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Verstappen's head too big for Red Bull's helmets

Photo: © LAT Images

Verstappen's head too big for Red Bull's helmets

Not big-headed like that...

Max Verstappen is using a different brand's helmet for 2019, because his head was too big for Red Bull's provider of choice, Dr Helmut Marko has revealed. Verstappen suffered discomfort using Arai – who Red Bull have used for many years – prompting a late switch to Schuberth lids for the year ahead.

Marko even revealed that Red Bull's 2019 car, the RB15, was designed with the use of Arai helmets in mind, but the team have had no issues with Verstappen switching provider.

The Dutchman's 2019 helmet design is a step change, using mostly white, having previously stuck to Red Bull's brand colours – and the team's supplier – as most drivers under the teams umbrella do.

Marko told Motorsport.com: "The Arai helmet was used as basis for our car concept.

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"We've had a contract with Arai for many years, and not only for the drivers at Red Bull Racing, but also for the mechanics, for Toro Rosso, for our junior team.

"But Verstappen had problems with the Arai helmet [in testing]. It didn't fit and he didn't see properly. He felt extremely uncomfortable.

"If a driver feels uncomfortable with his helmet, it's not wise to force something on him.

"At the time we had to decide, it wasn't clear whether Arai would manage the homologation. So we made that decision."

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