Lewis Hamilton argues F1 should be “tough” amid extreme condition concerns

Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton has addressed complaints about driving in extreme conditions, arguing that the sport is meant to be “tough.”

While speaking to the media, including Motorsport.com, Hamilton argued:

“I’ve only had like two races in my career where it’s been like Malaysia. My first year in Malaysia, the drink machine didn’t work, so I was just dehydrated at the end of the race and Singapore last year was pretty brutal.

“But I love that, we’re supposed to be the top, the highest of the highest in terms of athletes, and it needs to be tough.

“If anything, you know, the cars today are easier to drive than when I started in F1. They’re a lot heavier, but I don’t want to use it [the cooling system] if I can avoid it.

“It’s not something for me. I want to look at how I can prepare better, how I can use a cooling vest before, how I can pre-cool my body, and how I can make sure I’m hydrated.

“That’s a part of the whole process, but I do understand that it’s tough and we don’t want the drivers passing out and we go to Qatar where I think that one race where it was extremely hot for the drivers, which I actually crashed out so I didn’t get to do it.

“I think it’s good that they’ve got the technology in there, but for me, it’s not what I want to see in my car.”

In previous races, such as the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, drivers raised safety concerns regarding racing in extreme heat. The 2023 race at the Lusail International Circuit saw Esteban Ocon throwing up in his helmet, Lance Stroll passing out, and multiple others attending the medical centre due to heat-related health issues after the race. Stroll said at the time:

“It’s ridiculous. These temperatures — everything goes blurry. The last 25-30 laps it’s just blurry in the high-speed corners. Blood pressure dropping, just passing out, basically, in the high-speed corners with high loaded G-forces.

“The kerbs are now painted because they’re worried about punctures. I couldn’t see where I was going because I was passing out. I was fading in and out. The temperature was too much.”