Kiddies Designing Helmets
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Lando's design from Hungary's race.This was before the contest though and though decent looking a bit meaningless.
Drivers receive around 12-15 helmets per season and most of them personalise them some way making them stand out a little more. Some earn extra revenue from having advertising whilst others have fun and do it themselves. Giving a youngster the chance to design something would be fantastic though and what they did.
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The reason behind having so many is that the drivers perspire loads of sweat and rotating them after each driving session is required. Over one race weekend a driver would expect to rotate at least 3 helmets.
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With the no fan rule in place certain teams have come out trying to get fans involved. Bringing some part of a fan to a race track through a helmet design competition has made Lando Norris rather popular. His latest helmet was designed by a 6 year old girl called Eva.
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I actually like the design as it not only has McLarens colours but it is kind of neat how the S is dropped below as it didn't quite fit.
Not only is this refreshing, but it will make Eva a racing fan for life. Once they have finished with the helmets they are normally auctioned off or are kept as part of the drivers collection of memorabilia. I am hoping just maybe Lando will keep one aside and give it to Eva personally at a future date.That would be the ultimate thank you having her as a team guest at her home Grand Prix and giving her one of his helmets with her design on it.
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Wearing the custom designed helmet with Eva's name in the bottom corner.
There have been other competitions handing out sponsored items from their team sponsors. There was a colouring in competition for kids where the winners received various prizes from Mercedes Formula One. It is these small things that don't cost anything really that actually mean so much in the bigger picture.Reaching out to fans and connecting with them is still important as if they can't come to you at least you can come to them in some form or other.
In the past teams would have special guests for the race day from various charities like "Reach For a Dream" or something similar. This is about the best they can do for now regarding the children getting them involved in small meaningful projects. Growing a fan base means targeting every age group and not just the parents.
McLaren do still surprise fans with a special fans drop delivery and will select a bunch of fans and then arrive at their houses with a goodie bag full of various sponsored items. This happened over the last weekend and it was a McLaren bagged rammed full of things. The marketing arm never stops and must be one of the real fun parts of the business as it really isn't a job.
This is not only interesting, but fun as well. And I like it better than that pink racing car, which looks awful by the way.
Pink car is changing colour and name at the end of the season. Most likely be green with Aston Martin. This I also thought was interesting as it is something very real.
Good as the pink car was ridiculous to say the least!
And by the way, using kids' drawings is a good idea because it make the sport less distant from the public.
That is exactly as how I see it. Bringing the public into the sport in some form or way. A young girl will cherish this for the rest of her life along with her parents.
These high end sports always seem so distant. This is at least a bridge between ordinary people and them.