
Drivers nowadays seem to change their helmet designs with every race. Some change it slightly as a nod to the country they’re racing in, and anniversary, to honor a driver or for some other kind of tribute. Some change it entirely for that race in particular and thatβs not exactly a bad thing as we get to see some more creative designs. In any case, itβs very rare that the same helmet design is used for the entirety of the season. Itβs to be noted that most of the current helmet designs seem too ββbusyββ full of lines, details and designs that show off the artist’s talent, and patience.
Today weβll look back at some of the sportsβ most iconic racing helmet designs and pick out some of my favorites. As usual this article is purely based on my personal interpretation of the best F1 helmet designs. Some of which often tend to contrast very well with some of the best F1 liveries ever.
Ricardo Rossetβs unique helmet design is definitely one of my favorites!
A name which isnβt often mentioned in F1 purely because he wasnβt particularly good. He started in 33 races in F1 driving for Footwork, Lola and Tyrell, and scoring no points. As a native Brazilian, his design featured the colors of his country in what is one of the most beautiful helmet designs ever.
Jacques Villeneuveβs colorful design inspired by his Motherβs home made sweater!
Much like his fatherβs helmet design in the turbo era of the 1980βs Jacquesβ design was bold and different to say the least. The French Canadian and 1997 F1 champion claims that his inspiration for his helmet was found in his motherβs hand knit sweaters after she had taken some fashion design lessons she created a colorful sweater which according to Jacques must have remained embedded within his subconscious.
Vettelβs unique offset design featured prominently during his time at Ferrari
Sebβs helmet design in his later years was plain, simple and unique. Plain white with the offset German flag colors running down the length of his lid. Although the design might have changed slightly through the years, the basis for the four time world champion remained the same.
Colourful and contrasting, Alonsoβs original helmet design made a comeback when he himself made a comeback to the sport in 2021
When the Spaniard was showing off his speed and taking the fight to the likes of Michael Schumacher, his helmet design had a mix of colors taking inspiration from his countryβs flag whilst also adding a hint of blue and yellow thanks to the cigarette sponsor deal Renault secured at the time. A design which he resurrected to mark his return to the sport, hopeful that itβll bring him luck in securing that ever eluding third world championship.
Nelosonβs helmet remained pretty much unchanged through 14 racing seasons in F1!
One of the most unique and recognizable helmet designs during his time, Nelsonβs helmet featured a bold red teardrop with two interconnecting red lines running across the helmet. In his 14 seasons of F1 racing the three time championβs design hardly ever changed, except for when he was driving for Lotus in 1988 and 1989 when the tear drop was changed from red to yellow.
The unused helmet had itβs white color swapped to black in support of the BLM movement
Lewis is notoriously known for changing his helmet designs rather frequently, but how can you blame him? Heβs into fashion, design and as he once said the designs reflect his colorful personality. My favorite has got to be his unused helmet from 2020. Before Covid-19 Lewis was going to run in a spectacular white and purple designed helmet, which was then changed to black and purple, which is still very nice, but the white and purple contrast is something else. Itβs also similar to the one Zhou Guangyu currently wears.
Sir Jackie Stewarts helmet design featured his clanβs tartan pattern
The flying Scotβs helmet was born after his wife Helen applied the βroyal Stewart tartanβ band to his open face helmet and one of the most unique and distinctly designed helmets was born. Itβs a simple yet effective design, and is still easily recognisable today as a two time world championship winning helmet worn by none other than Sir Jackie Steward.
Michael Schumacherβs early helmet design is truly one of the best!
Michaelβs design for his helmet hardly changed from his debut with Jordan in 1991 until the year 2000. The white background features his native German flag colors which made the helmet look like itβs going fast standing still. The top of the helmet featured a blue circle with stars. He won two of his seven championships with this design before moving over to a red helmet, which in my opinion didnβt stick out in the red Ferrari, but looked amazing with Mercedes.
Mikaβs stunning helmet design as used during his championship winning year of 1998
One of my all timeΒ favorites, probably because itβs very similar to Sennaβs design, Itβs in fact almost identical. The simplistic design features white and different shades of blue akin to the Finnish flag. The blue colors ran around the helmet, he usually also had another circular blue section at the top of the helmet. His design hardly ever changed throughout his career, helping him win two World Championships.
Quite possibly the most iconic helmet design in all of motorsports
Probably the most iconic helmet not just in Formula 1 but in all of motorsport. The legend that is now Aytron Senna raced with the exact same design from his karting days up until his untimely death in 1994. Similar to Mikaβs helmet, the helmet design features his countryβs colors of Brazil. Painted yellow with a green and blue stripe running across the length of the helmet helped the Brazilian secure 3 World Championships, 41 wins, 80 podiums. Simplistic, unique and iconic.
Did you have a favorite helmet design? Let us know which one you would have added or removed and don’t forget to check our Formula 1 news page for more great F1 updates and historical articles!
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