Danny Ric’s F1 career is notable for a couple of things. Firstly, he’s raced for so many different teams that he’s nearly ended up back where he started.
Secondly, he’s had some of the most unique and out-there helmet designs ever seen on the F1 grid.
But I’ve asked AI to come up with some even more outlandish designs to help provide the Aussie with some more helmet inspiration.
Daniels's real helmets
When he started his career racing for Toro Rosso and then Red Bull, most of Daniel’s helmets were dominated by the energy company’s logos and colour schemes.
Helmet designs of Daniel Ricciardo across the years.#ricciardo #dr3 #mclaren #f1 #formula1 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/VuFfV4DnZm
— F1 Helmets (@F1HLM) November 20, 2022
It wasn’t until he moved to Renault in 2019 that he had the freedom to run whatever design he wanted on his helmet.
To help him come up with something pretty off-the-wall , he commissioned LA-based artist Ornamental Conifer to come up with the designs for his helmets for the next few seasons.
My personal favourite is his 2020 design.
Now he’s back in the Red Bull stable with RB Cash App, his helmet has reverted back to being covered by big sponsor logos. But the flames are a cool addition.
Helmet design of Daniel Ricciardo for the 2024 season.
— F1 Helmets (@F1HLM) February 9, 2024
🎨 JMD Designs
📸 Red Bull Content Pool#dr3 #ricciardo #f1 #vcarb #visacashapprb #tororosso #formula1 #motorsport pic.twitter.com/pOMvntrIXf
He has also had a number of one-off designs for specific races. His 2019 US Grand Prix helmet was one of the most spectacular, made to look like a Texas Longhorns NFL helmet.
In October 2019, F1’s Daniel Ricciardo used a Texas Longhorns inspired helmet, which was based on a Riddell Speed, but had ‘straps’ resemble SportStar’s Ratchet Straps.
— Helmet Stalker (@HelmetStalker) June 15, 2020
(2/4) pic.twitter.com/fc3fv2ivSa
AI helmet designs
So I think we’ll all agree that Ricciardo’s helmets in recent years have been some of the coolest, most artistic designs we’ve ever seen, straying far away from the more traditional helmet artwork.
But I want to go one step further. I want to give him some inspiration to incorporate some of the things that his adoring fans know and love about him.
The Honey Badger. His smile. The shoey. Let’s see what Artificial Intelligence can do for the Aussie.
Here’s the first design that AI has come up with.
The paintwork and colours are pretty cool, and I’m glad his number 3 is on there. But I’m not sure why there’s a Union Jack on it, and his name isn’t even spelled right. So let’s try again.
Now it’s getting a little more adventurous. This is quite obviously a helmet inspired by the theme of Daniel’s home country of Australia.
In fact, it’s not that dissimilar to the helmet he’s actually wearing for the 2024 Australian Grand Prix. Except the real one says Red Bull, not Red Reud Bull!
Ooosh. This is a pretty tasty design! AI stuck with the Aussie theme for this one, giving us a image of Uluru (Ayers Rock) at dusk with a couple of Red Bull F1 cars racing past it.
The colour scheme is also pretty in keeping with some of his more recent helmet designs. I rate this one big time.
I like the colours, but it’s pretty bold to put an image of yourself celebrating on the side of your own helmet.
But if anyone’s going to be bold enough to do it, Daniel Ricciardo’s probably the man.
AI I applaud you for your out of the box thinking. Why wouldn’t you try and turn a helmet in to a tub of Vegemite?
Ok so it’s another Aussie stereotype ticked off the list, and I don’t think the yellow lid will do much for the car’s drag coefficient. But what an effort.
What’s one of the things Danny Ric is most well known for? His smile.
And what better way to make sure the rest of us get to see that at all times, even when he’s wearing his helmet, than to paint his smile on the front of his lid.
Other AI helmet designs:
Ricciardo’s nickname is the Honey Badger. The cute but ferocious animal has actually made its way on to his real helmets a few times, but in this design it takes centre stage.
The colour scheme’s nice and in keeping with a lot of his recent helmets. Number 3 is big and bold. Red Bull logos are present but not overwhelming. This could be an option for a future design, what do you reckon?
Here’s another Honey Badger themed design. This time the little animal’s got hungry and started munching on his visor.
Another thing he’s well known for is the infamous ‘Shoey’ celebration.
That’s what AI’s gone for in this design, but it’s missed the mark slightly. Last time I checked the celebration involved drinking champagne from his sweaty race boot, not eating the damn thing.
Now we’re talking. Racing boot held high above his head, mouth wide open, ready to receive some sweaty champagne. That’s the shoey as we know it.
