Hadjar calls for F1 cooling vests to be banned

Isack Hadjar has called for Formula 1 to ban cooling vests, arguing that the sport should remain physically tough. His appeal comes ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, where the FIA has declared a heat hazard for both the Sprint and race.

“I think it should be banned. Because it's supposed to be tough,” Hadjar told Motorsport.com and other media in Singapore.

Max Verstappen also said he did not need a cooling vest and would not use one even if it stayed cool for a whole grand prix. He said its cables would restrict his movement and that he did not think the system had worked for an hour and a half in any category.

Driver views are mixed: some welcome artificial cooling, while others have concerns about the vests’ fit and effectiveness.

The FIA declared the heat hazard after an official forecast put the heat index above 31°C at some point during the Sprint or race. When a heat hazard is declared, teams and drivers can choose to wear their own cooling-vest systems or carry ballast instead, avoiding a weight disadvantage for vest users.