Sebastian Vettel’s many helmet designs have provoked controversies, changes in the F1 rules and even political rows.
Since entering F1 15 years ago, up until his retirement from the sport after today’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Vettel has been through far too many different designs to cover in a single article. Here are a few of his most memorable designs.
Vettel was backed by Red Bull from a young age, and wore their colours when he graduated from karting to racing cars. Having placed second in Germany’s Formula BMW series in 2003, he routed the field the next year, winning 18 out of 20 races and scoring 387 points from a possible 400.
Vettel arrived in F1 as a test driver for BMW Sauber, and made his first appearance in a practice session at the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix. His grand prix debut followed at Indianapolis in 2007, as a one-off substitute for the injured Robert Kubica. He finished eighth, scoring a point.
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His impressive debut for BMW convinced Red Bull he was ready to step up to their junior team, then called Toro Rosso. Scott Speed was dropped from the team’s line-up at the European Grand Prix, and Vettel took over his car at the next round in Hungary.
Vettel stunned by winning a soaked Italian Grand Prix for Toro Rosso, and Red Bull needed no further persuasion to promote him to their main team. For his final race at Interlagos he sported a helmet paying tribute to his team members, a gesture he has made on several occasions since.
Vettel’s first helmet as a Red Bull race driver.
At Red Bull, Vettel developed a habit of frequently changing his helmet design. This early Monaco special was conservative compared to some of the more outlandish looks which followed.
Another appearance of Vettel’s team members on his lid during his dominant 2011 campaign, which delivered his second world championship.
Vettel often chose the Singapore night race to display some of his more eye-catching designs.
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By 2012 he was a two-times champion, as this gold design pointed out.
Following Vettel’s debut in the United States Grand Prix the event dropped off the Formula 1 calendar. It returned at an all-new venue, the Circuit of the Americas in Texas. Despite being in the thick of a tense fight for the world championship with Fernando…
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