Max Verstappen Unveils New Helmet Ahead of Austrian Grand Prix
As the Formula 1 circus prepares for the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring, Max Verstappen will debut a striking new helmet design named "Orange Lion." This revised look, featuring navy and orange colors that align with Red Bull’s livery, will also make appearances at the Belgian and Dutch Grands Prix later this season. The lion motif, synonymous with Verstappen’s branding, remains prominent atop the helmet.
In an Instagram post, Verstappen described the new design as "As special as ever," garnering over 400,000 likes in just five hours. "That lion is ready to win the race," remarked one enthusiastic fan.
This unveiling comes at a critical juncture for Verstappen and Red Bull, as they navigate a challenging season. Currently, Verstappen trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 43 points and Lando Norris by 21 points, with an ongoing press from McLaren that has dominated both the drivers’ and constructors’ standings. The Dutch driver also faces scrutiny, having accrued 11 penalty points on his super license following a collision with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix, although two points will expire at the end of the month.
Reflecting on the season’s pressures, Verstappen commented, "You [all] speaking about it on Thursday… it’s really annoying this world that we live in."
Team principal Christian Horner addressed the focus heading into the Austrian event, emphasizing current performance gaps. "Probably our weakness at the moment is in medium-speed corners. The middle sector has a bit of medium speed, so we’ll see," he noted. Horner added that if temperatures rise, McLaren is likely to maintain an advantage.
With the fervor of the "Orange Army" behind him, Verstappen’s quest for a fifth consecutive championship continues, fraught with challenges but driven by fan support at his team’s home circuit.
