Ahead of the F1 tests in Bahrain, the Sakhir event could have been the perfect opportunity to see the new anti-heat kits presented by the FIA being used for the first time. However, the weather over the past few days forced the teams to dig out sweaters and jackets.
Between the strong wind on Day 1 and the rain that marked Day 2, the teams are dealing with weather conditions that are far from what they expected ahead of the event. And the situation is not expected to change in the final of the three test days organized in Bahrain.
Therefore, no cooling kits will be seen during these days, and perhaps it’s for the best. Yes, because, according to Esteban Ocon, the new solutions designed by the FIA to tackle the heat issue are far from wearable.
Esteban Ocon explains why
“Right now they are unwearable. There are tubes both in the front and the back, and that’s not the problem,” said the new Haas driver. “The thing is, there’s a sort of ball on the sides, practically on the hip. This means that when you put the seatbelts on, it’s very uncomfortable, and it’s hard to get into the cockpit because the seat is custom-made.”
“For this reason, I’d say they are unwearable. And other drivers agree with me,” Esteban Ocon added. “The fact that the FIA has presented a solution is positive, but right now it’s not the right one.”
“It’s a prototype that’s too big. In current F1 cars, every space is minimized, and with the tubes in place, it’s too bulky. We certainly can’t modify the seats to leave the necessary space. A solution could be to reduce the size or to add air conditioning inside the cockpit.”
According to the French driver, the anti-heat kit could easily be dispensed with. “It can be useful in extreme conditions like Qatar or Singapore. But until now, we’ve trained to be ready even for these Grands Prix. And no, I’m not trying to act like a ‘diva’. I would like to use it, but right now it’s impossible,” added the former Alpine driver.
In previous months, we had interviewed Charles Kline, representative of Chillout Motorsport, the company that produces these kits. During the conversation, Kline told us about the first feedback from Charles Leclerc. “From Ferrari, they reported positive comments from Charles.”
A different opinion from Esteban Ocon’s, and now the FIA will have to evaluate the best solution in view of 2026.
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