Bottas to use Hakkinen-inspired helmet at Monaco GP
Valtteri Bottas will wear a helmet design inspired by Mika Hakkinen’s old Formula 1 design during this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix.
F1 drivers often introduce special helmet designs for the Monte Carlo race and this year Bottas, Stoffel Vandoorne and Brendon Hartley have unveiled new designs featuring a Monaco theme, while Charles Leclerc will contest his home race with a helmet based on his late father Herve’s that includes a tribute to Jules Bianchi.
Valtteri Bottas will wear a helmet design inspired by Mika Hakkinen’s old Formula 1 design during this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix.
F1 drivers often introduce special helmet designs for the Monte Carlo race and this year Bottas, Stoffel Vandoorne and Brendon Hartley have unveiled new designs featuring a Monaco theme, while Charles Leclerc will contest his home race with a helmet based on his late father Herve’s that includes a tribute to Jules Bianchi.
Bottas revealed the design - which features fellow countryman Hakkinen’s classic triple-shades of blue above a white base - ahead of opening practice on Thursday morning.
The Mercedes driver said the helmet pays tribute to Hakkinen’s sole Monaco GP win from 20 years ago, the same year he won the first of two world championship titles.
“He won here 20 years ago exactly and that year he won the title,” Bottas explained.
“So, I wanted to pay a tribute. I respect him as a driver, as a guy, and I always loved the paint as well."
Lewis regularly attends Grands Prix for Crash.net around the world. Often reporting on the action from the ground, Lewis tells the stories of the people who matter in the sport.
