Breaking news

Formula 1

Hamilton, Vettel, told to modify helmets in Austin

GMM

Edited: Nov 18, 2012, 2:38 PM

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren Mercedes looking at the car of Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing

Nov.18 (GMM) Two of F1's biggest names had to pull out the gaffer-tape in Austin to fix up their offending helmet liveries.

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren Mercedes looking at the car of Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren Mercedes looking at the car of Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: xpb.cc

The always-controversial Lewis Hamilton's US-themed helmet attracted the most attention for its H.A.M. slogan, which according to street slang means 'Hard as a motherf@(<er'.

"In light of the FIA's recent reminder to all drivers not to swear, stencilling the letters on the back of his helmet was a particularly provocative act on Hamilton's part and one which no doubt irritated his team," journalist Tom Cary wrote in the Telegraph.

A McLaren spokesman said the decision to cover up the logo was taken "by mutual consent".

"We just stuck some red tape over it," confirmed helmet manufacturer Arai's Peter Burger to Auto Motor und Sport.

Pole sitter Sebastian Vettel also had to modify his special US-themed 'wooden' helmet livery in Austin, to remove the words 'Gives you wings' from the top.

Bernie Ecclestone forbids drivers or teams from advertising on the very top of the helmets, so as not to spoil the onboard camera view.

As a quick fix, Arai's Burger covered the energy drink company's slogan with black tape, but soon sourced some tape with a wood-style finish for qualifying and the race.

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Read also :

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Previous article Vettel likely to wrap up third title on Sunday

Next article Horner defends Vettel after Villeneuve criticism

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

More from

GMM



The season is still very long - Rosberg

Formula 1

Formula 1

The season is still very long - Rosberg



Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes

Formula 1

Formula 1

Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes



Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position

Formula 1

Formula 1

Chinese GP

Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position

More from

Lewis Hamilton



‘I’ll try to win, somehow’ – Can Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fight back for F1 Brazilian GP victory?

Formula 1

Formula 1

Sao Paulo GP

17 h

‘I’ll try to win, somehow’ – Can Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen fight back for F1 Brazilian GP victory?



F1 Brazilian GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch

Formula 1

Formula 1

Sao Paulo GP

F1 Brazilian GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch



Lewis Hamilton needs “serious talks” with himself and his team-mate

Formula 1

Mexican GP

Lewis Hamilton needs “serious talks” with himself and his team-mate

More from

Red Bull Racing



How Lando Norris prevailed in a swift errors tour of Interlagos

Formula 1

Sao Paulo GP

How Lando Norris prevailed in a swift errors tour of Interlagos



Max Verstappen "needs to understand what happened" after "night and day" F1 comeback in Brazilian GP

Formula 1

Formula 1

Sao Paulo GP

8 h

Max Verstappen "needs to understand what happened" after "night and day" F1 comeback in Brazilian GP



Max Verstappen watched Premier League football during Brazilian GP qualifying delay: "12 hours I'll never get back"

Formula 1

Formula 1

Sao Paulo GP

Max Verstappen watched Premier League football during Brazilian GP qualifying delay: "12 hours I'll never get back"

Latest news



How Formula 1 proved the naysayers wrong – for once

Formula 1

Sao Paulo GP

How Formula 1 proved the naysayers wrong – for once



Kyle Larson, Cliff Daniels and the Hendrick 5 are who we say they are

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Homestead-Miami

1 h

Kyle Larson, Cliff Daniels and the Hendrick 5 are who we say they are



Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Homestead-Miami

5 h

Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale



Official race results: NASCAR Cup Homestead season finale

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Homestead-Miami

6 h

Official race results: NASCAR Cup Homestead season finale

Feature

Discover prime content



How Formula 1 proved the naysayers wrong – for once

Formula 1

Sao Paulo GP

By Stuart Codling

How Formula 1 proved the naysayers wrong – for once



How Lando Norris prevailed in a swift errors tour of Interlagos

Formula 1

Sao Paulo GP

By Stuart Codling

How Lando Norris prevailed in a swift errors tour of Interlagos



"He really wanted it" – why Russell was furious over aborted Brazil ‘pole’ lap

Formula 1

Sao Paulo GP

By Stuart Codling

"He really wanted it" – why Russell was furious over aborted Brazil ‘pole’ lap



What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 Brazilian GP

Formula 1

Sao Paulo GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 Brazilian GP

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts

Subscribe