Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has admitted that he forced his team into bending the rules to allow himself a special privilege during the ongoing F1 season.
The 25-year-old has been in supreme form this season and looks destined to claim his third consecutive world championship with plenty of time to spare this time around.
As things stand, Max sits on 400 points, more than double the tally of Lewis Hamilton in third position and 187 points ahead of teammate Sergio Perez.
The special permission granted to Verstappen involved his helmet, which he was intent on having a specific design for.
Red Bull has firmly placed its trust on the shoulders of one of the finest drivers to have graced the sport.
With the car slowly but surely being tailor-made to suit the driving ability of Verstappen over the years, the Dutchman has now begun to repay the faith with astounding regularity, claiming a record 10 successive F1 Grand Prix triumphs this season.
Speaking with Dutch media outlet Viaplay, Verstappen opened up on how the team had been lenient with him when it came to his helmet designs, something that they have never allowed any of their former drivers to do with such regularity.
“Before, whilst karting and also in Formula 3, I always drove with my own helmet design, and when I signed with Red Bull you actually lose a lot of your own design, because there’s a big Red Bull logo on everything. So it took me a couple of years to push this through,” he said.
“Actually, all Red Bull helmets, they get Red Bull pasted on there first, and then you have to design around it. I said, I’m going to make my design first, and then we stick Red Bull in it.”
Lewis Hamilton shows support with yellow helmet comparison
While some may point to the fact that too much is made over a helmet design and that it only adds aesthetic value to a racer’s racing outfit, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has also spoken about how it is of huge importance to a driver.
Hamilton believes it allows drivers to showcase their identity whilst racing.
While the British racing icon discussed a story of why he wore a yellow helmet owing to a suggestion of his father, Verstappen also believes the helmet is integral for drivers, especially those just coming through the ranks.
“It’s just kind of your identity, so of course I think that’s important,” Verstappen said.
“That’s the only thing you’re recognised by when you’re in the car. The rest of the car is the same as your teammate.”