Constant helmet changes are driving me nuts!

[Asphalt_World]

OK, so I'm probably getting old, but I am bored with drivers constantly changing their helmet design. What's happened to getting a helmet that is unique to you and sticking to it throughout your time in motorsport?

Now, I've no problem with slight changes to support #WeRaceAsOne or even messages of support for things that happen to past and present drivers, but I do think the fundamental design should have to remain for the season, if not their whole life. It also helps us to quickly identify the driver during the race.

OK, the long term successful drivers doing it is one thing, but when you get drivers in their first or second season, changing them all the time and posting it all over social media, you do have to wonder what's going on.

Tell me I'm boring

[Rotax Max 125]

A few years ago they bought in a regulation permitting a one change for one event per season. Had that since changed? I do really like Bottas is new design he is running the weekend

[tootsie323]

You're boring.

Then again, so am I. Probably a generational thing coupled with the advent of social media. I prefer to have a driver identify with a specific helmet design but that's just me. Plus, having said that, I really liked Lando Norris' helmet used (at Silverstone?) designed by a six-year old.


Source: Road & Track

[DFWdude]

A few years ago they bought in a regulation permitting a one change for one event per season. Had that since changed? I do really like Bottas is new design he is running the weekend

Yes, since when did this rule change? I agree the continuing smorgasborg of Norris helmets is over the top.

[JN23]

A few years ago they bought in a regulation permitting a one change for one event per season. Had that since changed? I do really like Bottas is new design he is running the weekend

Yes, since when did this rule change? I agree the continuing smorgasborg of Norris helmets is over the top.

I believe the rule is you change but the general theme has to remain the same. For example, Leclerc’s Monaco flag down the middle of his. Having said that, I’m not sure Norris does that so I’m probably wrong.

Agree with AW though, it’s annoying me

[JN23]

You're boring.

Then again, so am I. Probably a generational thing coupled with the advent of social media. I prefer to have a driver identify with a specific helmet design but that's just me. Plus, having said that, I really liked Lando Norris' helmet used (at Silverstone?) designed by a six-year old.


Source: Road & Track

Despite joining the boring club, I do like some of the things Norris has done this year. This one you’ve posted and the one for Mind was great too.

[Mayhem]

I like the constant helmet variety. It’s really the only way drivers can add their own personal style to what they wear. They can’t change the livery on the car, they can’t change their racing suits. So why not let them get creative with the helmets.

I agree having a constant color scheme makes it easier to identify the drivers at a glance. But it’s not that hard to identify them either.

[Banana Man]

I liked the older, 90s, more simplistic helmets. I could probably still recognise 2/3rds of the 1997 helmets but would struggle to pick out who raced what from last week.

[Lord Crc]

While I agree that the helmets are one of the few personality traits the drivers can show, I get so confused by them. When I look at a driver, I almost always have to look up to check the yellow "second car" marker to figure out who I'm looking at.

I've been thinking maybe the drivers could get some room to personalize the halo, given that it obscures a lot of the helmet these days.

[wolfticket]

Is showing their personality through their driving not enough? There aren't many sports where the competitors keep changing their kits throughout the season.

[Siao7]

I do like the tributes and small changes, otherwise I agree. Wasn't it Vettel that used to changed it like t-shirts at some point?

[DOLOMITE]

I kind of want both here - I like recognising the helmets and drivers by their helmets, but I do also enjoy seeing what they do with the different designs at each race. I think now that they keep their driver numbers and those numbers are generally quite visible, I'm happy that the helmets change. Keep the number, change the helmet, I'm fine with that.

[Fiki]

OK, so I'm probably getting old, but I am bored with drivers constantly changing their helmet design. What's happened to getting a helmet that is unique to you and sticking to it throughout your time in motorsport?

Now, I've no problem with slight changes to support #WeRaceAsOne or even messages of support for things that happen to past and present drivers, but I do think the fundamental design should have to remain for the season, if not their whole life. It also helps us to quickly identify the driver during the race.

OK, the long term successful drivers doing it is one thing, but when you get drivers in their first or second season, changing them all the time and posting it all over social media, you do have to wonder what's going on.

Tell me I'm boring

Could adopting the team colours on helmets have brought in this bad habit of changing helmet designs every other race? I believe Kimi's design changes are variations on a theme, rather than a completely new design. As such, it remains more or less recognizable.
But Hamilton bringing in his BLM dark helmet this year got me confused with Bottas a few times. And sometimes, when I try to check the driver identification on the HALO, it is obscured by the graphics. (Which I think are fine, though I hardly study them.)

I have one advantage over you; I don't have to be driven nuts by the helmets, I already am...

P.S.: you are boring.

[Harpo]

OK, so I'm probably getting old, but I am bored with drivers constantly changing their helmet design. What's happened to getting a helmet that is unique to you and sticking to it throughout your time in motorsport?

Now, I've no problem with slight changes to support #WeRaceAsOne or even messages of support for things that happen to past and present drivers, but I do think the fundamental design should have to remain for the season, if not their whole life. It also helps us to quickly identify the driver during the race.

OK, the long term successful drivers doing it is one thing, but when you get drivers in their first or second season, changing them all the time and posting it all over social media, you do have to wonder what's going on.

Tell me I'm boring

If they could display their underwear (which I hope they won't...), we would need an ad blocker to just make out they are wearing one. Same for their helmet... They can change the design as many times as they want, even change helmet at every pit stop, as long as we have a list of their sponsors and enough viewing time to check it, we can still recognise the driver.

[Vettel Fan]

There is a number on the car to identify the driver. I like all the cool designs Seb comes up with. Id rather see some cool design than the same old boring helmet race after race. Its probably only a matter of time before we cant see the driver anyways.

[oz_karter]

Maybe there needs to be another way to identify the driver in the car more easily. I don't think it's reasonable to expect a driver to get a helmet designed on day 1 and keep it forever.

[Asphalt_World]

Maybe there needs to be another way to identify the driver in the car more easily. I don't think it's reasonable to expect a driver to get a helmet designed on day 1 and keep it forever.

By the time they get to F1, they've been wearing helmets for years.

[oz_karter]

By the time they get to F1, they've been wearing helmets for years.

Yes, but they could be in F1 for 10 years or more. Everything changes once they get to F1. New personal sponsors, etc.

Is there no other way to identify a driver?

[Asphalt_World]

By the time they get to F1, they've been wearing helmets for years.

Yes, but they could be in F1 for 10 years or more. Everything changes once they get to F1. New personal sponsors, etc.

Is there no other way to identify a driver?

Well, the helmet is the only bit we see when they're driving. Yes, they can do something with the car colours to make teammates more distinguishable, but personally, I loved it when drivers had basic helmet designs that only changed when new sponsors were added. These never fundamentally altered the look of the helmet.

[klevispin]

I like the drivers changing helmet designs. Some designs work better than others but some have been very cool, one-offs.

If it's a question of driver identification - I think that task could be better fulfilled by having their numbers in more, and more visible places on the car - also it would help if they used clearer and less stylised graphics / fonts for those numbers. The Williams numbers this season were particularly hard to read as they only used a narrow outline.

But I welcome the drivers changing it up with their helmet designs. Yes, I kind of miss being able to know it's Lewis from the obviously yellow helmet, but it's really not an issue that affects my enjoyment of watching - whether attending in person or just on tv.