Ranking Formula 1's new 2018 helmet designs
Enjoy these designs while you can because they're about to be hidden behind the halo.
As well as car launches, it has now become the fashion for a driver to unveil their latest crash helmet design. Like a lot of life's ills, you can blame this on social media.
The irony here is that with the addition of the halo for 2018, you'll see less of a driver's lid than ever before. Perhaps that explains the need to show them off on social media – after all, it's the best chance for fans to actually appreciate the work.
And so here are the new-for-2018 helmets that drivers have shared with their online followers, ranked from best to worst.
1. MARCUS ERICSSON
Sauber's Marcus Ericsson goes with a clean and simple design that couldn’t be more Swedish if it tried. He won’t win any races this year, but his lid design is very much at the front of the pack.
2. CHARLES LECLERC
Fellow Sauber man Leclerc may emerge as the dominant driver this term, but his choice of helmet design falls short of Ericsson’s. That's not to knock Leclerc’s effort. It's simple and bold, with that shade of red looking especially good. Who'd have thought it – a Sauber one-two.
3. FERNANDO ALONSO
Alonso set the standard with his Indy 500 and Daytona 24 Hours helmets, but this can't match his American specials. It's still nice, keeping it simple and displaying bold primary colours, which secures him third spot. At this point, Alonso will probably take any podium finish he can get.
4. PIERRE GASLY
We really wanted this to be a technicolour nightmare so we could call it "Pierre Ghastly", but it's just not. The Frenchman has adopted a classic design for 2018. It’s not all that memorable, but nor is it overly busy. All in all, it's a respectable effort for his first full year in F1.
5. MAX VERSTAPPEN
Max Verstappen unveiled his new design in a video posted by Red Bull. It's largely similar to his previous lid and is dominated by the drinks company's logo. The basic design is nice – it's based on his dad Jos' lid – but it all gets a bit complicated when you factor the sponsors in.
6. BRENDON HARTLEY
Not a bad effort from Brendon Hartley. The unlikely newcomer sports a fairly unremarkable design, though the bright green flashes make it stand out. It looks as though he was tempted to get complicated, but reigned things in at the last moment. A good decision.
7. KIMI RAIKKONEN
This is a very dark effort from Kimi Raikkonen, perhaps reflecting the fact that he is in the twilight of his career? Actually, that's a stretch. There's nothing especially memorable here, just lines and colours and sponsors. You have to think Kimi really isn't too fussed about that either.
8. VALTTERI BOTTAS
Soft-spoken Valtteri has revealed an aggressive-looking new lid. A bit more fight will be needed if he’s to hang on to his Mercedes seat, so perhaps this is part of that. Then again, it does look a bit like that t-shirt you bought from a surf shop in 1999 and never wore.
9. DANIEL RICCIARDO
Ricciardo's new lid is a one-off Australian Grand Prix special. There's reference to various Aussie landmarks and animals, as well as the honey badger on which Dan models himself. As with Max, the Red Bull logos are too big to do much of note and the actual design is unclear.
10. NICO HULKENBERG
The Hulk seeks to become one with his new Renault by copying its livery. The design is cool and looks great in isolation, but it’s hardly going to stand out when backdropped by exactly the same colours on the car. Let’s call it the chameleon look
11. ROMAIN GROSJEAN
From a technical perspective Romain Grosjean’s lid is an impressive piece of design – at least to these uneducated eyes – but there’s simply too much going on here. Could a kid sketch it out in their school book? Absolutely not, and that should be the criteria. Keep it simple, RoGro.
Which new-for-2018 helmet takes your fancy? And who's made the worst design decision? Let us know in the comments below.
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Comments (8)
I want to say erricson because it's in honor of super swede Ronnie Peterson, but hulks is slightly better. 🤤
I am totally against Hulk's. Use different colours to the car, Nico! Great design, sure, but awful execution.
Nah, I like helmets that fit with the car colours, particularly with drivers like Hulk that don't have a definitive helmet design. Certainly it's much betyer than the messy, overstyled crap that some drivers have (I'm looking at Romain).
You've lost it Jim. Hulk's is clearly the coolest by an absolute mile
I stand by my decision, despite much negative response.
The Hulk is the winner. Ignore the car, this is just about the helmet and Hulk's has it all; the subtle matt sunburst, the aggressive angular lines, high contrast yellow and black and the bold text.
Alonso and Leclerc designs are winners. Hulk actually looks mega..
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