Formula 1: Why Daniil Kvyat should still wear illegal helmet in Russia

Despite a rule stating he isn’t allowed to, Daniil Kvyat should absolutely wear his special helmet for his home Formula 1 race, the Russian Grand Prix.

Because the FIA actually wrote a rule about it at some point in the past, Scuderia Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat is not permitted to wear a special helmet in his home Formula 1 Grand Prix at Sochi Autodrom this Sunday, September 29.

In this race, the Russian Grand Prix, the 25-year-old Russian was planning to run a special white, blue and red color scheme on his helmet for this race to represent the Russian flag.

But before this year’s running of the 53-lap race around the 18-turn, 3.634-mile (5.848-kilometer) Sochi Autodrom road course in Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, his plans were rejected, as he was told that the change to his helmet was “too much” when he submitted his plans to race director Michael Masi.

More from Formula One

• Formula 1: Top Red Bull threat identified for 2024
• Formula 1: Why the Max Verstappen retirement obsession?
• Formula 1: Williams ‘mistake’ hints Logan Sargeant’s future
• Formula 1 awaiting key confirmation for 2024 season
• Formula 1: The ‘championship’ Max Verstappen only leads by 3 points

Per Article 9.1 of F1’s Sporting Regulations, “In order for drivers to be easily distinguished from one another whilst they are on the track, the crash helmet of each driver must, with the exception of one Event of the driver’s choice, be presented in substantially the same livery at every Event during a Championship season. A change to helmet livery will also be permitted if a driver changes team during a Championship season.”

Kvyat, who hasn’t competed in the Russian Grand Prix in almost two and a half years, already used a design that differs from his traditional predominantly blue design in the Italian Grand Prix at Autodromo Nazionale Monza three weeks ago when he wore a predominantly red helmet.

But despite his special helmet being deemed illegal for this Sunday’s race, he should wear it anyway.

And he’s really considering it.

Here is what he had to say, according to Motorsport.

"“Maybe I will use it tomorrow. Let’s see. I still don’t know what could be the consequences. But to be honest, there are bigger problems [for F1] to focus [on] than a helmet design of a driver, I guess.”"

Kvyat is right; is this really the kind of thing we need to be worrying about?

That’s without even mentioning the hypocrisy and inconsistency involved here. The image of Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen below speaks for itself.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel has also worn helmets with multiple different designs and multiple different colors this season.

The idea that sticking to the same helmet allows drivers to be “easily distinguished from one another whilst they are on the track” is utterly ridiculous. Do they think the fans are stupid?

It’s not like Kvyat is saying “I’m going to copy my teammate Pierre Gasly’s helmet so when I cause a 10-car crash in turn one on the opening lap he gets blamed for it.” He’s simply using a different helmet than he usually does, and it really doesn’t look much different.

There’s also that other small detail — it’s 2019. Helmets, for fans watching on television or at the track itself, can definitely be useful for distinguishing teammates from one another. But the idea that helmets are the only way to tell who is running where on the track is laughable with all of the resources that area available in this day and age.

Finally, it’s not even a helmet issue. It’s a design issue. It has nothing to do with safety. Kvyat is not the Antonio Brown of Formula 1, insisting on wearing a different helmet than the one required for safety purposes and threatening to retire if he can’t.

The only person who truly cares about the design is Kvyat himself — and, of course, whoever else might enjoy seeing it.

It’s hurting nobody.

So why is there an actual rule against being enforced to prevent him from using it?

This is a peak-level pointless restriction in Formula 1 in an era that is loaded with them, and Daniil Kvyat defying it could go a long way in illustrating that, even if it does result in some kind of penalty.

And you can bet there would be some kind of penalty, because oh, what a terrible crime it would be if he wears a helmet with more white on it than blue in his home race!

The question now is, will he do so?

The Russian Grand Prix is set to be broadcast live on ESPN2 from Sochi Autodrom beginning at 7:05 a.m. ET tomorrow morning.