FORUMula1.com

[elfinitty]

It doesnt really bother me,most of the time i dont even notice.I just know that Vettel does it a lot,i heard that on TV.But i find it a bit annoying however, this isnt cloth.

[LewEngBridewell]

One thing is for sure, every single helmet on the grid this year is ugly as all hell.

I much prefer the simpler examples shown in the OP (like Coulthard's), which are very easy to make out from a distance. When you have so much detail packed into a helmet like Vettel's or Alonso's, you can't make it out on TV anyway. The meaning is lost.

Not necessarily every single one. With McLaren, the yellow of Lewis' is easily identifiable from the colours of the Union Jack that adorn the helmet of Jenson Button. Ferrari's guys are easy to tell apart due to the yellow on Massa's. Mercedes have Schumacher's red alongside Rosberg's yellow.

There's a lot of good helmet designs out there I think!

[acosmichippo]

I agree that they're easy to tell apart, but my point was that it's impossible to appreciate most of them for their artistry when their details are so small.

[Big Azza]

My favourite helmet is the one Seb brings to Suzuka. He's brought it two years in a row and won with it two years in a row.





If I had to buy a helmet I would by that one. Suzuka is my favourite track and the idea that Seb has a special helmet design for Suzuka makes me want to buy it all the more. I think it would appeal to the big fans of Vettel who want to find a helmet of his that is particularly attached to one race to bring back memories of that race.

Vettel is apparently keeping all his race winning helmets, and all the races he doesn't wins he donates to the Wings for Life charity. So imagine when he retires, if he has 100 different race-winning helmets! in 50 years it could become a real sought-after collection. Imagine the squillions made from the helmet in which Vettel notches up his first win for Ferrari. Or "that race where Seb lapped the entire field" etc. etc.

Here are some of my other favourites:

2011 British Grand Prix - dedicated to his pit crew.


Monaco 2010



Brazil 2008 - his parting tribute to Toro Rosso, thanking them for the victory in Monza. Arguable up there with the Japan one in my book.



Oh and here is Vettel's karting helmet from before his Red Bull sponsorship.

[bud]

Awesome stuff, his Japanese one does look good. I wonder who his artist is. Might have to google him!

[Big Azza]

Awesome stuff, his Japanese one does look good. I wonder who his artist is. Might have to google him!

We discussed a little bit about Vettel's helmets in the off-season here: http://www.forumula1.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9480

And here is a link to his helmet designer's website: http://www.jmd.de/neu/

But I'm pretty sure he has a personal designer who works for that company.

EDIT: Oops my bad - Jens Munser is Vettel's personal helmet designer.

[acosmichippo]

honestly, I like his karting helmet the best. It's got mojo.

[bud]

honestly, I like his karting helmet the best. It's got mojo.

Looks like it has a bit of Schumi influence

[madbrad]

I don't think they should be allowed to wear helmets.

[acosmichippo]

I heard next year Vettel plans to switch helmet designs during pitstops.

[spankyham]

I don't think they should be allowed to wear helmets.

That used to be the case, no helmet, no seatbelts and still pushing 300Klms - wonder how many of todays drivers would have the balls (or is that stupidity) to mix it with the greats from the past.

[LewEngBridewell]

I don't think they should be allowed to wear helmets.

Narain Karthikeyen's accident in Shanghai '05 would've been a nasty sight then! His helmet was dented in that accident!



And what about Felipe Massa in Budapest '09? Well, he just would've been beheaded...

[Timekeeper]

I don't think they should be allowed to wear helmets.

And what about Felipe Massa in Budapest '09? Well, he just would've been beheaded...

It's a real shame he wasn't - his spot at Ferrari could have been given to a more deserving driver.

[Big Azza]

I don't think they should be allowed to wear helmets.

And what about Felipe Massa in Budapest '09? Well, he just would've been beheaded...

It's a real shame he wasn't - his spot at Ferrari could have been given to a more deserving driver.

[spankyham]

I don't think they should be allowed to wear helmets.

And what about Felipe Massa in Budapest '09? Well, he just would've been beheaded...

It's a real shame he wasn't - his spot at Ferrari could have been given to a more deserving driver.

Nope, based on your post, the real shame is that you weren't sitting in Felipe's seat that day.