Mercedes defends rejecting FIA-funded driver cooling vest for cost-cap reasons
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Mercedes has defended its decision to opt out of the FIA's financial allowance for liquid-cooled driver vests, designed to combat heat exhaustion during the 2026 season's extreme Southeast Asian heat and humidity. Deputy team principal Bradley Lord said the allowance was too small to develop a solution robust enough to last an entire race, so the team prioritised aerodynamic and mechanical upgrades instead. Lord said drivers including George Russell, who had complained about stifling cockpit temperatures, backed the trade-off of discomfort for overall car performance.
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