The rules on driver helmet designs have been relaxed for the 2020 F1 season so we may see more changes than last year – once the racing finally begins.
For now, here are the helmets the drivers are starting the season with.
Select each image for full-size versions and to view other angles.
Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton
Valtteri Bottas
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Ferrari
Sebastian Vettel
Charles Leclerc
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Red Bull
Max Verstappen
Alexander Albon
McLaren
Carlos Sainz Jnr
Lando Norris
Renault
Daniel Ricciardo
Esteban Ocon
AlphaTauri
Daniil Kvyat
Pierre Gasly
Racing Point
Sergio Perez
Lance Stroll
Alfa Romeo
Kimi Raikkonen
Antonio Giovinazzi
Haas
Romain Grosjean
Kevin Magnussen
Williams
George Russell
Nicholas Latifi
Valtteri Bottas’s Australian Grand Prix helmet
One driver who was quick to take advantage of the loosening of the restrictions on helmet rules is Valtteri Bottas. He produced a special helmet for the first race weekend of the year though, of course, he never got to race it.
2020 F1 season
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- Bottas vs Rosberg: Hamilton’s Mercedes team mates compared after 78 races each
- F1 revenues fell by $877 million in Covid-struck 2020 season
- Hamilton and Mercedes finally announce new deal for 2021 season
- F1 audience figures “strong” in 2020 despite dip in television viewers
Stagger (@stagger)
16th March 2020, 8:19
There are some nice designs RIC, Lando, the rest are as usual but the one that stands out is the simple one, Vettel.
Dutchguy (@justarandomdutchguy)
16th March 2020, 10:41
Now that is Ironic…
I know, it’s been like that for some years now, but it’s still striking that man who once could never choose what he wanted has had the only iconic helmet of the last years.
Dean Stewart (@dean111181)
16th March 2020, 13:14
Agreed, looks even more striking this year without all the thin coloured lines everywhere, prancing horse also being white/silver (cant really make out which), stunning.
Antz (@antznz)
16th March 2020, 8:31
Glad the rules have been relaxed. Some better designs than others. I’m surprised how much variation in shape there is. Carlos’s helmet for example.
Optimaximal (@optimaximal)
16th March 2020, 11:57
@antznz I think it’s the colour scheme that makes it look different – I think it’s the same helmet that Verstappen uses.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
16th March 2020, 8:39
The drivers of AlphaTauri, Racing Point – and Haas, to a lesser extent – should have done better, each pair of drivers’ helmets isn’t distinct enough in my opinion.
+1 to what @stagger said above.
Tony Howell
16th March 2020, 9:31
My top 3 are;
No particular order even though I’m Aussie
Danny Ric
Lando Norris
Antonio Giovinazzi
Islander
16th March 2020, 10:35
Surely Grosjean’s should have a few dents in it?
Dane
16th March 2020, 18:03
Maybe he intends to add those throughout the year?
Fritz Oosthuizen
20th March 2020, 19:55
Or a crashtest dummy tipe helmet.
Dutchguy (@justarandomdutchguy)
16th March 2020, 10:46
I quite like Lewis’ purple helmet. Sure, it’s design is mostly a run of the mill 2010s messy heap of shapes, but I like that colour. It stands out a lot more.
The Base design of Latifi’s helmet is not bad either, although similer concepts have been done better (by Sam Bird for example). I’ve also always like Bottas’ assymetrical helmet. Glad he kept it for another year. Sainz looks good too.
Sonny Crockett
16th March 2020, 12:18
Sorry but I can’t stop giggling at that comment! Too many ‘Carry On’ movies as I kid I think!
Islander
16th March 2020, 18:24
Naughty! Tut tut.
petebaldwin (@)
16th March 2020, 19:16
COTD right there :D
erikje
16th March 2020, 11:01
Ranging from extremely boring (Lewis) to very funny (ric).
And we do not know when the season starts, so not sure about the designs then.
Steve (@)
16th March 2020, 11:11
Its moto GP time…….almost everyone has a messy chaos designed by a 15 year old and almost everyone has predominantly red colours. What a childish mess. At least Vettel, Giovanzzi and Latifi have some class. Another nail in the coffin of F1.
Joao (@johnmilk)
16th March 2020, 11:14
*for the 2021 season
GeeMac (@geemac)
16th March 2020, 12:21
I think I said last year that there are three distinct categories of helmet design, but this year I’ve added a fourth category:
The stand outs: Bottas, Albon, Sainz, Ricciardo, Giovinazzi
A bit meh: Hamilton (though I do like the purple), Vettel, Leclerc, Verstappen, Kvyat, Gasly, Raikkonen, Magnussen, Russell, Latifi
A bit of a mess: Norris, Perez, Grosjean
Dull and drab: Ocon, Stroll
budchekov (@budchekov)
16th March 2020, 13:34
Comin’ straight at you the only distinctive one, which I’m sure will please Krusty is Lando’s, then maybe Antonio’s and Seb’s, if identification means anything IMO the others are a confusing mess.
Pironi the Provocateur (@pironitheprovocateur)
16th March 2020, 13:50
Sainz and Kvyat are my favourite. By the way, the similarity between Kvyat’s and Gasly’s helmets is hard to understand since the team should advise them to distinguish their designs, I think, oh, and Bottas’ helmet for Australia is lit.
Dane
16th March 2020, 18:04
There’s some really good ones this year. McLaren’s drivers and Giovinazzi look pretty cool IMO.
Exediron (@exediron)
16th March 2020, 18:52
The Alpha Tauri helmet looks good. Too bad they couldn’t come up with different designs to help us tell their drivers apart…
Lee That's Me (@leethatsme)
16th March 2020, 23:17
@exediron You can easily tell them apart: Kvyat’s has dark blue/black with red and white, whereas Gasly’s is red and white with dark blue/black … or have I got that the wrong way round?
Mahesh (@m47e57)
17th March 2020, 19:10
Meh… not sure any are really interesting