Max Verstappen reacts to George Russell: "Perhaps I should bring him to the sauna!"
The discussion surrounding cooling vests has resurfaced during the Formula 1 weekend in Malaysia. Two years prior, there were internal conversations about potentially mandating the cooling vest, a notion the FIA seemed open to. However, due to significant pushback from various drivers, that proposal was ultimately shelved.
Verstappen was one of the most vocal opponents at that time. The Dutch driver described the cooling vest as uncomfortable while driving and emphasized that it should always be a personal choice, even if it means carrying an extra half a kilogram for those opting not to use it.
The FIA ultimately decided to keep it as an option, but Russell has reignited the topic in Sepang. The Mercedes pilot expressed his willingness to don the vest but noted that Mercedes hasn’t advanced the technology adequately, primarily because other priorities have taken precedence under the budget cap.
Russell asserts that the FIA should allocate more budget to all teams for this purpose, yet Verstappen brushes off that suggestion. The four-time world champion remains opposed to the cooling vest, arguing that the heat is precisely the kind of challenging environment F1 drivers prepare for.
"I don’t require that cooling vest and I won’t use it. Perhaps I handle the heat better, I suppose," Verstappen remarked during his media session with Dutch reporters in the paddock.
"Once you’re inside the car, yes, it’s hot, but that’s part of it. That’s what you prepare for; you need to ensure you’re fit enough for it. After the race, of course, you have to hydrate a lot and quickly eat something."
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Besides the standard preparation and recovery, Verstappen contends that FIA involvement would be excessive. Russell likened racing in conditions like those in Malaysia to competing in a sauna, but Verstappen believes that comparison is somewhat exaggerated.
"I think a real Finnish sauna at 85 or 100 degrees is quite hot! You shouldn’t make such a big deal about it either," Verstappen countered.
"It’s hot, but that’s all part of the sport. You need to train for that. Naturally, it’s uncomfortable, but in every sport, you have to push your limits. You can’t just take it easy."
Furthermore, Verstappen suggests that it's something every driver can work on. He mentions that he has focused on it through additional training, allowing him to manage the conditions at Sepang better than in 2017, when he claimed victory in what is still the most recent Malaysian Grand Prix.
"Yes, I believe I’m a bit fitter and stronger now compared to then," Verstappen affirmed.
"When I was 18, I sometimes found it more challenging to cope with the heat. But ultimately, you just have to train more in the heat, perhaps in the sauna, to become more acclimatized to it.
"It’s about enduring the heat for longer, managing the sweating, your head feeling extremely warm, all those factors. So maybe I should take him [Russell] to the sauna sometime!"
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