Cooling Vests: The Next Hot Accessory?

The way Mercedes is revolutionising the cooling vest needs to be studied.

The cooling vest has been a hot topic of debate among F1 drivers, teams, and fans. But are they also emerging as a popular piece of apparel? With a variety of styles to choose from that provide different levels of cooling, the systems wouldn’t look out of place at fashion week.

The extreme physical demands of Formula One racing have driven continuous innovation in driver cooling technology. As cockpit temperatures regularly exceed 50°C (122°F) and drivers can lose up to 3 kg of body weight through sweat during a single race, cooling systems have evolved from simple ice packs to sophisticated wearable technology, representing the cutting edge of thermal management in motorsport.

Graphic by Surina Belk-Gupta

Adidas and Mercedes: Setting New Fashion Standards

The 2025 season marked a game-changing partnership between Adidas and Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, bringing CLIMACOOL technology to Formula One for the first time. The collaboration has introduced striking silver jackets that have become a major talking point in the paddock due to their space-age appearance, unlike anything previously seen in F1.