Max Verstappen Responds to George Russell's Call for Rule Change Ahead of Bahrain GP
This weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix, taking place at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur due to political reasons, faces extreme heat with temperatures expected to soar above 31°C. The FIA has labeled this race a heat-hazard event.
Despite the sweltering conditions, Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will not use cooling vests during the race. The German team prioritized upgrading car performance within their cost cap budget rather than investing in more durable cooling vest technology.
Russell Demands FIA Rule Change for Cooling Vests
Speaking to The Times, Russell expressed that all drivers should have access to cooling vests if they wish and urged the FIA to revise rules to accommodate this. He said:
"We won’t be running the cooling vest because we haven’t put the resource into making it robust enough. 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.
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 outstanding qualifying round, responded to Russell’s remarks by downplaying the need for a cooling vest. Speaking to Telegraaf, he stated:
"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."
"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
- 1st: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- 2nd: Lewis Hamilton
- 3rd: Kimi Antonelli (Championship leader)
- 4th: Charles Leclerc
- 5th: Lando Norris
- 6th: Oscar Piastri
- 7th: George Russell
Red Bull’s strong qualifying performance leaves Verstappen confident of claiming his first win of the season. Russell currently sits second in the World Championship standings, trailing teammate Antonelli by 66 points.
