Jean-Eric Vergne decided for the Monaco Grand Prix to wear a special helmet on race day in honoor of Francois Cevert, killed 40 years ago at the wheel of a Tyrrell at Watkins Glen. To mark the anniversary of his death Cevert’s sister Jacqueline, who married Jean-Pierre Beltoise and is the mother of racers Anthony and Julien, decided to produce a book about her brother, working with the celebrated French F1 writer Johnny Rives, who was the main reporter for L’Equipe from 1960 to 1996. It was the book that inspired JEV to change his helmet for Monaco.
“I didn’t want to do the usual, glitzy, shiny Monaco helmet and this seemed like a nicer idea,” he said. “For me Cevert represented ‘La Belle Epoque’ of Formula 1.”
joeblogsf1 
It’s stunning, best of all the ‘special’ helmets by a country mile (Hamilton’s is appalling).
Makes me wish they’d all ditch the overcomplicated designs and go back to the simple, clean ones of days past.
Stunning. A very classy gesture.
Vernge has a keen sense of history which should be applauded. He wore a great looking Jean Alesi helmet last year at Monaco too.
Personally I think he should wear the Cervert helmet permanently as it has fare more character that his anonymous looking normal design.
Lets not forget, Jean Alesi’s design was based on that of de Angelis, Michele Alboreto’s was based on Ronnie Peterson etc.
Joe, do you think it would be good for Vernge to use Cervet’s design full time?
Respect, Simplicity, Elegance, shame about the Red Bull’s but then that a modern drivers lot.
Of the drivers of the grid at the minute I could only draw a couple, and very badly at that, from memory. Helmet designs were so much better back then – solid colours and shapes instead of every fleck, flick and tick the airbrusher can fit in. they’re like superbike helmets now. Another pet hate of mine is when a driver’s design deliberately allows a white ring for sponsors’ logos at the top.
nice work Jean-Eric – I always thought he looked like a kind of retro chap with those sideburns as well
and yes Hamilton’s design is like something you’d see painted under a railway bridge
Tres bien, Jean Eric 🙂
Classy…
agreed, the helmets are way over-complicated nowadays, and i dont like driver changing their designs every year / race, it loses its significance.
Kudos to Jean Eric for commemorating a historical driver on this occassion.
Elio de Angelis’ helmet design was great, i’ve recently done a 1/20 version of it and am loving it.
Classy gesture from Vergne.
I have to say, much as I’d prefer the drivers to stick with sensible, identifiable helmet designs, I’d also quite like them to show a bit more humour about the whole thing. Given that it’s their only canvas on which to express themselves I’m surprised we’ve not had lighter-hearted efforts like some of Valentino Rossi’s for his home Moto GP race at Mugello.
Google “Valentino Rossi Mugello face helmet” for an idea…
Nice design, pity the red bull is so big!
I suppose the book is in French.
Good guess
I liked Raikkonens James Hunt helmet even better last year!
But I agree that the simpler helmets of earlier had something special, like a lucky charm.
I don’t get it. Who looks at the helmets as the cars flash by? And besides, with the drivers getting so involved and emotional about the design and colors of their own helmets just makes them seem gay. Don’t they have more urgent matters to attend to?
Have you been watching F1 for long?
Great response!
Bizzare post. Helmets have always been important (at least among hard core fans). Whether watching on TV or in person, I always pay attention to helmets and appreciate the simple, easy to identify designs. This is a very classy gesture on his part.
Absolutely that and the Tbar
I guess I’m not an anorak…I like everything about F1 – the speed, the technology, the bravery – but pretty helmets come under the same category as antique furniture. It’s for people with too much time on their hands.
Daft comment mate.
Also, have some respect for the driver in whose honour Jean-Eric decided to dedicate this design, please. You don’t need to be an anorak for that.
Er, not sure if serious…
Who’s to say some aren’t (gay)? Or do you mean in the traditional sense?
I think he was referring to it in the modern sense.
Unfortunately I do too.
‘Makes them seem gay’ ?? Just.. WOW.
Have you just arrived from the 1950’s avec marty mcfly and the flux capacitor ?
Let’s see ……..two car teams, cars painted identically by regulation, very small numbers……..gee, do you think different color helmets might help identify drivers?
Wouldn’t it be cool to see either Kimi or Romain wear a Ronnie Peterson inspired helmet? That unmistakable blue and yellow in a black and gold car would bring back all sorts of memories for me – although nothing on the current F1 grid gets anywhere near the aching beauty of a Lotus 79.
I like it, he did an Alesi one last year. Seems to be a nice guy, shame he isn’t doing better at the moment
He’ll be dropped for sure by Red Bull end of year, way to nice and sensible! That does not win titles in the mind of Dr Helmut. Bad call Eric, bad call..
This is the kind of gesture that makes new fans for a driver. JEV also appears intelligent enough to make an appropriate reference to ‘la belle epoque’…
Well done JEV the helmet looks fantastic, it is a proud weekend for you to remember a fabulous french driver 40 years after his death, wearing these colours at the monte carlo grands prix. It is so easy to forget these drivers.
Nice helmet and good book !
I also remember François driving for Matra (World Championship for Makes) or winning at Donnibrook 1972 with a Mc Laren M8F in Can-Am. Gone but not forgotten.
Too bad he couldn’t wear a helmet that was the same design as Cervert’s… even the tribute helmet is way too busy and complicated… why not wear the same helmet paint as the original?
Contracts with sponsors and the team. The top dogs could get away with it, they don’t lack for sponsorship nor power in their respective teams. Vergne is disposable.
Sadly the sponsors would not be happy. They’ll be putting logos on the visor next
As a teenager I was a massive Jackie Stewart fan. Still my favorite helmet design — all white with a tartan stripe.
It has a lovely simple story behind it too: when he started, Helen tied a Royal Stewart tartan ribbon round his helmet for luck. It seemed to work, so he kept the tartan stripe for the rest of his career.
Brings back childhood memories, aged 5 I attended the Belgian GP in Zolder. For some reason it was Cevert who caught my attention. Still have vivid memories of that évent.
Joe,
A year ago there was an announcement that à movie about Stewart and Cevert was in the making. Have you heard anything about this?
Like all movies, there is talk but lights, cameras and action is expensive.
Guessing such activities will being waiting to see success of a certain movie that me be getting released a short while after the F1 midseason break ends
My first interest in Formula 1 and motor racing in general came after the tragic death of Francois Cevert but I have come to know much about him since through books and films of that era .
One such film I can recommend was re-released on DVD in 2002 and the subject is to revisit a rarely seen documentary originally released in 1974 named “Champions Forever, The Formula One Drivers (The Quick & the Dead)”, directed by Claude du Bok, presented by Craig Glazer & Ron Hamady on FOREVER Films.
While you have to get past the rather sleazy narration by Stacy Keach, the film contains some great action footage and some intimate footage and interviews with Cevert and others such as JYS, Hailwood and Revson.
The interviews with Cevert especially are worth the whole weight of the film. A lovely man who’s love and respect for JYS is clear for all to see. There is footage of him frolicking on the beach, changing into his race suit in his hotel room (the morning after the night before as, as he says in the movie, his bed is never empty!) and footage of him walking the length of the pit lane spreading his aura. A very memorable film giving a clear picture of his star quality.
I can recommend this to all.
Just looked and it is on Youtube;
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzvRz7hWdFA
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTwHT8e42ic
Part 2 begins with Cevert in his hotel room…
Another nice one called “Francois Cevert – The Destiny of a Prince” that I had never seen before is here in French with English translation;
Nice gesture. Nothing wrong with fancy helmets I guess. Was always touching to see Damon wearing the same (rowing club? – someone more knowledgeable will correct me I hope) design as his old man. Always thought that Lewis was actually deserving of the same yellow as the great Ayrton and then I heard him say it was co-incidence! Modesty or Bullshine..?But back to Cevert, before my time but from what I’ve gleaned from documentaries a true gent and worthy recipient of due respect.
I believe Lewis’ father wanted to be able to pick him out in the pack while he was karting so Yellow was chosen as it stood out. So no “Bullshine..” [sic].
Well done Jean Eric, you’ve done the helmet proud!!!!
Good luck for the rest of the season.