Today we reveal a curiosity about the helmets of F1 drivers. Drivers’ technical clothing is very expensive and now you will understand why.
Excellence in the circus does not just come from the engineering flair of a technician or the pure talent of a driver. Every single element is studied down to the smallest detail to face the most demanding challenges. For a driver the helmet represents a second face. It is the distinctive feature that emerges inside the passenger compartment. Colors are never random.
In addition to the aesthetic aspect, F1 drivers’ helmets represent a fundamental safety system in safeguarding their lives, even if on many occasions they were not enough. Today they have reached an impressive level of technology. We started from a leather helmet in the style of the one used by aviators in the 1950s up to the current carbon fiber covering, the same as the bodies of racing cars, a light but highly resistant material.
The difference compared to the helmets used by riders in the MotoGP is that the Formula 1 ones are designed taking into account the aerodynamics of the single-seaters. For this reason they have side openings to insert straws for water and oxygen. During a GP, drivers just need to press a button on the steering wheel to drink. Today helmets are subjected to tests before being worn. The visors are bulletproof and after Felipe Massa’s unfortunate accident they were further improved in the visor area.
The value of Formula 1 helmets
Inside each helmet there is customized padding depending on the needs of each rider. These are protective materials that must also be comfortable. A microcamera has been inserted at eye level, renamed helmet cam, which allows those watching the GP on TV to observe exactly what each driver sees inside the cockpit.
Weight? We are between 1.2 and 1.5 kg. A Formula 1 driver’s helmet has a value that can fluctuate between 3 thousand and 12 thousand euros, with several top brands taking care of its creation. For example, Lewis Hamilton prefers Bell Helmets. Pilots of the past kept the same helmet throughout their career. Today there are continuous customizations that have distorted the identity essence of each helmet. Lewis has changed many styles, going from Seine yellow to purple, back to a more fluorescent shade of yellow like the ones you see above. Scuderia Ferrari fans can’t wait for him to get behind the wheel of the Red.
