P1racenews AI automatic summary:
F1 drivers can opt not to wear new cooling shirts designed to regulate their temperatures during Grands Prix this year before they are enforced for 2026.
According to Autosport, driver cooling devices will be optional this year, but will become mandatory next season. These devices consist of shirts with 50 meters of cooling fluid pumped through a special box in the car, designed to be worn comfortably under fireproof clothing. The FIA has approved the final driver cooling system after collaboration with F1 teams and changes defining when the systems must be used. Teams must fit these devices once the ambient temperature hits 31 degrees, but drivers can choose whether to use them or carry ballast for fairness. The new regulations for next season will require the devices to be powered by a new electrical system setup in the cars. This decision was influenced by the extreme conditions faced by drivers like Logan Sargeant during the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix.
