Verstappen unveils 'Orange Lion' helmet as tribute to fans across three grands prix

Max Verstappen has unveiled a new ‘Orange Lion’ helmet design that he will wear across three consecutive race weekends — the Austrian, Belgian and Hungarian Grands Prix — as a tribute to his fanbase.

The four-time Formula 1 world champion revealed the design ahead of this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring, the home circuit of his Red Bull team. Verstappen confirmed the helmet will carry through to the Belgian and Hungarian rounds before reverting to his regular design.

“Austria is, of course, a home grand prix for the team. It’s been a great track for me in the past, and we have had really good memories there,” Verstappen said in a statement published on his official website. “I will also be wearing my Orange Lion helmet for Austria, Belgium and Hungary as a tribute to the fans who have supported me throughout my career. So this is exciting and we are looking forward to see what we can do at the Red Bull Ring.”

The Dutchman also addressed the technical challenge posed by the Red Bull Ring, noting the circuit’s varied corner types demand a well-rounded car setup. “It’s a very interesting track, and all of the corners are quite different, so it’s really important to get a good balance out of the car,” he said. “You need both the high speed and low speed performance, good traction and now, with how energy sensitive some tracks are, it is important to work to get on top of this.”

Verstappen also confirmed Red Bull will introduce a new upgrade package at the Austrian round. “We have a new package we are bringing, so it is exciting to see how much this could look to give us in lap time,” he added.

The helmet reveal prompted a wave of reaction online, with fans largely praising the design. “The bright blue and orange contrast is simply lovely,” one Reddit user wrote, while another called it “pretty cool.”

Some supporters, however, read deeper meaning into Verstappen’s phrasing — specifically the reference to fans who have supported him “throughout” his career — speculating it could hint at a future announcement. “Why the hell is this giving ‘The Last Lap’ vibe?” one fan wrote. Verstappen has not confirmed any plans to retire or change teams.