FIA may deny Lewis Hamilton wish after Mercedes star’s ‘controversial’ opinion | F1 | Sport
The FIA is reportedly set to test an ‘active cooling system’ over the coming races to avoid similar cockpit conditions to those experienced at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix.
The news will come as a frustration to Lewis Hamilton, who expressed the ‘controversial’ opinion that F1 should be an ‘extreme sport’ that operates in extreme conditions.
When the drivers arrived in Qatar last year they were subjected to intense temperatures, and the heat issues only got worse in the cockpit during the race. Many were spotted keeling over through exhaustion in Parc Ferme after the Grand Prix, while Logan Sargeant was forced to retire mid-race after suffering extreme symptoms.
Esteban Ocon was also subjected to miserable conditions, throwing up in his helmet during the race, while Lance Stroll complained that he was ‘passing out in the corners’ as his vision blurred. With issues experienced by a large cohort of drivers, it was clear that action was needed, but Hamilton disagreed.
“I’m going to be controversial as always,” Hamilton said after the 2023 race in Qatar. “Obviously I didn’t do the race, so didn’t get to feel the pain that the drivers felt. But I have obviously been here a long time.
“Malaysia was much hotter than that race and I know what it’s like to lose four or more kilos in the race and barely being able to stand afterwards. My feeling towards it is… this is an extreme sport. You don’t have marathon runners who are passing out after the marathon, saying you have got to make it shorter.
“This is an extreme sport and we are paid very highly for what we do and from my perspective when I’ve not been feeling great at the end of the race, I’ve just got to train harder and that’s how it’s been for me.”
Despite Hamilton’s plea, the FIA is taking action. According to a report from Motorsport.com, drivers will trial an “active cooling system” at the Dutch Grand Prix after the summer break that will be used to combat extreme weather conditions.
An FIA statement confirmed that investigations had been conducted to find a solution to the cooling needs of F1 cars, adding: “These joint research activities have advanced and focused on the development of an active cooling system which would be installed in F1 cars when facing extreme conditions.
“Initial tests and in-situ proof of concept are planned to take place in Zandvoort and upcoming races. If these tests prove successful, the FIA will mandate the installation of such an active cooling system in Formula One cars in the future when a heat hazard will have been declared.”
