The last race of each season is a very special moment for the vast majority of drivers. Many decide to debut liveries to mark the year, and the 2021 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is no exception.
Gallery: all the special helmets of each driver for the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP of F1
(Pass the images to enjoy them before reading their explanations)
Photo by: Alfa Romeo
Photo by: Alfa Romeo
Photo by: Alfa Romeo
Photo by: Alfa Romeo
Photo by: McLaren
Photo by: AlphaTauri
Photo by: AlphaTauri
Photo by: AlphaTauri
Photo by: Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team
Photo by: Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team
Photo by: Aston Martin Racing
Photo by: Aston Martin Racing
Photo by: Aston Martin Racing
Photo by: Aston Martin Racing
Photo by: Aston Martin Racing
Photo by: Aston Martin Racing
Foto de: Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team
Photo by: McLaren
Photo by: McLaren
Foto de: Aston Martin Racing
Foto de: Aston Martin Racing
Foto de: Aston Martin Racing
Photo by: Alfa Romeo
Photo by: Alfa Romeo
Photo by: Alfa Romeo
Photo by: Williams
Photo by: Williams
Photo by: Williams
Photo by: Williams
Photo by: Ferrari
Photo by: Ferrari
Photo by: Ferrari
Photo by: Ferrari
Photo by: Ferrari
Photo by: Ferrari
Photo by: Ferrari
Photo by: Ferrari
Photo by: Ferrari
Some say goodbye to the highest category of motorsports, as is the case with Kimi Raikkonen, who will retire after 19 seasons. The Finn will wear a helmet that is reminiscent of his beginnings, back in 2001, with the Sauber team, with a predominance of the blue tone that he used so much in his first seasons in the Great Circus.
His partner in Alfa Romeo, Antonio Giovinazzi, will also say goodbye to F1, and will go to Formula E , but he did not want to miss the opportunity to pay tribute to Raikkonen. The Italian has created a design that commemorates the Finn’s world title in 2007 with Ferrari, as well as an inscription thanking Kimi for what he did in F1.
Others leaving the sport are the Japanese from Honda, who returned in 2015 with McLaren but had no luck during their union with those from Woking. Years later, they joined the Red Bull family, the Toro Rosso team first, and the Austrian team later.
On the occasion of the farewell of the Japanese power units, his compatriot, Yuki Tsunoda will have a helmet with Japanese letters and important dates for Honda, such as his first victory in F1 or his first world championship.
Max Verstappen, despite playing for the title with Lewis Hamilton, will also wear a small inscription in honor of Honda on the back of his helmet, which will have the same design on the rest of the parts.
Precisely his rival from Mercedes has added a shiny layer (metallic) to the rainbow helmet that he began to use in the F1 journey through Middle Eastern countries at the end of 2021. His teammate, Valtteri Bottas, says goodbye to the German team, and He has decided to adorn his helmet with photographs of key moments in his career with the Silver Arrows, such as his first victory with Mercedes in 2017 in Russia.
His replacement in the champion team will be George Russell, who is leaving Williams after three seasons where he has shown his quality. The Englishman has made his helmet for Abu Dhabi a blank canvas for members of the Grove structure to sign and wish him well on his next adventure.
Those who want to turn the page are the Italians at Ferrari, who hope that 2022 will be the year of change. Its drivers have also brought a new helmet design, with a glossy finish for Carlos Sainz and striking decoration by Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque has included an ‘Il Cavallino’ pattern on one side of the helmet, while the other is filled with the word ‘Love’.
Their rivals for third place in the constructors’ championship, McLaren, presented a special design for their car, and the drivers have accompanied it with special helmets. Lando Norris, who is used to groundbreaking designs, has opted for a continuous line of his helmet, but with the addition of glow in the dark, while Daniel Ricciardo has chosen to include the helmet that will shine under the moon in Abu Dhabi.
However, the Ferrari and McLaren couples are not the only ones to modify their helmet. At Aston Martin, Lance Stroll celebrates 100 Grands Prix in F1, which is why he has included a decoration with that round number on the side and on the back of the helmet.
Sebastian Vettel, a classic when it comes to helmet design change, has chosen to add words in reference to the ideals of the team’s main sponsor, BWT. The German has combined white with pink to create an elegant helmet and with which he will close 2021.
Nikita Mazepin has not missed the opportunity either, and presented a golden helmet with red details, reminiscent of the characteristic costumes of Russian culture. The one from Haas will don the jumpsuit with this striking helmet design to try to see the checkered flag and end his debut season in F1.
