Norris reveals helmet inspiration with Russell dig

Miami Grand Prix

Norris reveals helmet inspiration with Russell dig

Norris has certainly gone in a different direction to the rest of the field this weekend

Sam Hall

Sunday 8 May 2022 14:00

Lando Norris has joked his new basketball helmet might have better suited George Russell given Mercedes' struggles with bouncing this season.

As is the case at most F1 weekends now, a number of drivers arrived in Miami with specially designed helmets to pay tribute to the venue.

For most drivers, the designs featured bright colours and palm trees, but Norris found inspiration from the Miami Heat basketball team.

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"It's just a basketball," grinned Norris. "I was asked what is the inspiration and I think it's quite obvious - it's just a basketball.

"I kind of knew everyone was gonna go for palm trees and boring stuff. I just wanted to do something, I guess very different.

"I mean, it's not like elegant and wow but it's just simple and different to what a lot of people go for. So it's cool.

"The guys did a great job of actually making it look like a basketball. It’s not so simple. And, you know, it's textured like a basketball as well."

Sat alongside Russell, and with reference to the porpoising experienced by the Briton in Mercedes' W13 this year, Norris smiled and added: "Maybe it would have suited George more, considering they like bouncing a bit more.

"So that could have been better. But yeah, I think hopefully mine is just a fast one."

Norris has stood out in recent years with his one-off helmets, previously racing with a pizza-inspired design as well as one designed by a six-year-old fan.

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