Here it is, the final update to the 2022 pack.
As is now customary, over half of the grid raced with special helmet designs in Abu Dhabi, especially those who are not returning to the grid next season. I've created 13 more helmets. For one last time this season, let's get into it.
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| Alex Albon 2022 Abu Dhabi GP helmet |
Alex Albon has replaced the white regions of his standard helmet with a chrome effect. The helmet itself is a simplified version of his standard helmet. In most pictures, there was a slight red tinge to the chromed reflections, so I've added a bit of red hint to some areas. The helmet also features Latifi's name, in honour of his last race.
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| Fernando Alonso 2022 Abu Dhabi GP helmet |
It was a bit of a surprise that old rival Fernando Alonso was so sentinmental at Vettel's last race. He decided against fighting him in the first few laps of the race whilst also running this tribute helmet. He will replace the German at Aston Martin next year. The helmet is still largely title sponsor BWT influenced, but the German flag strip across the front is simple and iconic.
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| Pierre Gasly 2022 Abu Dhabi GP helmet |
Pierre Gasly is not only ending his time with Alpha Tauri but also the Red Bull family, and so this helmet is half his old Red Bull helmet and this season's Alpha Tauri helmet. There are messages of thanks in various languages.
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| Lewis Hamilton 2022 Abu Dhabi GP helmet |
Lewis Hamilton ran another variation of his helmet with the rainbow flag at the Abu Dhabi GP.
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| Nicholas Latifi 2022 Abu Dhabi GP helmet |
It's not really a new helmet for Latifi, but with a message to Seb, and the new Williams visor since Interlagos made this a quick job.
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| Charles Leclerc 2022 Abu Dhabi GP helmet |
Charles Leclerc has also gone chrome, with silver and red chrome. But this helmet is a tribute to all those working at Gestione Sportiva and trackside, with all their names printed on the Italian flag across the front, top and rear of his helmet. There were some angles where the names weren't clear in the pictures and blueprints I had, so there may be some alternative names on there.
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| Kevin Magnussen 2022 Abu Dhabi GP helmet |
Kevin Magnussen has a lightly altered helmet from the one that he ran since the Monaco GP, but for the Abu Dhabi GP, he's also gone with a full on chrome effect, and the K on the side of his helmet is now white instead of red.
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| Lando Norris 2022 Abu Dhabi GP helmet |
Lando also ran a new lid with a glittery green/purplish tones. Not much was made of the helmet online that I could see, but it looks nice anyway.
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| Daniel Ricciardo 2022 Abu Dhabi GP helmet |
Daniel Ricciardo was another driver who would not have a full time drive on the 2023 grid. His final helmet with McLaren is given to sponsor OKX and has been cyberpunked. The livery is based on his standard livery by Ornamental Conifer, and MDM Designs has done a lovely job putting all that together in this shiny number.
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| Carlos Sainz 2022 Abu Dhabi GP helmet |
As last year, Carlos ran a glittery version of his standard helmet at the Yas Marina circuit.
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| Mick Schumacher 2022 Abu Dhabi GP helmet |
Mick Schumacher doesn't currently have another F1 drive lined up for 2023, but instead of running his own helmet design, he dedicate his final helmet to Seb's design, which Seb stole off Mick's dad to be fair. Mick's regular design is embossed into the helmet, similar to his Japanese helmet. He'll be missed.
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| Sebastian Vettel 2022 Abu Dhabi GP helmet |
Seb Vettel went from pantomine villian at Red Bull, to a bit of an embarressing flop at Ferrari towards the end, to being the most likeable, kind and mature driver on the grid in his Aston Martin days. Everyone was overflowing with their tributes to his last drive and his helmet was about giving back. Dubbed 'the Final Lap', he let fans buy places on his helmet, with the proceeds going to environmental projects. A great driver leaves the grid.
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| Zhou Guanyu 2022 Abu Dhabi GP helmet |
Whilst it was probably fitting to leave Seb's helmet last, I've decided to mostly stick to alphabetical order for this post, so that leaves Zhou's helmet, which is actually the final helmet I painted for the 2022 season and so it's fitting it belongs here. Inspired by vintage Chinese ornamental floral patterns, the patterns already exist on his standard helmet at the top and around the bottom, but this helmet extends that design all the way around the helmet. Very nice design from KV Designs. The pattern was painted from scratch, so it took a bit of time, but I like the result.
Thanks once again to Jvinu, whose helmet shapes and templates are invaluable to the helmets that I bring to you.
I'm super grateful for all the support, encouraging messages and donations over the past year of creating all these helmets. To know these helmets are being enjoyed outside of GP4 adds a little extra motivation and incentive to carry on. On my last count, there are 157 helmets now included in the pack. Anyway, I'd appreciate your comments. What were your favourite helmets of the year? Should drivers run so many different designs during the year? Does the freedom to run so many detract from the truly special liveries? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
