F1 drivers’ Canadian GP helmets feature Villeneuve, Indiana Jones – and beavers

Charles Leclerc is wearing a helmet mimicking the design used by Gilles Villeneuve at the Canadian Grand Prix, having received the support of the late driver’s family.

Three of his rivals also have special designs for this weekend’s race.

Charles Leclerc’s Canadian Grand Prix helmet

Gilles Villeneuve is eternally identified with Ferrari having scored all of his six grand prix wins with them. His home track in Montreal, where F1 is racing this weekend, was renamed after him following his death in a crash during the qualifying session for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix.

Leclerc decided to wear a helmet inspired by his revered predecessor this weekend. “Gilles Villeneuve was such an incredible driver,” he said on social media. “So much passion he had for Ferrari which you could see when he was going out on track.”

However after Leclerc wore the helmet during practice on Friday, he reverted to his usual design on Saturday. Reports claimed Leclerc had not obtained permission from the family to use the design alongside.

The matter was later resolved and Leclerc was pictured with Villeneuve’s wife Joann and daughter Melanie at the circuit ahead of qualifying.

Leclerc is not the first Formula 1 driver to have worn a Villeneuve-inspired helmet during an F1 race weekend. Perry McCarthy did during his brief spell in F1 with the hopeless Andrea Moda team in 1992, though he never qualified for a grand prix.

Lance Stroll’s Canadian Grand Prix helmet

Lance Stroll is running a special helmet this weekend to raise money for people affected by the recent Canadian wildfires. The hometown hero will be wearing a predominantly white helmet featuring red wings to make up the colours of the Canadian flag.

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On the top of his helmet are also QR codes which, when scanned, show some of Stroll’s favourite locations in Montreal including a local Japanese restaurant. His helmet will be auctioned, with all proceedings going towards those affected by the fires.

Sergio Perez’s Canadian Grand Prix helmet

Sergio Perez is advertising the upcoming release of the fifth Indiana Jones film on June 29th. His orange helmet features a cowboy hat printed on the top.

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“We decided to do this unveiling a little differently,” Perez said on social media. “Ready for one of my favourite characters to join me in this race!”

Valtteri Bottas’ Canadian Grand Prix helmet

“When I think about Canada the first thing that comes to my mind is a beaver,” said Valtteri Bottas as he explained his latest novel helmet design, designed again by his girlfriend Tiffany Cromwell. “We’ve got some beavers on this helmet, we’ve got a lumberjack – that’s actually me cutting some wood.”

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“Beavers and lumberjacks and beautiful nature – and, of course you’ve got to have the maple leaf,” he summed up. His boots also have a beaver and lumberjack design on the heels.

Carlos Sainz Jnr’s Spanish Grand Prix helmet

Only one driver had a special helmet for the last race – Carlos Sainz Jnr sported this look at the Spanish Grand Prix.

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2023 Canadian Grand Prix

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Browse all 2023 Canadian Grand Prix articles