Verstappen happy with 'own identity': 'Took some time'

At Red Bull Racing, the drivers' helmets look rather similar, as the Red Bull stickers take a dominant role on the helmet. Just as Sebastian Vettel was increasingly allowed to determine his own design in the past, Verstappen's helmet has fewer Red Bull colours.

''In the past of course with karting and also in Formula 3, I drove most of the races with my own helmet design. When I signed with Red Bull, you lose a lot of your own design. So it took a while to push this through, but of course, this is the moment you are really happy about.''

How Verstappen designs his Red Bull helmet

Verstappen's new helmet looks more and more like his father's helmet design. The colours of the Dutch flag were always prominent on Jos Verstappen's helmet and we now see the same on Max's. ''In the end, I was able to put quite a few things in it that I used to have as well, so I'm happy with that.''

''All Red Bull helmets are designed first and then you have to design around that, but I said I'm going to make my design first and then Red Bull comes in. This is a bit of your identity after all. This is the only thing you are recognised by.''

With that helmet, Verstappen will hunt for pole for the Italian GP on Saturday, but to do so he will have to deal with the strong Carlos Sainz. Verstappen must also take into account the FIA's time limit. ''I think everyone is already going to position themselves a little bit on exiting the pits, in order to get above that time,'' the Red Bull driver said about it.