P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ollie Bearman tested the new device in practice for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, but has not yet used it in a grand prix.
Ollie Bearman has acknowledged the significance of F1’s new cooling vests, labeling them as “life-changing,” but he is currently unable to use them in races due to F1’s weight limit constraints.
Following incidents such as Lance Stroll’s loss of consciousness and Esteban Ocon vomiting in his helmet at the 2023 Qatar GP, F1 and the FIA have committed to enhancing driver welfare by introducing additional cooling vents from the 2024 season onwards.
In addition to the cooling vents, a cooling vest is in development as an optional feature for the 2025 season, becoming mandatory in 2026 when integrated into the cars.
Despite recognizing the benefits of the cooling vest, Ollie Bearman and other drivers are unable to utilize it due to the current weight restrictions imposed by the FIA, leading to some teams having an unfair advantage by being able to run the system.
While the cooling vest has shown promising results during testing, particularly in hot races like Jeddah, the weight of the system hampers performance optimization, leaving drivers like Bearman to persevere without its benefits until the weight issue is addressed within the regulations.
