Max Verstappen Responds to George Russell's Call for Cooling Vest Rule Change Before Bahrain GP

Max Verstappen Reacts to George Russell's Demand for Cooling Vest Rule Change

The upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix, held this year in Malaysia for political reasons, has been labeled a heat-hazard race by the FIA. Temperatures at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur are forecast to soar above 31°C on race day.

Despite the intense heat, Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will not use cooling vests during the race. The team chose to allocate their cost cap budget towards car performance upgrades instead of developing durable cooling technology.

Russell Calls for FIA to Allow Cooling Vests

In an interview with the Times, George Russell expressed that all drivers should have the option to wear cooling vests and urged the FIA to adjust regulations accordingly.

• Russell: "We won’t be running the cooling vest because we haven’t put the resource into making it robust enough."
• Russell: "I feel we need the FIA just to step in and say, ‘Here’s some money extra in the cost cap,’ or there’s an external company who’s going to develop it for everybody, you just put the money towards it. Because we should all be wearing it."
• Russell: "When it works, it works great. So I would like to wear it this week, and I would like to wear it next week. But the team asked me… look, we can develop it, and we can put the money towards it [but at the cost of performance]."

Verstappen Dismisses Russell's Complaints

Max Verstappen, who secured pole position after an impressive qualifying session, responded to Russell's comments with a different perspective. Speaking to the Telegraaf, the four-time world champion suggested Russell should accept the heat and prepare better for it rather than complaining.

• Verstappen: "I don’t need it. Maybe I suffer a bit less from the heat.. I find a Finnish sauna at 85 degrees a lot hotter... You shouldn’t make a fuss. Yes, it is hot, but that’s part of it. You have to train for that."
• Verstappen: "When I was eighteen, I had a bit more trouble with these conditions. But after that, I started training more in the heat, such as in the sauna and a steam room, so that I can handle the sweating better and the fact that your head gets very hot. Maybe I should take him (Russell) to the sauna a few times."

Race Starting Grid Highlights

• Pole Position: Max Verstappen
• Second Place: Lewis Hamilton
• Third Place: Kimi Antonelli
• Seventh Place: George Russell
• Other Top Starters: Charles Leclerc (4th), Lando Norris (5th), Oscar Piastri (6th)

Red Bull showed strong pace in qualifying, giving Verstappen confidence to aim for his first win of the season. Meanwhile, Russell sits second in the World Championship standings, trailing teammate Antonelli by 66 points.