The US Grand Prix saw no less than 10 special helmets deployed by various drivers, by far the most of any race so far this season (that's if you don't count the first race!). I've been chipping away at recreating them quietly in the background over the past week and I can present to you some of the fruits of my labours. Hopefully the rest of them will be done before the next GP, no promises, but we'll see.
In no particular order...
George Russell
George Russell 2021 US GP Helmet
First off we have Mercedes bound George Russell, with a new helmet harking back to the Wild West days in America. Designed by MDM Designs, he said, "Wood and chrome effect thoughtout his standard layout, complete with the Sheriff star now we are in Texas ✍🏻💪🏻"
It's an interesting choice of pallette, with a slightly orangey brown look.
With this one, I followed the same method I used for Lando's Turkish GP helmet, which saved me a lot of time. Ironically, it's not going to work for me on Lando's US GP helmet, but that's another story. Once I was happy with the layout, I had to create the alpha channel to make all the silver parts shiny.
Ricciardo got to honour his hero Dale Earnhardt Sr, the helmet is heavily based on the original lid worn by 'The Intimidator'. Designed by Jens Munser Designs, he says, "The silver/red line on the bottom of Daniel’s helmet is based on the livery of Dale’s No.3 Goodwrench Chevy."
It's the first Danny Ric helmet I've done this year (I didn't do the McLaren Monaco GP specials), but thankfully, as you can see, there's nothing too complicated with this one. The only real challenge was the lightning at the rear of the helmet. With all the matte helmets this year, it's nice this one has a bit of a shine to it.
Nikita Mazepin sports a US inspired version of his helmet, with a rattlesnake texture in red, the long cattle horns on the Haas logo on the front, a lucky horseshoe on the top and rear, and a cowboy hat on the side Haas logos. Nikita explains, "it's the same orange but with more flouro on a white base this time".
Having not really departed from his style, I had a good starting point from the previous special helmet I did of his. I was quite happy to find the source clip art of the horseshoe, as there were no good angles of that part of the helmet.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc is marking the 20th anniversary of his sponsor, Richard Mille a watch manufacturer, with his helmet.
This helmet follows the style of his early season helmet with subtle changes, so I was able to quickly get the main template done. It was just then a case of adding the clockwork patterns and the top of the helmet after that. I do like the clockwork blueprint effect.
Following the volcanic eruptions on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, Fernando Alonso has had a special design produced which will be auctioned to raise money for those affected. He says, “So I will wear the helmet this weekend. I will launch a platform where people can donate some money and the helmet will be also in an auction on November 4th to raise more money, so each of us can help.”
Another first helmet of the season for me, and the first Fernando Alonso helmet I've painted since 2005 I think. I love this helmet it's simple yet effective, completely different yet still the same usual design especially from a far off. Simple details like the lava forming a heart shape on the rear is a nice touch. It was a little tricky with some of the joins, but I'm really quite happy with how this one turned out.
Sebastian Vettel used his helmet to highlight ocean pollution, raising awareness to protect our blue planet.
Sebastian Vettel 2021 Turkish GP Helmet
His helmet is a vibrant pink with various clip art style sea life animals. His German flag is now different shades of blue and it was fun to recreate this one. Vettel's helmet is painted on Jvinu's Arai shape and template.
The other driver to use a new helmet is Lando Norris.
Lando Norris 2021 Turkish GP Helmet
Norris brought together a group of youtubers and esports racers together to form Quadrant back in 2020, and whilst he's not really allowed to promote it very much at McLaren, he is allowed one race a year to promote it via a special helmet. In a video on Quadrant's Youtube channel, you can hear Lando talk about the design, using the black and yellow design featuring on a white helmet.
For this helmet, I mostly took it off the blueprints by MDM Designs who designed it and wrapped it around the Bell helmet by Jvinu.
I've finally caught up with some of the helmets from the past races, here's Giovinazzi's Italian GP helmet. It features the colours of his previous special helmets, but now in the form of rounded squares dotted around the helmet. I'm not the biggest fan of vomitting shapes onto a blank canvas type art, not unless there's a purpose and to me I can't see it in this one. Nevertheless, I do like the ITA on the sides. Although Antonio impressed in qualifying, it was all undone on the first lap when he cut across Carlos Sainz and spun and damaged his car.
This is the second special helmet Giovinazzi has run, saving them for races in his home country. This pack includes both helmets. Antonio wears the Bell helmet and as always, this is painted on Jvinu's template for his shapes, grazie mille!
Sorry this one took a while to complete, I had the base colours done for a while, but it was the brush strokes and paint splatters that took the time, I didn't want it to be random but as close to the original as I could get it.
On the design, Max said: 'I went for the traditional Dutch colours, a lot more red white and blue, a lot more details to it... it looks like somoene was actually painting my helmet rather than just spraying it'
Almost every layer has been touched up for this version from previous versions of his helmet, and all in all it took a fair few hours to get it just right. But finally it's complete and available for you to download and play with.
Max wears helmets by Schuberth, and it's on Jvinu's shape and template this is painted on.
This is an excellent recreation of the track, but I only time for a short session at this track on the keyboard. It's quite a technical track, worth spending a bit of time to learn, and is a rewarding track to drive on.
Prblanco: "This is not an easy track to learn!"
Fongu: "not easy at all on the keyboard this round"
I wasn't the only one not doing many laps this round:
Fongu: "only a handful of laps from me"
32bobo32: "Only 6 laps at this round"
Some more insights before we get to the laps:
Prblanco: "I think the exit of 9 is much more important [than the turn 7 exit]. Also, the sequences of 3-4-5 and 12-13-14 are very easy to lose time"
Kerley: "The last part of the 8, when I try to do flat, I go off track."
Fongu: "I found around 13-15 rear wing is best for turn 8, near flat with some lifts, but you don't want too much front wing or you lose stability. Having said that you need the turn in on the other turns"
If you watch my lap, I was quite aggressive in the twisty sections and smooth round the high speed parts - I will have to find some time to do some laps on my wheel one day.
Championship Standings
1
Fongu
118
2
Gildoorf
94
3
Prblanco
56
4
32bobo32
45
5
Carl_gpgames
38
6
Duffer
20
7
KerleyF1
17
A quick reminder of the championship before we get to the laps. There's quite a spread in points between the top two, but a number of us have not been able to compete in the last few rounds, myself earning a full on disqualification. There's still a good fight between Prblanco, 32bobo32 and Carl_gpgames for third, but Prblanco has been on great form having won the last round.
Hot Laps
We're missing Gildoorf for the first time this season, and Duffer is unable to make it too.
Duffer: "I try to made the next race"
Prblanco and Carl are using the wheel this time around, the rest of us on the keyboard. Carl is using a driver aid, I think for the first time this season, using the suggested line.
0:09 -Because none of us really had much time to do our laps, it means our setups are not particularly optimised either. As I said above, I opted to get stability for turn 8 and then muscle the car around the rest of the track. I didn't want to lose out on the final sector, so I went for 13 on the rear wing and it looks like I have a top speed advantage going into turn 1.
1
Fongu
305
0
2
32bobo32
304
-1
3
Prblanco
303
-2
4
KerleyF1
303
-2
5
Carl_gpgames
301
-4
The top speeds on the video relate to the main back straight, so I'll put that table up when we get there. The top speeds heading into turn 1 are close, probably more influenced by how well we exited the final corner.
Prblanco and I opt for turning in early, as Carl locks up and runs a bit wide. For me, when I'm lacking a bit of confidence in the keyboard, I turn in early to make sure I don't miss the CC-line, because your lap is as good as over if you are wide of the CC-line with steering help on (which is mandatory for keyboard users in GP4). On the exit, I'm trying to use as much kerb to travel less distance, hoping the bumps of the kerb doesn't break my traction and lose speed. Prblanco and Carl opt for the traditional line to the left.
0:18 - Coming into turn 3, and Prblanco just leads from me and we have a slight lead over 32bobo32, Carl_gpgames and Kerley. You brake hard initially and then accelerate through turn 3, trying not to overdo it as you line up for turn 4, a tricky downhill tight right-hander. You want to be on the left on entry and make sure you slow the car down enough.
Using the bollard as a reference, and Kerley, who was running last, is first past it just ahead of me, but both of us are running slightly compromised lines and will be slower on the exit. 32bobo32 is close behind Prblanco as Carl is starting to fall back, but turn 4 and 5 should really suit the wheel.
Again using the bollard on the inside of turn 5, I have managed to keep my speed up and taken the lead, just ahead of Prblanco and Kerley. 32bobo32 is also right behind and Carl is closing back in. Powerslides from 32bobo32 and me through turn 6 as we try not to get caught wide of the CC-line which would lead to a certain spin. By the time we head under the UBS banner at the exit of 6, Prblanco is back in the lead, just ahead of me, Kerley, 32bobo32 and Carl.
0:37 -It's been a tight and back and forth first sector, as we cross the timing beam for S1:
1
Prblanco
00:31.022
+0.000
2
Fongu
00:31.103
+0.081
3
KerleyF1
00:31.232
+0.210
4
32bobo32
00:31.434
+0.412
5
Carl_gpgames
00:31.709
+0.687
Just sixth tenths covers the field as we head into the second sector which includes the important turn 8.
But first we have turn 7, and I'm once again turning in early, knowing there's lots of room on the exit, you want to be bold and get on the throttle as soon as you dare, Prblanco being able to gently ease the throttle in earlier than I can with his pedals.
Under the Pirelli bridge, and Prblanco heads into the first part of turn 8 without lifting. I take a slight lift, running slightly less rear wing. Again, I want to stay within the CC-line, so I'm a little hesitant to take too much speed in. Indeed I'm the only one who lifts here, with 32bobo32 right behind Kerley.
We're all flat through the second part of turn 8, but it all goes wrong for 32bobo32 as he locks up and runs wide going into the tighest part of turn 8, the third apex. There's big lifts for Prblanco and Kerley into this third apex, but I choose to blip off the throttle a few times. Carl is clean and tidy through here, as he closes in on 32bobo32. The final part of turn 8 is easy and flat out, no dramas here.
As we head under the Vodafone banner, and Prblanco holds a slender advantage over me, but Kerley is about a car's length behind me. There's a bit of a gap back to Carl in fourth now, and 32bobo32 now a clear last.
0:58 -As always, a turn heading into a long straight is vitally important, turns 9 and 10 being a slight chicane. Watching Prblanco and my lines, braking and accelerating is almost identical, that's until I switch off my Traction Control and I'm all over the kerbs in turn 10 trying to be too eager. 32bobo32 looks quite pedestrian through here, much too cautious. The timing beam for S2 is just on the exit here.
1
Fongu
00:31.649
+0.000
2
Prblanco
00:31.659
+0.010
3
Carl_gpgames
00:31.748
+0.099
4
KerleyF1
00:31.761
+0.112
5
32bobo32
00:32.871
+1.222
Once again, Prblanco and I are almost tied at the hip through that sector. Carl's super smooth style, using the wheel to his advantage and also sets an impressive sector time. Kerley is also still in there, just a tenth behind in this tricky sector too.
1
Prblanco
01:02.681
+0.000
2
Fongu
01:02.752
+0.071
3
KerleyF1
01:02.993
+0.312
4
Carl_gpgames
01:03.457
+0.776
5
32bobo32
01:04.305
+1.624
Overall after sector 2, and Prblanco still just leads the way. Kerley is just a few of tenths behind and Carl maintains the gap from the first sector. 32bobo32 is quite far behind now, heading into the final sector.
Turn 11 is flat and rather inconsequential in the game. In real life you'd probably want to minimise the steering angle to not lose any speed, but that's not really a factor in GP4, so I take the line with the shortest distance keeping to the right.
1:17 - Here's a reminder of the top speeds as we head into the final sequence of turns.
1
Fongu
319.4
0
2
Prblanco
316.4
-3
3
KerleyF1
316.4
-3
4
32bobo32
314.4
-5
5
Carl_gpgames
308.8
-10.6
Carl is significantly slower than us, and will be losing out significantly to 32bobo32, as they battle not just for bragging rights this round, but also in the championship.
Very bumpy into the braking zone, again I'm drifting towards the apex as I'm on the brakes. Prblanco is also massively locked up, but manages to make the apex, taking quite a lot of kerb on the inside. Carl, as ever, is silky smooth. Kerley takes lots of speed out of turn 12, running to the right but this compromises his turn 13.
On the pit entry line, Prblanco and I are neck and neck.
It's all down to the final corner, and I'm running wide, struggling to get my nose turned in, as Prblanco is almost hitting the inside bollard. I think I'm ahead on the exit, but it's incredibly tight for the final drag race down to the finish line. The other three tackle these three turns nicely.
1:39 -Let's examine the final sector times as we finish the lap.
1
32bobo32
00:27.037
+0.000
2
Fongu
00:27.114
+0.077
3
Prblanco
00:27.133
+0.096
4
Carl_gpgames
00:27.310
+0.273
5
KerleyF1
00:27.444
+0.407
32bobo32 has overcome his final sector woes and turns in the fastest final sector. We have three different leaders in each sector. I edge out Prblanco in this sector alone, but is it enough to win the round? All of us are pretty competitive in this sector, Kerley only slightly losing out on a fine lap overall.
1
Prblanco
01:29.814
+0.000
2
Fongu
01:29.866
+0.052
3
KerleyF1
01:30.437
+0.623
4
Carl_gpgames
01:30.767
+0.953
5
32bobo32
01:31.342
+1.528
Prblanco wins! He's overcome Fongu on the last straight drag race and earns himself his fourth victory of the season, his second in a row. The gap is tiny, just 0.052 seconds at the end.
Kerley is also in form, earning his second podium in as many races. Consistently strong sectors, smooth driving a few mistakes, a well deserved reward for the Brazilian.
Carl closed in at the end, setting impressive pace in the final two sectors, but ultimately a poor first sector cost him more points.
Though 32bobo32 is fastest in the final sector, his mistake in turn 8 massively costs him a whole second as he comes home in fifth place. He too could have been in the running for the podium, but not bad for just 6 laps!
Reactions
Prblanco: "Mighty close between me and "Mr. I forgot to switch to kph" @Fongu 😆 I'm sure there were more tenths to be found and @Fongu would've found them if he used the wheel. Not that I'm complaining 😂
Not a perfect lap, so many tricky corners.
@Kerleygreat sequence of results mate, hope to see you keep it up to the end of the year.
And @Carl we can all see you didn't have time to learn the track 😄"
Fongu: "Congrats on this win @Prblanco, well deserved. I'm really happy with my lap after only a few tries, wasn't expecting to be competitive, I won't repeat that sector 1 time again.
@Kerley another fantastic podium 👍 keep them coming"
Kerley: "Great P1 to @Paulo Blanco ! 🙂👏👏
Thanks share the same tracks with legends in GP4 like you guys! @Carl @Prblanco @Fongu @32bobo32"
Carl: "Another 🅿️1️⃣ for @Prblanco 🍾🍾🍾🏁🏁🏁! Fantastic lap, congratulations!
@32bobo32 this time you nailed the last sector 😲
@32bobo32 both of us lack of consistency. We usually have two good sectors but also a very bad one 🤣"
32bobo32: "Congratulations at all 🙂"
Championship Standings
1
Fongu
6
124
2
Gildoorf
0
94
3
Prblanco
10
66
4
32bobo32
2
47
5
Carl_gpgames
3
41
6
KerleyF1
4
21
7
Duffer
0
20
With Gildoorf missing this round, the championship lead extends back out to 30 points once more.
Prblanco strengthens his third place with another win. Those missing rounds is proving to make big changes in the gaps in points.
Carl closes in a little to 32bobo32, having only just beat him here in Istanbul Park.
Kerley elevates himself from the bottom of the table above Duffer after a string of podium finishes.
The next round is in Austin, Texas, we look forward to the next chapter in this already dramatic Time Trial League.
