When Lewis Hamilton made it to Suzuka, everyone expected him to arrive with a new helmet design. Seeing as how it’s his favorite track, it was only natural for fans to expect that. But what he unveiled wasn’t just any other design. It was a masterpiece—a design so unique that fans were left hoping he’d never change it back. He collaborated with the renowned Japanese illustrator Hajime Sorayama, making a chrome helmet with the Mercedes logo emblazoned in the middle. The best part? It had a fluorescent strip running across the center of the visor, allowing the helmet to light up. Nothing could beat that, right?
Lewis Hamilton was spotted shopping in a Nintendo store in Tokyo wearing a Toad hat 😅🍄
(h/t @TeamLH44JAPAN) pic.twitter.com/xv4KjN6FKi
— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) September 20, 2023
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Well, that’s what we thought until the Mercedes X admin caused havoc among the Lewis Hamilton Army. How? By revealing a helmet design that would’ve been perfect for the Japanese GP but can be a potential Qatar GP lid! It has a white base with Hamilton’s usual sponsors in a black strip. On the white base are four large red dots—left, right, front, and top. While it may seem like just another design, it’s not. And Hamilton’s recent Tokyo outing only made the prospect better.
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The white and red polka dot design isn’t just a random one. In fact, it’s one of the most well-known designs in not just Japan but anyone who’s versed with a Nintendo device. Nintendo is a Japanese multinational video game company popularly known for creating Super Mario. Hamilton’s white and red lid is an ode to one of the game’s characters—Toad! When Hamilton reached Japan, he went to a Nintendo store in Tokyo. Guess what he was wearing? A Toad hat! Could that have just been a peek into what’s to come? X users definitely thought so.
The LH Army “needs” Lewis Hamilton to wear this helmet
The Mercedes X account is one of the most active ones of any F1 team. From engaging in banter to dropping Easter eggs here and there, they instigated X users once again. With mock pictures of the helmet design, they wrote, “Go on, Lewis, don’t be shy. 🍄” That’s all the invitation X users needed to show their excitement for the potential lid.
As perfect as this helmet would’ve been for the Japanese GP, no one could’ve hoped for anything better than what Hamilton delivered in Suzuka. With the Qatar GP coming up next, could this have been a (deliberate) leak by the Mercedes admin?
Qatar helmet leak
— TheNamesDan (@DannyLegss) September 30, 2023
Like Toad shoots fireballs after acquiring a Fire Flower, one fan expressed how Hamilton’s helmet would be nothing short of “FIIIIIIIRRRRREEEE!”
This would be FIIIIIIIRRRRREEEE
— x – kraken releaser (@OGKrakenfan) September 30, 2023
No doubt this would be another “fire” helmet design by Hamilton, which is why one fan wrote how they like the idea. Well, so do we!
I like the idea ngl 🤭
— lily⁴⁷ (@_itsnotlily) September 30, 2023
Mercedes asked the seven-time champion not to be shy. Another user built on that and has asked Hamilton to give everyone what they want—a real-life version of this helmet.
@LewisHamilton don’t be shy. do this for us.
— chloe⁴⁴ (@chloeteamlh) September 30, 2023
Now that it’s established that this helmet is fire and everyone wants to see it, Hamilton has no choice but to do it, right?
Ay yo! He has to do it pic.twitter.com/Z8THVVWOtA
— el Formula (@elFormulaOne) September 30, 2023
If it looks this good on screen, not to mention as a mock design, imagine how good it’ll look inside the W14. Especially with the contrast between the black of the car and the vibrant red and white of the helmet?! As Autosport put it:
WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT! pic.twitter.com/FAtoAjlVxv
— Autosport (@autosport) September 30, 2023
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In conclusion:
I NEED THIS TO HAPPEN
— char 🙂 (@chxrrryyblossom) September 30, 2023
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Apart from the Sprint format returning, the Qatar GP has given us something else to look forward to. Do you think Lewis Hamilton will deliver once again?