P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Verstappen issues complaint over Russell backed FIA decision
F1 rivals Max Verstappen and George Russell clashed over an FIA decision during the Singapore Grand Prix, where the race was declared a ‘heat hazard’.
FIA regulations now require teams to equip cars with cooling systems, and drivers to wear mandatory cooling vests starting from 2026, causing disagreement among competitors.
Verstappen has spoken out against the mandatory cooling vest, emphasizing that it should be the driver’s choice, while Russell has expressed support for the new safety measure.
The debate surrounding the cooling vests has divided the F1 grid, with drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc backing Verstappen’s stance against enforcement.
The FIA remains open to discussions about the mandatory cooling vests, with plans to possibly reconsider their implementation in 2026 in collaboration with the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association.
