Over time F1 followers have watched the dwell broadcast minimize to the motive force cooldown room after every grand prix to see the highest three finishers debrief the race.
In 2023 it brought about varied memes on-line, as world champion Max Verstappen headed to the cooldown room for 21 of twenty-two grands prix. Followers joked that it was just like the Crimson Bull driver had his personal podcast with completely different visitors – or drivers – on every week.
Different cooldown room moments have seen drivers maintain heated exchanges after one thing occurred within the race, so it’s a nice supply of data and leisure for followers.
However what precisely is the cooldown room in F1 and which moments left followers speaking about it for years to return?
What’s the cooldown room in F1?
The F1 cooldown room is the place the highest three finishers head to from parc ferme as they look forward to the rostrum ceremony to begin. It’s designed to assist drivers settle down after a race and performs an important position within the security and well-being of these on the F1 grid.
That’s as a result of it’s a climate-controlled space which permits drivers to decrease their physique temperatures after a race. The gruelling 2023 Qatar Grand Prix was the proper instance, as cockpit temperatures reached roughly 60C which brought about Logan Sargeant to retire from warmth exhaustion, as an illustration. It’s one thing which affected each driver, so within the cooldown room Verstappen and Oscar Piastri each laid on the ground serving to them to get better barely.
There’re varied different options of the cooldown room which assist drivers to get better, like bottles of chilly water to rehydrate, towels, cooling followers and chairs so individuals can sit down. Additionally it is used as preparation for the rostrum, as a result of there are tables which permit drivers to put their helmets and retailer different belongings earlier than they placed on a Pirelli cap that’s given to first, second and third.
However the primary factor followers search for when the feed cuts to the cooldown room is the dialog between the three drivers. A lot of that dialog is centred across the tv which has been added to the cooldown room in recent times, permitting drivers to react to key moments as race highlights are performed on the display.
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, 1st place, in Parc Ferme
Picture by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Due to it, followers watched Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso react to the 2023 Canadian GP collectively, whereas the seven-time world champion was additionally caught controversially calling the Crimson Bull driver a “d***head” when the 2 collided on the 2018 Bahrain GP.
The highest three finishers will not be the one individuals in F1’s cooldown room although, as a result of a consultant from the profitable workforce is current, as in addition they stand on the rostrum. Many F1 and FIA officers are sometimes there too, to make sure all the pieces runs easily. However the cooldown room shouldn’t be a requirement for non-podium finishers.
It’s because they don’t want to attend for the rostrum ceremony. So as an alternative, after visiting parc ferme, the remainder of the grid head straight to their respective media duties, debriefs and motor properties to clean up following the grand prix.
Why is the F1 cooldown room filmed?
F1’s cooldown room is filmed to provide followers higher perception into the drivers and their ideas on the grand prix.
Filming of F1’s cooldown room goes again a number of years with many clips from the early 2000s, just like the well-known bust-up between Alonso and Felipe Massa after the 2007 European GP. It occurred after Alonso overtook Massa for the lead across the outdoors of Nurburgring’s Flip 5, but the 2 automobiles touched within the course of and the double world champion, then driving for McLaren, accused his Ferrari rival of intentionally inflicting the collision – to which the Brazilian aggressively denied.
That was simply one in every of many cooldown room moments to get caught on digicam through the years, nonetheless filming stopped in 2020 as a result of COVID-19. The pandemic brought about a lot of the 2020 season to be staged behind closed doorways with many social distancing protocols in place, so this meant the cooldown room was not used for security causes.
The change wasn’t everlasting although because the F1 cooldown room returned for the primary time in three years on the 2022 Emilia Romagna GP. Verstappen received that day in a Crimson Bull 1-2 with Sergio Perez, whereas Lando Norris accomplished the rostrum at Imola.
Race winner Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, second place Sergio Perez, Crimson Bull Racing, third place Lando Norris, McLaren
Picture by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool
However, Norris was solely on the rostrum as a result of Charles Leclerc spun into the barrier from third with 9 laps to go. So, the rostrum finishers reacted to the spin through the cooldown room tv with Norris noting how aggressive Leclerc was on the kerbs.
Since then, the cooldown room has featured after each grand prix aside from the inaugural Las Vegas GP, presumably for scheduling causes. Quickly after the race completed, the highest three drivers had been escorted to the close by Bellagio Resort for the standard podium interviews earlier than being pushed again to the grid for the ceremony.
10 Memorable moments within the F1 cooldown room
Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have fun collectively – 2008 Australian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, and Nico Rosberg, Williams, have fun on the rostrum
Picture by: Andre Vor / Sutton Photographs
A younger Hamilton transformed pole into victory on the 2008 season-opening Australian GP to beat the frustration of shedding out on the 2007 championship in his rookie marketing campaign by a single level. The 2008 Australian GP additionally featured a maiden podium for Nico Rosberg, who was starting his third season in F1 whereas driving for Williams.
The 2 drivers had a protracted historical past of competing in opposition to one another as team-mates in karting to turning into teenage greatest pals and occurring vacation collectively. Each had dreamed of reaching F1, so after they shared a podium for the primary time Hamilton and Rosberg shared a giant hug within the cooldown room whereas the German acknowledged “I really feel wonderful”.
Nonetheless, it’s properly documented that later of their F1 careers Hamilton and Rosberg grew to become not so pleasant with one another – resulting in some extra memorable cooldown room moments.
Mark Webber reminds Sebastian Vettel of ‘multi 21’ – 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix
Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel
Picture by: Andre Vor / Sutton Photographs
Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel shared a really fractious relationship as Crimson Bull team-mates (2009-13) and tensions reached boiling level on the 2013 Malaysian GP. Webber was main a snug Crimson Bull 1-2, so each drivers had been advised “multi-map 21” that means to carry place and decrease engine efficiency.
However Vettel ignored this. He began attacking Webber and ultimately overtook with 10 laps left to finally win the race. Webber was livid and initially rebuffed Vettel’s try to speak within the cooldown room earlier than ultimately stating “multi 21 Seb, yeah, multi 21” to which the then triple world champion had no response.
The drama continued and though Vettel ultimately apologised again on the workforce’s manufacturing unit, on the rostrum that day an offended Webber, who give up F1 on the finish of the 12 months, claimed the Crimson Bull protege “could have safety as traditional”.
Lewis Hamilton throws cap at Nico Rosberg after profitable third world title – 2015 United States Grand Prix
Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG, 2nd Place, and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG, 1st Place, have fun with their workforce.
Picture by: Alastair Staley / Motorsport Images
The friendship days had been lengthy gone for Hamilton and Rosberg come 2015. The 2 grew to become Mercedes team-mates in 2013 and really bitterly-fought each other for the 2014 and 2015 championships with Hamilton profitable each instances.
Hamilton claimed the 2015 crown after profitable the US GP in a Mercedes 1-2. However, polesitter Rosberg was offended at his team-mate for pushing him extensive at Flip 1 which allowed Hamilton to assert the lead.
Afterwards, within the cooldown room, Rosberg silently sat staring on the floor in anger over shedding one other championship. Then Hamilton threw the second-placed Pirelli cap onto his team-mate’s lap earlier than Rosberg instantly chucked it again at his rival, with the hat hitting the Briton’s shoulder.
Sebastian Vettel calls Daniil Kvyat a ‘torpedo’ – 2016 Chinese language Grand Prix
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 2nd Place, has a phrase with Daniil Kvyat, Crimson Bull Racing, third Place, about their begin incident.
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
The 2016 Chinese language GP was particular for Daniil Kvyat as he claimed his second F1 podium after ending third regardless of beginning sixth. A lot of that was as a result of his begin, because the then Crimson Bull driver climbed as much as third after storming down the within of the Flip 1 bend.
Nonetheless, to keep away from colliding with Kvyat, Vettel instantly moved left however that brought about him to tag Kimi Raikkonen’s rear-right tyre and knock his Ferrari team-mate off the monitor. Vettel nonetheless completed on the rostrum in second, however Kvyat’s query within the cooldown room sparked an offended response from him.
“You, asking what occurred in the beginning,” responded Vettel. “If I don’t go to the left you crash into us and all of us three exit.”
“Properly” is all Kvyat might say earlier than Vettel minimize in once more with “no ‘properly’, you got here like a torpedo”. The argument continued as Vettel later claimed “you had been fortunate this time”, earlier than Kvyat ended the heated trade with a sarcastic pat on the four-time world champion’s shoulder.
Daniel Ricciardo then referenced the incident forward of the 2017 British GP. The Australian joked that “there was an invitation for the ‘torpedo’” to Vettel’s celebration, earlier than Ricciardo advised a confused Hamilton that “it’s what Seb known as him in China final 12 months”.
Max Verstappen advised to depart the cooldown room – 2016 Mexican Grand Prix
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing RB12
Picture by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool
In Verstappen’s early days at Crimson Bull, he made fairly the behavior of getting kicked out of the cooldown room. The primary time it occurred was on the 2016 Mexican GP, when Verstappen crossed the road in third however was later given a five-second penalty for reducing Flip 2 which allowed him to remain forward of Vettel.
Verstappen was knowledgeable of the penalty within the cooldown room. After standing there annoyed, he picked up his helmet, advised Hamilton and Rosberg “it’s been good guys, goodbye” earlier than explaining what occurred to the confused Mercedes drivers.
Vettel changed him on the rostrum, however in a while the Ferrari driver was penalised 10 seconds for transferring below braking whereas defending from Ricciardo, so he was ultimately given third place.
Max Verstappen advised to depart the cooldown room once more – 2017 United States Grand Prix
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing
Picture by: Sutton Photographs
Verstappen was kicked out of the cooldown room for a second time on the 2017 United States GP. It got here after Verstappen handed Raikkonen for third on the ultimate lap, however all 4 wheels had been off the monitor as he made the manoeuvre down the within of Flip 17.
Stewards gave Verstappen a five-second penalty consequently however once more, he was not knowledgeable till he’d reached the cooldown room. A proud Verstappen was recalling his overtake to Vettel, however instantly Raikkonen appeared within the cooldown room and the Crimson Bull driver responded “once more”.
An FIA official then advised him “I feel there’s a penalty” as Verstappen gave a sarcastic chuckle when he walked out of the room.
Kimi Raikkonen asks Lewis Hamilton if he’s received the championship – 2018 United States Grand Prix
Race winner Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari SF71H celebrates in Parc Ferme with Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 W09 in again floor
Picture by: Jerry Andre / Motorsport Images
Raikkonen claimed his closing grand prix victory on the 2018 United States GP forward of Verstappen and Hamilton, who would have clinched a fifth title that day had he completed eight factors forward of Vettel and never three because the Ferrari driver got here fourth.
However a vexed Hamilton was reminded of this within the cooldown room. Out of nowhere, Raikkonen requested Hamilton “did you win the championship” and an abrupt “no” was the reply. When others within the cooldown room began laughing, Raikkonen defended himself saying “I didn’t know, I didn’t know”.
Verstappen and Raikkonen had been then reminded of the Austin cooldown room from 12 months prior. So, Verstappen jokingly replied “now, I’m allowed to remain”.
Max Verstappen sits in world champion throne at Suzuka – 2022 Japanese Grand Prix
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing
Picture by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool
The 2022 Japanese GP brought about one of many funniest and most iconic cooldown room moments. It got here after a race that accomplished simply 28 of its supposed 53 laps as a result of torrential rain, as Verstappen led a Crimson Bull 1-2 with Leclerc in third.
As lower than 75% of the scheduled race distance was accomplished, groups and drivers assumed full factors wouldn’t be awarded. In that state of affairs, Verstappen was not but champion as a result of 75% of race factors would have been given, leaving the Crimson Bull driver one level in need of the benefit he wanted over Leclerc.
Nonetheless, a brand new rule acknowledged that full factors wouldn’t be awarded solely “if a race can’t be resumed or suspended”, however the Japanese GP did resume after an preliminary purple flag on lap two, so full factors got. The paddock didn’t know this till Johnny Herbert instantly knowledgeable a confused Verstappen that he was champion within the parc ferme interviews.
The doubt nonetheless lingered although and Verstappen wasn’t utterly positive till the cooldown room when officers assured him that he was now a double world champion. So, as requested, Verstappen then entered the neighbouring room and sat – fairly awkwardly – in a giant, purple seat with “2022 world champion” labelled on the wall behind. Verstappen sat in entrance of the cameras for 20 seconds earlier than re-entering the following room after claiming “I really feel a bit lonely”.
Drivers focus on Sebastian Vettel’s retirement – 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR22
Picture by: Erik Junius
Vettel introduced that he was to retire from F1 on the finish of the 2022 season. Nonetheless, many drivers have beforehand finished that earlier than returning at a later date like Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher and Alonso.
So, within the cooldown room after the 2022 Abu Dhabi GP, it was mentioned if Vettel would do the identical. Perez, who completed third that day, stated: “It didn’t really feel like a goodbye to Seb. I’ve a sense he’ll come again.”
However Leclerc, who was Vettel’s Ferrari team-mate in 2019 and 2020, strongly rebuffed Perez’s declare saying: “I don’t have that feeling. I don’t suppose he’ll come again, sadly.”
Drivers joke concerning the ‘Max Verstappen podcast’ – 2023 Japanese Grand Prix
Lando Norris, McLaren, 2nd place, Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, 1st place, within the publish race Press Convention
Picture by: FIA Pool
Verstappen completed on the rostrum for every of the primary 14 grands prix in 2023, so the world champion grew to become an everyday characteristic of the cooldown room. His run ended with an off-weekend in Singapore the place Verstappen completed fifth, earlier than returning to type on the subsequent race in Suzuka with a victory.
Becoming a member of him within the cooldown room that day had been each McLaren drivers as Norris completed second with rookie Piastri claiming his maiden podium. When the three drivers had been watching the race highlights, Norris joked that “this [the McLaren drivers] goes to be subsequent on Max’s podcast”.
Piastri then referred to himself as a “new addition” earlier than Verstappen bluntly stated “I don’t even like podcasts”. Journalists then requested him concerning the remark within the post-race press convention exhibiting what number of speaking factors can come from the cooldown room.