Mercedes Unveil Third-Generation Cooling Suit at Marina Bay

Mercedes has once again shown that innovation isn't limited to the car's performance. During the Singapore Grand Prix, the German team debuted for the first time in the world the third generation of the One Art Air suit, developed by the Italian company OMP in collaboration with Adidas, a garment that, according to its creators, is the most breathable on the market and that is specifically designed to help drivers endure the extreme conditions of heat and humidity at Marina Bay.

Singapore is one of the calendar's most physically demanding races for drivers. Although the race is held at night, the temperatures and humidity are very high, and the cockpit becomes an oven: "There are scientific studies that show that the greater the driver's comfort inside the car, the greater his reaction capacity; therefore, it is not only a question of performance but also of safety," explained Paolo Delprato, president of Racing Force Group, in an interview.

The demand to increase breathability did not come from the FIA, but was an initiative of OMP itself: "Over the years, after many efforts and hours dedicated to research, we have managed to find a solution for this racing suit that can be taken to a higher level; it offers exceptional performance both in terms of weight and other characteristics, including breathability. It is the most breathable suit in the world, and that is why, for example, Mercedes has chosen it for the Singapore Grand Prix," Delprato added.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell had already tested the first and second generations of this suit in other events, but it was at Marina Bay where they debuted the third version that further improves the breathability characteristics: "Mercedes used in Singapore for the first time in the world, the third generation, which is the 2027 version of this suit, which offers even higher performance than the first generations and in any case, there are already new versions in project that will arrive," Delprato noted.

One distinctive characteristic of this suit is sublimation printing technology; unlike traditional techniques that apply an additional layer to the fabric through heat printing, sublimation lets colors and graphics penetrate directly into the suit's fibers, becoming an integral part of it. This approach offers a double advantage: it enables the creation of highly detailed, complex designs, such as the floral adornments Mercedes wore in Singapore, while adding no weight and preserving breathability.

Mercedes' bet on this suit reflects the growing importance teams place on driver well-being; in a sport where tenths of a second make the difference, keeping the driver comfortable and cool can be as decisive as any aerodynamic improvement. OMP and Racing Force Group are already working on new versions of this suit and its technology could extend to other garments, such as Bell helmets, innovation in Formula 1 is not only measured in the wind tunnel but also on the skin of those who drive the cars.