Designing for Speed: How F1’s High-Tech Gear Evolves with the 2025 Season Kickoff

15 March 2025

Designing for Speed: How F1’s High-Tech Gear Evolves with the 2025 Season Kickoff

A Legacy of Innovation in Formula 1
Since its inception in 1950, Formula 1 (F1) has been at the forefront of automotive and technological advancements. The sport has not only shaped the engineering of race cars but has also driven innovation in performance apparel. While fire-resistant race suits were already mandatory in Formula 1 by 1975, Niki Lauda's harrowing 1976 crash at the Nürburgring significantly accelerated improvements in driver safety. Over the decades, improvements were made to protective gear, leading to the development of better suit materials and designs, advanced aerodynamic helmets, and biometric gloves that monitor a driver's vital signs in real time.
This season brings another leap in driver comfort for the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team: adidas has developed unique insulative garments that work in tandem with their CLIMACOOL Cooling Vests, maximizing their beneficial effects. Ahead of the start of the 2025 season, adidas unveiled the system – comprised of an insulated jacket and specially created cooling vest. They will be available to the Mercedes F1 Team for any races where hot conditions can impact driver performance.

The 2025 F1 Season Begins in Australia
The 2025 Formula 1 season officially commenced yesterday with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, marking the first race of a 24-event calendar spanning five continents. This season, the F1 circuit will travel through countries like Monaco, Canada, and Japan before making its Austrian stop from June 27 to June 29 at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, with the main race on June 29.

Qualifying in Australia: Setting the Grid
Today's qualifying session at Formula 1 Louis Vuitton Australian Grand Prix 2025 in Melbourne played a crucial role in determining the starting positions for tomorrow's race. In the intense battle for pole position at Albert Park Circuit, McLaren dominated the session, with Lando Norris securing the fastest lap, narrowly ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing claimed third on the grid, while Mercedes' George Russell followed closely in fourth. With such a competitive lineup at the front, strategy will be key as the drivers prepare for the first race of the season.

Austrian Excellence on the Track
One of the dominant forces in the sport is Red Bull Racing, which competes under an Austrian license. The team, led by star driver Max Verstappen, has secured four consecutive Drivers' Championships from 2021 to 2024. As the defending champions, they remain the team to beat this season.

Mercedes and the Rise of George Russell
The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team enters 2025 with George Russell leading the charge after Lewis Hamilton's high-profile move to Ferrari. Russell, who joined Mercedes in 2022, has steadily proven his skill and resilience. While his performance in this season's opening race remains to be seen, one thing is certain—when it gets hot, he'll be sporting one of the most advanced jackets in the paddock.

Adidas Introduces the CLIMACOOL System
Timed with the start of the new F1 season, adidas has unveiled its latest innovation: the CLIMACOOL System, a high-performance cooling setup designed to optimize driver comfort in extreme heat. The system consists of an insulated jacket and a specialized cooling vest, aiming to regulate body temperature more effectively than traditional ice vests.

Designing for Performance: Adidas' Approach
F1 drivers endure cockpit temperatures that can soar up to 60°C, leading to excessive sweat loss. Adidas addressed this challenge by integrating cooling agents, built-in fans, and insulative materials in the CLIMACOOL jacket. Lab testing, conducted in partnership with industry leader INUTEQ, showed that the system nearly doubled the cooling impact compared to ice vests alone. Maintaining an optimal core temperature is crucial for cognitive function and endurance in high-pressure races. Studies suggest that improved thermal regulation can enhance reaction times and extend a driver's performance threshold by up to 25%. With this data in mind, adidas developed the CLIMACOOL System to give drivers a competitive edge.

Innovation on the Track Through Scientific Research
Adidas' return to motorsport is marked by a commitment to pushing the boundaries of performance technology. The CLIMACOOL System exemplifies this ambition, offering an innovative solution to one of F1's long-standing challenges. The system was initially tested by rising Mercedes star Kimi Antonelli before both Antonelli and George Russell incorporated it into their pre-season trials in Bahrain. The drivers will continue using the gear in select races where high temperatures pose a challenge, while adidas gathers feedback to refine future iterations. As the season unfolds, the impact of this advanced gear on driver performance will be closely watched, proving once again that F1 is not just about speed—but about the technology that fuels it.

Image: The picture captures George Russell at the Bahrain racetrack, wearing the silver adidas CLIMACOOL System jacket. The setting marks an important pre-season testing venue where teams fine-tune their cars ahead of the F1 season.