Mercedes drivers without cooling vests at Malaysia due to F1 cost cap

Mercedes drivers George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli will race without cooling vests at the extreme heat-hazard Grand Prix in Malaysia due to cost cap constraints. With cockpit temperatures expected to approach 50 degrees Celsius, teams were permitted to implement an in-car liquid cooling system, but Mercedes chose to prioritize financial resources on developing a major upgrade package for its W17 challenger instead.

Russell explained that developing a sufficiently robust vest system would compromise spending on performance under Formula 1's £163 million cap. Cars not running the cooling system must carry 5kg of ballast to balance competitive advantages. Russell urged the FIA to consider external development or specific cost-cap exemptions, noting that rival drivers at McLaren and Ferrari are utilizing the cooling technology.