Max Verstappen is swapping his usual red, white, and blue for the green, yellow, and blue of the Brazilian flag. The Red Bull driver revealed this new helmet design on social media just before the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. He shared the look with a simple caption, according to Motorsport.com: “Bringing some samba to São Paulo.” This move shows respect for a track that has given him some of his best career moments. It also honors his partner, Kelly Piquet, whose father Nelson Piquet won three world titles.
Verstappen is not the only one changing his look for this weekend. New world champion Kimi Antonelli will wear a special helmet to honor Ayrton Senna. The Mercedes driver confirmed this tribute to the media in Mexico. He noted that it marks 35 years since Senna first won his home race. Antonelli said, “I will have a special helmet for Brazil, for Ayrton.” He also plans to keep his race number 12, which Senna used, instead of switching to number 1 as the champion usually does.
A Shared Tribute to Legends
The connection to Brazilian racing history runs deep for both drivers. With his father, Antonelli spent his childhood viewing vintage F1 races on DVD. He told the media last year that Senna “was the driver who stood out among them all.” This sentiment drives his decision to keep number 12. He feels it helps him stay grounded and humble. “I think I’ll stay with number 12,” Antonelli told the media in Mexico, according to Motorsport.com. “I’ll stay with number 12 because, obviously, it’s a very special number for me.”
Verstappen has his own history at the Interlagos circuit. In 2016, he finished third in the wet despite starting 16th. He has since won at Interlagos three times. His 2024 win is often seen as one of his greatest drives. He started 17th in heavy rain and moved closer to his fourth world title. Even last year, he climbed to third from the pitlane. He finished less than half a second behind Antonelli, who was in second place.
Mercedes Brings Back the Purple Era
Mercedes is also making a bold visual statement for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Instead of their standard black and turquoise, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will don purple race suits. The Nubank Parque in Sao Paulo hosted the Tuesday reveal of the design. It borrows from the suits worn in the 1980s and 1990s. That period saw Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna win their titles. The campaign slogan reads, according to Motorsport.com: “Inspired by the past. Built for the New. Welcome, to the Nu Era.”
Antonelli posted the new look on Instagram with the words, “New look for this weekend!” The purple shades come from the team’s partner, Brazilian bank Nubank. The dark base comes from their premium card, while the lighter purple represents their largest customer base. Mercedes’ marketing operations chief Victoria Johnson noted that the positive response to comparable suits in Miami inspired the team to expand the concept. “The partnership with Nu is based on finding bold and meaningful ways to bring fans closer to our team,” Johnson said. This is the second time Mercedes has used this concept in 2026.
Why Tradition Still Matters
In a sport that often chases the new and the loud, these tributes feel like a breath of fresh air. Both drivers are acknowledging the men who paved the way. They are wearing different colors and carrying a legacy. For American fans, this is a good reminder that success does not mean forgetting where you came from. Verstappen and Antonelli are showing that you can be a champion and still honor the past. The support from Brazil has been incredible for Antonelli. He noted, “So, yeah, looking forward to going back there, and hopefully it’s going to be a great weekend.”
The race weekend in Sao Paulo starts on Thursday. Both drivers will wear these special suits in all sessions.