Ricciardo shows off striking new helmet design

Daniel Ricciardo

Ricciardo shows off striking new helmet design

New lid as eye catching as the 2019 version

Sam Hall

Thursday 12 March 2020 11:35

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Daniel Ricciardo has revealed his first helmet design of the 2020 Formula 1 season, having worn a special purple helmet in tribute to Kobe Bryant during pre-season testing.

Daniel Ricciardo hasn't had the best of times in his home Grand Prix, scoring his only podium finish in 2014 before a post race penalty saw him stripped of the silverware, but the Australian is confident that his Renault R.S.20 is a step forwards from last year.

"I think the test ended well for us<" said Ricciardo. "Day three of week two was a lot more promising, and both my feedback and Esteban’s, you could see our expression when we got out of the car. It was certainly more optimistic. That was encouraging.

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“I just look back at last year, the whole build up and everything. I was watching some on-boards and I can just see me from the outside. I’m a lot more comfortable in this car now so I’m looking forward to seeing what I can do.”

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Moving away from Red Bull for the 2019 season, Ricciardo took the opportunity to drastically change his helmet design. Creating a lurid blue, green and pink design, Ricciardo has again freshened things up for 2020.

However, a late rule change removing a regulation that prohibits drivers from changing design on more than one occasion caught out Ricciardo, the Renault driver saying he would have donned a lid with an 'Australian theme' if given enough notice.

“I’m torn now because I’ve worked pretty hard on this year’s one. You’ll see it Friday – I’m really happy with this one,” Ricciardo told 7News.

“I worked with the same artist as last year. But now that we’ve got the chance to do whatever I’m sure we’ll do some funky ones.

“If I had more notice I probably would’ve done an Australian theme [for this weekend] but I thought this was going to be my full-year helmet.”