Four-time World Champion Max Verstappen will wear a special helmet design for the three races starting this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring. In a statement on his official website, the Dutch driver said he created this design, which he calls the 'Orange Lion', as a token of gratitude to the fans who have supported him throughout his career.
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Special design for three races.
The new helmet, notable for its contrasting orange and bright blue colors, will be used at the Austrian Grand Prix, followed by the Belgian and then the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 6-8. Verstappen stated: “Austria is, of course, a home race for the team. I’ve had great results there in the past and have many good memories. I will also be wearing my Orange Lion helmet for Austria, Belgium, and Hungary; this is a thank you to the fans who have supported me throughout my career.”
Verstappen, also evaluating the Red Bull Ring track, emphasized that all corners have different characteristics, therefore car balance is critically important. “You need good traction values, both at high speed and low speed. Since energy management is becoming increasingly crucial on some tracks, mastering this is essential,” he added.
New package and fan comments.
Verstappen also announced that Red Bull will be bringing a new technical package to this race weekend. “The new package we’ve brought is exciting; I want to see how much it can contribute to lap times,” said the Dutchman, adding that they aim to deliver a competitive performance at the Red Bull Ring.
Reactions to the helmet design on social media were generally positive. One Reddit user wrote, "The bright blue and orange contrast is really nice," while another commented, "Quite cool." On the other hand, some fans interpreted Verstappen's phrase "for the rest of my career" in various ways; speculations arose such as, "He's definitely leaving, right?" and "This gives me a 'last lap' feeling." However, Verstappen has not made any statement about a team change or retirement.