Making Those Lids Look Lit!

It’s the one thing that makes the driver stand out in the car and the only part you can see. So how do the drivers choose what design they want and who brings them to life?

It’s easy to spot Max and Alex on the track, they’re in the best-looking cars on the circuit, but when it comes to telling them apart, it’s not so easy. Yes, they have their racing numbers and if you’re a super fan you’ll be able to tell the slight differences between the two cars, but the easiest way to tell the difference is by their crash helmets.

The driver’s crash helmet is where they get to add their own flair and style to their uniform. Plus, it’s arguably the most important article of safety equipment so the drivers look after them.

The drivers all have their own take on what looks good, and the designs change every year, sometimes drivers will even have special editions created for home races, special events or to pay homage to past heroes.

But after the design has been finalised, how is it transferred onto the lid? Massimo Dante, the man who paints Alex’s explains…

Alex's Helmet On A Stand In His Driver's Room

Ask Massimo how he views the work he does for drivers and the Italian behind the Mad56 company is absolute in his response. “I look at every helmet and for me it’s like a baby. When I watch F1 races, the first thing I see is the helmet and I can see if it’s shining under the sun or not, I can see every mistake.”

That intense passion is visible on the racing helmets of Alex, for whom Massimo has painted since the Thai racer made the jump from karts to single seaters in 2015. And the Italian is currently in the process of painting the Thai driver’s 2020 set, which across a season can number as many as 16!

“I prepare two helmets for testing and then I start painting the ones he’ll use in the season. We work with MDM designs so the basic design is quite broad and then some of the small details are decided by me and Alex together. The first stage is to disassemble the helmet, scrape it clean and then paint the base colours like red, blue and yellow. The second stage is to paint every logo needed and the last stage is to assemble the helmet, put the visor and spoiler on, and send it back to Red Bull.”

It’s a complex and intricate process but one Massimo says usually requires around “12 to 15 hours” of intense work. “That’s the normal amount of time needed, but I remember last year when Alex switched from Toro Rosso to Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, I painted the helmet in just seven hours. I worked all night; it was really hard but the following day I went to Monza to give him the helmet and he was really happy. Me? I was f***ing tired!”

Thinking about upcoming races, and the potential for a special design, Massimo is excited to think about what he can create. “Yeah I would like to paint something crazy for one of the night races. Last year we didn’t have the possibility to use something shiny for under the night lights so I would like to do something crazy for this year. I have something in my head but I need to talk to Red Bull and see if we can do it or not. I hope we can!”