back, pressed up against the seat, but having that cool water, even for 10 to 20 laps, makes a big difference.”
Still, Haas wasn’t able to use the vest in the actual race at Jeddah. The FIA hadn’t declared it a “thermal risk” event, which requires a forecast temperature above 30.5°C. While that threshold was nearly met and humidity was high, Haas couldn’t justify the five-kilo penalty to run the system without official approval.
Bearman noted that teams like Williams and Mercedes had more flexibility to run the vests by adjusting ballast, but Haas didn’t have that luxury.
“It’s a heavy system,” Bearman said. “We’re trying to get every bit of performance we can. We’re not about to add weight just to run a cooling vest.”
“We’re going to suffer until the FIA changes something. Hopefully they do, otherwise only a few teams benefit, and that doesn’t seem fair.”
Bearman, still recovering from dehydration days after the race, made it clear that these rules put driver health at risk.
“It was such a hot race, and what people don’t see is the humidity. Sure, it’s 27 to 29 degrees, but with 60 to 70 percent humidity and all the layers we wear, it’s brutal in there.”
“Having cold water literally changes your life out there. It helped a lot in practice.”
Russell and Leclerc weigh in
As GPDA director, George Russell’s opinion carries weight. He used the vest in Saudi Arabia and appreciated the advantage, but questioned why others couldn’t.
“I was lucky to use it. It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely better,” Russell said.
“Every cockpit is different, ours has hit 60°C before, even though the FIA threshold is just over 30. But when you factor in sunlight and cockpit heat, it’s like a sauna.”
Should the FIA lower the heat-risk threshold?
“I’m not sure. We haven’t discussed it as a group. Not everyone wants to use the vest, which is fine. It’s like football, some players wear gloves in cold weather, others wear short sleeves. It should be up to the driver.”
“Still, maybe the threshold should be lowered by a few degrees. We’ve had hot races, Saudi and Bahrain, yet the rule hasn’t been triggered.”
Charles Leclerc echoed the sentiment but highlighted a potential flaw.
“I tried it once and it really helped. But we’re among the teams that won’t run it unless it’s mandatory.”
“If the system fails mid-race, the water heats up. I’m not sure I’d even use it unless I absolutely had to.”
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“Unfair and Unsafe?” Bearman Calls Out FIA Over Cooling Vest Rules “Unfair and Unsafe?” Bearman Calls Out FIA Over Cooling Vest Rules
