Formula one love Austin. That was the case long before the Drive to Survive phenomenon made the US Grand Prix one of the most attended events in the history of the sport. Last year, the Circuit of the Americas welcomed 400,000 spectators through the gates over the three-day race weekend, and this year that number is expected to grow to 440,000. (Watch the US GP on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET, live broadcast on ABC).
The trip to the capital of Texas is on the calendars of many people across the beach. Not only is Austin home to some of the best crowds in season, but it also boasts a culinary scene and certain cultures that resonate with drivers, engineers, and almost everyone that makes up this traveling circus.
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Ask any driver on the network, and COTA is sure to order their favorite races, but you don’t have to listen to them. Take a look back at the history of this race, and every year, you’ll see the riders celebrate as they stay in the Live Music (and BBQ) Capital of the World.
This year is no different. Riders up and down the grid have been unveiling new helmet designs for the US GP all week, almost all with an unmistakable local flavor of Austin. So let’s round up each of the new caps featured at COTA in 2022.
It doesn’t matter if you grew up in the plains of Texas or on the banks of the Seine, what little kid didn’t dream of being a cowboy? The gold Lone Star Bang Badge on a polished white background gives Gasly an early “Westworld” emotional look.
The 26-year-old Frenchman is hardly the first tourist to come to Austin and show off the aesthetic, but that doesn’t mean his artists at BS Designs haven’t created a motif. strong will resonate with local people.
There’s a long history of racers coming to America decked out in red, white, and blue, recreating the looks of Captain America and Evel Knievel, but this product from the two-time world champion is new. Our casting is something different. The idea behind it is fresh, new and exciting.
The shape and design resembles Verstappen’s signature in practically every race he participates in, but what Jens Munser Designs did to celebrate Austin was highlight the surrounding red, white, and dark blue lines. structures of COTA and tower complex. Those features are accented by stars that periodically appear inside those painted asphalt strips, and also represent the 2021 and 2022 titles the 25-year-old Dutchman has claimed.
What’s more like Texas, and by extension America, than blue jeans? (Though, considering the expected temperatures in Austin, it’s hard to guess what to wear in jeans at COTA this weekend.)
Zhou’s cap is inspired by a staple of American everyday fashion, and KV Design staff earn bonus points for Alfa drivers for capturing small details like gold seams and textures. fabric of blue jeans soles. However, the star of this helmet is definitely the “Zhou” belt buckle proudly displayed on the back of this brain bucket.
Peter Parker may be from Queens, but there’s nothing more Americana in global pop culture than superheroes, making the US GP the perfect venue to celebrate Spider-Man’s 60th anniversary. And in a sport that relies on reflexes and reaction time, is there any superhero who likes to celebrate more than Spidey?
Anyone who’s seen a Marvel movie of late can tell you that there are so many seemingly endless variations of the Spider-Man suit, so watch as we’re delighted to have inspired his helmet. The Ocon appears to be a classic magenta, black corduroy, and royal blue accents – even if the Spider-Man logo at the top derives from more modern interpretations.
From boots to belts, leather is everywhere in cowboy culture, and as such, you’ll find plenty of it on the streets of Austin and farms farther out of town. So it makes sense that one of these drivers would look to that material for inspiration for a special Texas edition.
Designer Mark Antar says that Stroll’s look is also inspired by “Yellowstone”, a late 19th-century Western setting. The leather texture of this helmet looks striking, among the elements. The best element of this year’s cap and the stitching has a super realistic feel that warrants closer inspection.
Anecdotally, Kansas City is the BBQ Capital of the World, but Austin (and the rest of the Texas, Carolinas, and large swaths of Tennessee, among others) have a legal claim to the crown. there. Leclerc and the rest of the F1 grid can consider themselves lucky as their star power ensures they’ll never have to wait for Franklin’s hours when they get to town.
You may not know it at first glance, but in fact, Leclerc’s helmet is inspired by a BBQ. Especially the BBQ sauce. A perfect brisket might be too sassy for any regular BBQ sauce to be taken off the shelves of your local supermarket, but it’s definitely worth pairing with your next order of elderberry. follow your.
As the unofficial state anthem suggests, “the stars at night are so loud and bright, deep in the heart of Texas,” and that is clearly seen on top of Schumacher’s helmet – a sky. Beautiful night dotted a galaxy. What’s special about this design is that it has a very personal touch, in addition to being inspired by the venue of this weekend’s race.
The Schumacher family owned a ranch 90 miles north of Dallas, where mother Corinna and sister Gina oversaw showhorse training, and that’s where the sunsets wrapped around Mick’s helmet took place. On the back is a picture of Gina, an 11-time European and 4-time world equestrian champion, riding her horse. As Mick said of his sister’s accomplishments, “I’m a proud little brother.”
