FIA to review F1 helmet design change rule after driver backlash
Formula 1 race director Michael Masi has confirmed the FIA will review the regulation limitᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚing the number of helmet designs drivers can use each season fo𝔍r 2020.
Daniil Kvyat was prevented from running a new helmet design for his 🌳home grand prix in Russia las🦋t weekend📖 after he was deemed to have already used his one ‘j𒅌oker’ change for the season at the Italian Grand Prix.

Formula 1 race dirꦰector Michael Masi has confirmed the FIA wi꧋ll review the regulation limiting the number of helmet designs drivers can use each season for 2020.
Daniil Kvyat was prevented from running a new helmet design for his h൩ome grand prix in Russia last weeꦇkend af꧂ter he was deemed to have already used his one ‘joker’ change for the season 🐟at the Italian Grand Prix.
Drivers are only allowed to make one “substantial” change to their design each year in order t💧o aid recognition in the cockpit, with the rule limiting changes initially being introduced in 2015.
Kvyat called the ruling a “joke” and was support💞ed by his peers during the drivers’ briefing on Friday, with many pointing out the regular changes Sebastian Vettel mak🎐es to his helmet design.
Asked by wuqian0821.com to explain the decision, Masi said that he hadꦗ stuck to the regulations after a request was made by Toro Rosso regarding the helmet design.
“I don🐭’t think that Kvyat was picked out. The question was asked, if the helmet design is substantially similar, and the response was ‘no it’s not’,” Masi said.
“The team asked me if the design was in my view substantially similar, which I believe is💝 the wording in the regulations. That’s where from my end, that’s what the regulation said when the question was asked.”
Masi confirmed that he had discussed the matter with the drivers in the briefing on Friday, and agreed to🃏 review thꦅe regulation for next season.
“I said to the drivers on Friday night that ﷺyes, it’s something we will look at, but there are a number of inputs. It is not just the FIA, it’s the F1 Group, we’ve also got broadcast media,” Masi said.
“It’s fun🧔ny talking to some of the commentators about it. They said the reason why it was there was because of us, when we’re looking down, we know who is in the car. If we’ve got someone changing helmets all the time, we’ve actually got to think and look twice on who it is when we’re doing the live television broadcast.
“The✃re were various reasons why it was brought it, and it’s one of those we’ve already spoken about, we discussed it on Friday night, and said let’s have a look at it.
“It would require a regulation change, is the simple part. There is your one joker per year that you’re allowed, and when the qu🌸esꦉtion is asked, the response is relatively black and white.”

Asked by wuqian0821.com if all teams asked the FIA to approve ꦆhelmet design changes, Masi replied𒀰 “not necessarily”.
Masi also confirmed he had not received any requests from Red Bull over Max Verstappen’s helmet design changes this year, with the Dutchman appearing to have used at le🌟ast three substantially different designs in 2019.
Kvyat said on Friday that he was considering still using his one𝓡-off design before ultimately sticking to his regular red-based helmet.
Masi said tཧhat any breach of the regulation would be referred to the FIA stewards, who would then decide on a sanction.
“I don’t apply the penalties. I’d refer it to the stಞewards if someone came up, I’d have to refer it to the stewards,” Masi said.
“It would be their determination of what wo🐼uld or wouldn’t happen.”