Secrets Hidden in F1 Helmet Designs

Formula 1 helmets are more than just protective gear, they’re a way for the drivers to show personality, passion, and sometimes messages. From social causes to personal tributes, drivers often hide designs or phrases into their helmets, creating stories that are in plain sight for us to see. In this article, we explore some of the most fascinating helmet secrets from the paddock.

(Image from @landonorris on Instagram)

Lando Norris has been seen wearing his iconic yellow and black blob design many times with it quickly becoming a fan favourite, but have you seen the hidden message? Towards the back of the helmet, you can see some blobs strategically placed to spell out “Lando”. It is subtle but blends smoothly into the rest of the design, keeping to the clean abstract look of the helmet. Further, the bottom left of his 2025 helmet features 4 silver lines, representing his racing number.

At the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2022, Sebastian Vettel could be seen sporting a helmet featuring Lego bricks and the phrase “let the children play”. This helmet design was strategically made to spark up a conversation about children’s rights and the importance of play in their development. 

Towards the end of his career at the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix, some conversations began flowing through the paddock questioning Daniel Riccardo’s future in Formula 1. In response, Daniel Ricardo turned up to the British Grand Prix showcasing his helmet with a hidden message. Unlike the other helmets, Riccardo’s message was more subtle and could only be seen in certain light conditions, revealing the phrase “Not without a fight”. This demonstrated his passion to keep fighting for his seat in Formula 1. 

At the Belgian Grand Prix, Pierre Gasly wore a heartbreaking, yet heartwarming, helmet design in honour of his late friend Anthoine Hubert. Pierre’s design featured the signature pink of Anthoine’s helmet and small images of the two of them together as children. When asked about this, he said that it was “a special helmet for a special friend” showing his respect and grief for the loss of Hubert. 

Carlos Sainz has worn a star on his helmet for María De Villota since 2014 to honour the death of his mentor and friend. He often talked about how the star is a sign of hope and resilience for him and feels like he is carrying her spirit with him when he wears it. 

After the death of his godfather Jules Bianchi and his father Hérve Leclerc, Charles Leclerc has worn helmets with the names “Jules” and “Papa” at every Grand Prix since their addition and has explained “Every race I do, I do it with them in my heart. Having their names on my helmet reminds me why I push and who I’m racing for.” Clearly these helmets are a meaningful symbol to Charles and helps him honour who they were. 

Article written by Ruby Kirtland