Visibility and recognition

[Mekola]

It will be easier if you put the motto: If drivers change helmet designs every race, then they mustn't care about it's originality, since the number of helmet designs ever done could be very big but, mathematically, limited.

With all these constant new designs, current drivers are killing the originality of helmet designs of future racing stars.

[chillibowl]

again in fairness a lot has changed since the time of the drivers you mentioned.

anyways from my point of view the most marketable drivers are such because they win. it has nothing to do with their helmet designs imo.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/117722

autosports list of top 10 iconic helmets curiously does not include any drivers post JV. essentially all pre internet era drivers.

agree to disagree but come on man! how can we have a conversation about marketing in 2015 when the only reasons you give comes from before the internet?

[Adam43]

But Vettel's helmet got mentioned more than most! Marketing, if you like, was good.
His brand, of wacky helmet changer, who did things differently was set. After all he's who we are talking about with this. Boom, well done that man. Brand is more than a logo.

BTW:

Originally Posted by Adam43

...
I prefer drivers to stick with one design. For me it is with their identity.
...

[Richard C]

We need take the next step and that is a standard appearance for each of the drivers. No more Fernando beards, etc. Maybe tattoo their name on their foreheads or sew a big "Hello My Name is..." patch like above on their driver suits.

I get the "brand" comment, I really do, but I also think it is highly overrated or at least misplaced with respect to helmet standardization. When I think of specific drivers the first thing that pops into my head is not a specific helmet design. It is their driving style, their personality, epic wins and losses. All dynamic and changing things. The helmet design can be part of a changing "story", but as a static brand element, I think it is a failed idea. Or at least it is if you try to apply it evenly to all drivers. If an individual driver wants to keep the same helmet for eternity as part of his/her personal brand then have at it.

Instead of season long "branding" they should be celebrating and promoting ad-hoc and dynamic stories...

* Button's special pink helmet(s) as a tribute to his dad.
* Williams having the Senna "double S" on their cars
* Multiple team tributes to earthquake/tsunami victims in 2011
* Vettel's ever changing design... What will it look like next?

Richard

[Paradise City]

I'm not sure how one can say helmets have failed when they haven't been exploited in the last number of years. It's not that helmets are "talking points". Noone gives a jot whether Vettel changes his helmet every week. Helmets give a visual cue, therein lies its importance. It remains a fundamental part of the drivers ensemble and the sport would do well to exploit - rather than refuse for unintelligible reasons - this strand of driver branding. I like it when this sport does things smart - it's a rare occurrence and this is smart.

As I suggested earlier in the thread - the driver should be permitted to have a one-off-special to promote a charity or something of that order. When such a change is rare, that becomes a genuine talking point. Vettel changing his helmet every week for purposes of vanity, people are jaded with that stuff and the market value of the helmet is not exploited to its full potential.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Paradise City

I'm not sure how one can say helmets have failed when they haven't been exploited in the last number of years. It's not that helmets are "talking points". Noone gives a jot whether Vettel changes his helmet every week. Helmets give a visual cue, therein lies its importance. It remains a fundamental part of the drivers ensemble and the sport would do well to exploit - rather than refuse for unintelligible reasons - this strand of driver branding. I like it when this sport does things smart - it's a rare occurrence and this is smart.

As I suggested earlier in the thread - the driver should be permitted to have a one-off-special to promote a charity or something of that order. When such a change is rare, that becomes a genuine talking point. Vettel changing his helmet every week for purposes of vanity, people are jaded with that stuff and the market value of the helmet is not exploited to its full potential.

Clearly the FIA do give a jot about Vettel changing his helmet design, along with the other drivers that do, otherwise why bother? The helmet is very much a part of a driver's ensemble and Vettel has exploited that with different designs. I don't see where the vanity aspect regarding Vettel comes from, he auctions them off for charity, I don't see anything vain in that.

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by Paradise City

I like it when this sport does things smart - it's a rare occurrence and this is smart.

Some think its dumb and other smart. I predict it will have close to zero positive impact. Time will tell. And... we can't all agree and that is OK.

I am pretty much talked out and at the risk of beating a dead horse, I have two last comments...

1. I haven't read the details, but I believe that they are looking for consistency over the course of a season? If that is so, IMHO, that is too short of time to create an element that speaks to brand. If Coke changed their logo every year it would be meaningless as a brand element due to lack of real consistency. The only people I see benefiting from this are those that collect helmet miniatures as this means they have to buy fewer to get a "season collection" or those who create "driver spotter guides" that include helmet designs (create one and use all season vs. adjust as the helmets might change).

2. I think where they likely did get it right recently is the ability for drivers to pick a number and stick with it. I think that example is completely inline with what you are talking about.

Richard

[wnut]

If I was Vettel my race suit and gloves would be so offensive in Australia this year that you would have to wear a welding helmet around me when I was out of the car. Nobody would even notice a helmet!

[Adam43]

The FIA have taken this even further:
Real News Story.

[Casper]

Originally Posted by Adam43

The FIA have taken this even further:
Real News Story.

I have a plan. Tell the drivers to organise their faces and helmets and take a photo. At every race just before the start they line them up and do an inspection, if they do not conform to the photo they should be sent home with a note to their mum saying why they are out of the race early.

[NaBUru38]

Haha, great news :P

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by Richard Casto

Instead of season long "branding" they should be celebrating and promoting ad-hoc and dynamic stories...

* Button's special pink helmet(s) as a tribute to his dad.
* Williams having the Senna "double S" on their cars
* Multiple team tributes to earthquake/tsunami victims in 2011
* Vettel's ever changing design... What will it look like next?

totally. make it special and make it fun and promote the heck out of it.

something that never gets talked about are the insignia some drivers create for themselves like Schumi's dragon and Kimi's trident thing (which i cant find a small pic of).


Grahm Hill's helmet insignia came from this (link here):

'In 1952 he joined the London Rowing Club, took to the sport like a duck to water and would later wear the club's insignia (eight vertical stripes representing oars) on his racing helmet.'

there is a lot to be celebrated here but i dont get the sense this new rule is about history and tradition but rather about control...which is why it rubs me the wrong way.

anyways as Richard stated so nicely FOM should be doing more to celebrate the variety and meanings to be found within helmet designs.

[Paradise City]

They need to take command the FIA and promote the blasted sport. If that means kicking some of these jokers out of their bubble, then do it. Drivers equipped with a coat of arms i.e a consistent helmet livery they can call their own - is showing some of the authority they need to show. If only the FIA could show this authority in other areas of the sport, it could get moving again.

Unfortunately too much control are in the hands of looters like Eccelstone and CVC and squabbling teams which has lead the sport into a damaging and seemingly long term position of paralysis.

[wnut]

FWIW

Massa, Lauda support helmet livery change ban

+ Alternatives refused

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns30001.html

Which seem better than helmets!

[old man]

Originally Posted by wnut

FWIW

Massa, Lauda support helmet livery change ban

+ Alternatives refused

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns30001.html

Which seem better than helmets!

It seems Bernie does not always get his own way and the teams are the ones who resist putting proper numbers on the car. Apparently I am not alone in finding recognition difficult, must be an age problem

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by old man

It seems Bernie does not always get his own way and the teams are the ones who resist putting proper numbers on the car. Apparently I am not alone in finding recognition difficult, must be an age problem

Why are the numbers so small?

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Why are the numbers so small?

Because larger ones, certainly in the past, took up very valuable advertising space, so the teams fought to have the size reduced.

[Paradise City]

Valued advertising space, lol. I do admire optimists. You'd swear sponsors were clambering up to sponsors these cars. Alot of these cars look suspiciously blank though, you could probably crank up 'font size' for the numbers a few notches and have plenty of space to spare.

[Razor]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

Like this:

That works really well! Instead of banning skid lid redesigns, colour coding wing endplates and camera T bars would work immensely! Also, what about making it mandatory that the cars run big numbers on the rear wing endplates?

[FIRE]

Because it's way too logical.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Because larger ones, certainly in the past, took up very valuable advertising space, so the teams fought to have the size reduced.

There is small and then there's small, .

[S griffin]

I was just thinking back to the yellow flashes on Schumacher's Benetton or the different colour noses on each of the Renaults. Maybe that would be something else to consider

[bjohnsonsmith]

Ferrari used to put yellow squares on the front and rear wings of the #28 car, so the two cars could be distinguished from each other.

[Paradise City]

The numbers on the Indycars and Ferraris are the right size. Some of these teams have alot of waking up to do.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Vettel may not play ball over helmet design.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/117767