• Max Verstappen revealed his new helmet for the 2022 Formula 1 season.
• The new helmet features subtle changes over the one used in the 2021 season.
• Verstappen won the 2021 F1 championship after a season-long duel with Lewis Hamilton.
• For more motoring stories, visit Wheels24
2021 Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen revealed the new helmet he'd be using in the upcoming season. The Red Bull driver's new helmet design is not too different from last year's, featuring only subtle changes for this year.
This year's helmet features more gold trimmings and the number 1 at its rear. Since it became clear that the Dutchman could be on course to win the 2021 championship, he said that the number 1 would feature on his F1 car instead of the number 33 we've come to recognise. Yet, no one expected the '1' to appear on his new helmet.
Another subtle addition brought about is the star at the helmet's rear, a sign of his championship-winning year.
Verstappen said on his social media accounts: "Very happy to show you all my new helmet for the 2022 season! Although the design hasn't changed that much, it's the small details that make the difference!"
Going gold in 2022 ?? The champion has a shiny new lid for this season ?? @Max33Verstappen ???? pic.twitter.com/2Ux7bM37Fi
— Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) January 27, 2022
That winning drive
After many years of competing in F1, Verstappen finally managed to win his first championship in 2021. For most of 2021, he was in control of the championship standings, but several on-track incidents - most notably in Britain and Hungary - dented the lead he had built up. It meant that championship rival, Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes-AMG, could close the gap and come within striking distance.
In Brazil, the fourth-last race of the season, the Mercedes team opted to fit Hamilton's car with a new engine. It proved to be a stroke of genius as it allowed the Brit to further eat into Verstappen's lead at a rapid pace. Heading into the final race of the season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the two title protagonists were tied on points.
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Hamilton had done enough to secure the win and his eighth championship, but a late call by race director Michael Masi turned the race on its head. With Verstappen on fresher tyres and Hamilton on worn once, the Red Bull driver launched a last-lap assault for the race's lead. It proved decisive as he passed Hamilton going into Turn 5, holding on to the lead until the chequered flag.
The Mercedes team intended to contest the championship outcome, but decided not to taint what had been a brilliant season up to that point.
By winning the championship, Verstappen became only the second driver after Nico Rosberg (2016) to win the gold since the turbo-hybrid era kicked in in 2014. Hamilton had won every other season.
