F1 News

Helmet rule scrapped to give drivers freedom over livery changes

6 March 2020 at 19:13
  • Bevan Youl

Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, has scrapped a legislation that prevented drivers from making changes their helmet design several times throughout a season.

A was introduced in 2015 that drivers had to predominantly race using the same colour scheme on their helmets throughout a season with a one-off alteration exception.
 
That exception would be for special events like a home race or a milestone celebration.
 
The rule was made to help with the identifying of a driver on the track but the easily identifiable numbers and the introduction of the halo has made it less of an impact.
 
But the FIA’s World Motorsport Council announced Friday that the rule has been scrapped and driver will be allowed to have unrestricted variations.
 
“A change to the 2020 Sporting Regulations was approved to allow for unrestricted variations to driver helmet designs between races,” read a statement.

Last year at the Russian Grand Prix Daniil Kvyat was denied use of his special design for his home race after already using an alternative for Toro Rosso’s (now AlphaTauri) home race in Italy.