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Mercedes explains why it rejected FIA cooling-vest allowance

Conceptual AI-generated editorial motorsport illustration; not a documentary photograph or evidence that a pictured event, meeting or transfer occurred. · 2026-10-07GPBeat newsroom · News Made Clear generated illustration

GPBeat reports that Mercedes opted out of the FIA's financial allowance for liquid-cooled driver vests. Deputy team principal Bradley Lord said the team did not consider the allowance sufficient to develop a solution robust enough to last an entire race; he said the drivers supported the choice despite possible discomfort.

From the GPBeat newsroomPublished · · 1 min

Mercedes has opted out of the FIA's financial allowance for developing liquid-cooled driver vests. Deputy team principal Bradley Lord said the team did not believe the allowance was sufficient to develop a solution robust enough to last an entire race.

Lord said the drivers supported the choice despite the prospect of discomfort in some places. He also said cockpit cooling in 2026 was much better than it had been about two years earlier, and argued that racers would choose performance over comfort.

Sources 01
  1. SOURCEMercedes defends its decision to reject crucial FIA driver aidMotorsport.com F1