Vergne, Raikkonen, Alonso, Vettel and others change helmet designs for Monaco

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As has become a tradition in Monaco, several drivers have swapped their regular helmet designs for different variations.

Two of them are sporting designed used by past drivers. Kimi Raikkonen is using a designed styled on that used by James Hunt as he did last year.

Meanwhile Jean-Eric Vergne is using a helmet close in design to that worn by Francois Cevert. This year will see the 40th anniversary of Cevert’s death.

Sebastian Vettel rarely passes up an opportunity to change his helmet design. is Monaco helmet includes a picture of Stirling Moss winning the 1961 Monaco Grand Prix, famously resisting pressure from the chasing Ferraris for much of the race.

The rear of Vettel’s helmet design features a pin-up girl whose clothes become more transparent when the helmet gets warmer.

Fernando Alonso is using a gold coloured helmet similar to that he wore at this race last season and Paul di Resta is using a special design with a playing cards theme.

Finally, Pastor Maldonado’s references Williams’ troubled start to the season with the slogan “No points no party”. It also features a picture of the patron saint of Monaco, Saint Devota, after whom the first corner on the circuit is named.

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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72 comments on “Vergne, Raikkonen, Alonso, Vettel and others change helmet designs for Monaco”

  1. Vergne’s is by far the best. Simple and classy.

    1. From a certain angle, it looks like Coulthard’s design.

    2. THe best by far, indeed.

      I do think Pastor adding that line is a nice touch.

    3. Agreed. The rest are complete rubbish. Helmet designs are rarely what I would call “design.” they usually look more like vomit.

  2. I liket most, minus Hamilton´s monstrosity helmet, and Di Resta´s

    1. Anythink else you wanna slam Hamilton for? ; ]

      1. No,I´m not slamming. It seem to be a popular opinion that his helmet desing for this race is ugly…

    2. OmarR-Pepper (@)
      23rd May 2013, 21:38

      Hey what an awful design, and in Monaco! Looks like “tooned” left a mark in Lewis

    3. Agreed, Hamilton’s is just so out of canter with the clasiness for which Monaco is famous for! It’d maybe work in LA, but not here!

      1. @vettel1
        Whereas a pin-up girl whose clothes become more transparent when the helmet gets warmer is the pinnacle of class and refinement…

        1. @beneboy that’s more of a retro element, which is the theme of the helmet. It’s a good deal classier than a graffiti-esque characiture though…

          1. @vettel1
            I was just playing with you mate, although in all honesty I’d have considered it a lot more classy without the fading clothes.

          2. @beneboy I kind of figured, I just unintentionally came across as quite serious!
            Absolutely, I just like the novelty of the idea.

    4. We’re forgetting that from the picture gallery, we can only see the back of Hamilton’s helmet; bit unfair to judge solely on the back.

      1. @younger-hamii I have looked to pictures on the side and the back… still don´t like it

      2. @younger-hamii I really like Hamilton’s helmet, it’s so sweet. I think it’s a great way to show your feelings for those who mean most to you.

        I also love di Resta’s helmet design, it reminds me of cherries :)

        1. I think it’s a great way to show your feelings for those who mean most to you.

          And that’s why he put his own face there

  3. Jean-Eric Vergne looks really nice. Alonso’s as well.

    1. OmarR-Pepper (@)
      24th May 2013, 2:35

      @joshua-mesh alonso should take that helmet all the time! It’s not a nice mix (in my opinion) ot have light blue with Red Ferrari.

  4. JEV’s helmet is one of the best helmet designs I have ever seen. Its simple, yet not at all boring. Its bright, it’s classy, and the Red Bull logos don’t really detract from that design like they (and most other sponsor logos) usually do.

  5. I love the originality and genius in Vettel’s helmet – genius!

    Vergne’s is very good too: it’s nice to see him commemorating who I think was one of the great unrealised talents in formula 1.

    1. @vettel1 Not really the first time someone has had a heat-dynamic helmet. Barrichello had a famous therma-colour coding in 2009.

      1. @wsrgo absolutely, I just like the way it’s been applied! ;)

  6. Hamilton’s is a bit of an abomination. However, at least it is better than Dan Ricciardo’s. Surely he must be embarrassed with his “special Monaco helmet” generally consisting of an advert for a country?

  7. OmarR-Pepper (@)
    23rd May 2013, 21:41

    No points, no party.
    Williams must be thinking: No respect, no seat next year
    But jokes aside, Pastor’s motto makes me think he is upset for what Williams is bringing him this year

    1. Could just as well be to motivate himself. Remember him adding something about not crashing but racing or so last year?

  8. :D
    Lewis and Nicole….. So Cute!!!

    1. Traverse (@)
      24th May 2013, 3:39

      Don’t forget the dog! XD

  9. I wouldn’t mind if Vergne kept that design for the whole season. Cevert’s helmet livery was and still is one of the best.

  10. There is a rumour going around that Bernie wants to ban Kimi’s helmet because it is giving away free publicity to ‘Rush’.

    1. Yes, that is indeed the case – seems as a result of that Kimi will tape over the text part on top, so he can use the design – https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=588140747897252&l=b09de24d2e the source for that is Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat

  11. I think it’s too bad helmets nowadays are so detailed. A helmet used to be a form of distinguishing yourself from the other drivers, so that the spectators would instantly know who is racing that machine going 300kph. Helmets like Cevert’s, which is one of the most striking helmet designs in F1 history – so striking that after 40 years people still recognize it, even when those awful Red Bull logos are added.

    Alonso’s “Sin ’08” made me smile :)

    1. OmarR-Pepper (@)
      24th May 2013, 2:39

      @andae23 well, what a dilemma right? If he didn’t put it, he would be agreing it was unfair. Imagine Schum trying something similar in a helmet… how many races he would have to conceal!

      1. He would have to conceal 0 races. Nobody crashed for him

      2. @omarr-pepper he could probably hide in an obscure location any tainted results (such as Austria 2002) since he’s won so many!

  12. Antonio (@antoniocorleone)
    23rd May 2013, 22:21

    I am a Ferrari fan but Seb’s helmet is one of the most original helmets I’ve ever seen.
    I just realized that after all there is something that I like about him – his helmets. He has had some original ideas lately like the one in Singapore last year with the lights on top.
    I also like Vergnes helmet but Seb’s is in a class of its own.

  13. I think Lotus is trying to seduce me with that Daft Punk livery.. Damn, I wish the pit crew were using Daft Punk helmets.. would be the best thing ever

    1. Lucas Wilson (@full-throttle-f1)
      24th May 2013, 11:42

      +1 XD

      And what if the sign on a stick which say’s “brakes on” is a chrome guitar :-)

  14. I usually hate Vettel’s designs. I just don’t like them, too flashy and all. But this one is brilliant, with the old pictures. And yeah the girl…

    But JEV’s the best. There’s something about those classy styles that just get you (even after covering half the helmet with that annoying Red Bull logo). Like Hunt’s replica last year.

    1. I don’t think the logos are too bad on that one: they kind of blend in with the natural colours of the helmet anyway.

  15. I like all of them, with the exception of Maldonados and Hamiltons one; it doesn’t look particurlarly brilliant in my opinion; a bit too garish, and for some reason it reminds me of Vettels bahrain 2009 helmet.
    Jevs is really quite brilliant, Sebs is quite funny; a bit of a laugh, Di Restas is really nice and clean, Ricciardos is a masterful execution of detail, Alonsos is pretty nice,but the Santander logos don’t sit very well with the overall theme.
    Kimis is a lovely clean design, and Grosjeans is just a really nocely executed piece of artwork.
    Maldonados is a bit garish for me, and it looks like it was designed by a comittee, like his normal helmet; it’s far too busy for my liking.

  16. Ben (@scuderia29)
    23rd May 2013, 23:03

    what the hell is hamilton thinking with that helmet :/
    Jean eric vergnes Cevert inspired helmet is really nice, Cevert could have been a legend

  17. JEV wins. Even if the Red Bull is a bit prominent, but that’s to be expected!

  18. Abdurahman (@)
    24th May 2013, 0:34

    I’m probably alone in this but I think it’s a bit creepy to have your helmet designed so closely to somebody that passed away on track.
    Almost more respectful to let it be. I don’t know why. Something tells me that racers from that older era would never dream of wearing a dead mans helmet design either.

    1. OmarR-Pepper (@)
      24th May 2013, 2:48

      @abdurahman yep but remember Hamilton has admitted more than once his helmet is inspired in Senna’s. and I don’t think that could be an omen, or disrespecting the hero. What could be disrespectful would be to say everytime he can that he is better than Senna (luckily he doesn’t say it, maybe thinks it, who knows?)

      1. Abdurahman (@)
        24th May 2013, 2:54

        Yah, Lew Ham’s is inspired, yet it still feels very his own. I do like the Cevert tribute one aesthetically, it just feels creepy for some reason, the only way I can explain it. Disrespectful is a bit harsh, they are all doing it as a tribute and honor, their hearts are in the right place.

    2. I don’t mind them using helmets from deceased/non-deceased drivers but if they start using them all over the place it’s going to lose its purpose, remembering those that have come before and conquered or tamed F1 in their on respective ways. Using them one historical/mesmerizing/astonishing tracks like Monaco or Spa is the best way to honor them. Its the same when for instance they let a driver drive on of their cars.

      As long as they keep doing in a honorable way I’m completely fine with it.

  19. I Love the Pope
    24th May 2013, 3:05

    I’m loving Maldonado’s, but as a Catholic, I am biased toward saints and martyrs. Cool stuff!

    I like him more now!

  20. Personally, I don’t like Hamilton and Vettel’s helmets much, but I would prefer Vettel’s one more as it is less obvious. Hamilton’s is so ‘in-your-face’, it really makes me puke.
    I like Alonso’s helmet, and especially Vergne’s, but at the end of the day as long as they serve their purposes, i.e. protecting the driver’s head and identifying the driver, I’m okay with all designs.

  21. Mark McDonald
    24th May 2013, 5:32

    Vergne’s Cevert helmet is streets ahead of everyone! I love those simple, bold designs from the 70’s and 80’s. The colour schemes seem to get busier every year.

  22. why do drivers always change helmets at monaco? is it for safety reasons?

    1. No, it’s just purely because it is “the jewel in the crown” of the F1 calendar and so a good opportunity to showcase new (or commemorative) designs, as it attracts the most media attention!

    2. They normally auction them off for charity. There are loads of events going on around the Monaco GP and plenty of rich people who will happily part with vast sums of money for some F1 memorabilia.

  23. From all of his Monaco helmets; this has to hamiltons worst. At least now I know what the controlled environment of McLaren is good for.

    1. Made me laugh! Thanx

  24. JEV’s design is fresh, yet retro at the same time. Inspiring.

    1. I totally agree with you! I like the clean lines and the combination of colors! It looks fresh!

    1. The Blade Runner (@)
      24th May 2013, 12:02

      Checo’s is great. Captures the spirit of Monaco the place

    2. I think that’s pretty ghastly as well actually: the colours are far too luminescent!

      1. The Blade Runner (@)
        24th May 2013, 12:14

        They’re a variant of his standard helmet colours. I think the rear design is nice. Very “Live and Let Die”!

      2. I don’t particularly like Ricciardo’s and I definitely don’t like Hamilton’s either, but the rest are all pretty nice (I like the novelty of Vettel’s, but Vergne’s wins it).

  25. The Blade Runner (@)
    24th May 2013, 12:01

    F1zone.net is saying that Bernie has told Kimi to ditch his Hunt tribute helmet.

    Not sure as to why but there is some speculation about it being an unintentional advertisement for the movie “Rush” or that it obstructs the camera. Either way, extra kudos to Kimi and minus points for Bernie (if it’s true of course)!

    1. It’s true, Lotus has confirmed the story. Apparently the text is visible in the onboard camera directly on top of the rollhoop, and that is forbidden.

      1. The Blade Runner (@)
        24th May 2013, 12:05

        Black tape it is then…

      2. @Kaiie, I have added a link to a (Kimi-fan) FB page who translated information on that from a finnish newspaper in my comment above, could you check the link to the likely source of that (its in Finnish, I just scanned for key words :-o ).
        Thanks,

        1. Yup, it’s legit.

  26. My favorite is Daniel Ricciardo’s helmet. I like the color scheme and the vintage Monaco branding on top. the font reminds me of old 1960s tourism posters for Monaco.

    I also like the vintage touch on Sebastian Vettel’s helmet. The pinup girl at the back wasn’t too bad.

    Fernando Alonso’s helmet on the other hand is too garish for my taste. there’s just too much gold happening there.

  27. I hope this generation of drivers do realise off course, that in 20 or 30 years the youngster-drivers thén will have no way to pay tribute to a Vettel, a Hamilton, a Kimi or a JEV because there will be no distinguished design for them to use…

    The helmet of a driver used to be his brand mark, his icon, and was always recognizable, also at 350 kph! Unfortunately that is no longer the case.

  28. Wow, Alonso with a golden helmet in Monaco, what a surprise. I certainly didn’t see that one coming.

  29. how come Hamilton and Vettel switched helmet (Hamilton with his standard yellow helmet, Vettel with a silver one) for qualifying? Is it because of the rain that switched to helmets with clear visor? I think the weekend was forecasted to be sunny one, all the special helmets were made with tinted visors.. Just wondering why…

    1. F1 drivers generally don’t change the visors; they have different helmets with different tint visors on them, so instead of changing visors, they change helmets.

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