End-of-day report. Post 14. Subject: a vest that will not be worn.
The Malaysian Grand Prix is declared a heat-risk event. On Friday, in free practice, the air passed 33°C. The track was close to 60°C. I do not comment. I copy it down.
Observation. Both Mercedes cars will run without a cooling vest. The regulations provide for the case: a team that gives up the vest carries extra ballast. I read the line twice in my folder. It is clear. No vest, more kilos. The regulations do not let anyone leave empty-handed.
Reason, according to one of the two drivers: “We will not use the cooling vest because we have not devoted the necessary resources to make it reliable enough”. The team preferred to invest in the performance of the W17. The cap is $215 million over the season. A choice had to be made.
At post 14, there is no cap. There is a thermos. It holds a mug of coffee, hot, which is the opposite of what we are discussing, and nobody has ever asked me to justify it in a budget. Jean-Luc, my reserve, once offered to bring a second thermos. We said no. It was not a question of money. It was a question of room under the chair.
The same driver proposes that the FIA grant an off-cap budget for these systems, or that an outside company develop the vest for everyone. Noted. I do not decide. I wave the flag. I don’t judge.
Post 14, received. Nothing further to report.
It’s true, we checked: Nextgen-Auto · Formule 1.
