If you’ve ever found yourself asking, ‘Why do F1 drivers wear caps?’, you’ve come to the right place! Over the years, F1 hats have increased in popularity and the designs continue to impress. The bright colours, signature logos, and driver numbers - what’s not to love?!
But is there a specific reason why F1 drivers need to wear hats? Well, that’s what we are going to explore. In this blog, our experts share why F1 drivers wear caps and the significance they hold to the sport.
Can you guess the reasons F1 drivers wear hats? Let’s find out…
Why Do F1 Drivers Wear Caps?
When we think of drivers and their hats, we typically think of F1 helmets! But when they're out of their cars and off the track, they also like to wear caps - but why? Well, there are six main reasons why F1 drivers wear hats and the reasons may just shock you!
Sponsorship Visibility
Perhaps the most important reason why F1 drivers wear caps is thanks to the enhanced sponsorship visibility it offers.
We know what you’re thinking: Why do F1 teams need sponsorship? Well, they can provide financial assistance to the teams that can help pay the team’s wages and be used to add enhancements to the car.
As part of the sponsorship, the team is required to promote the brand especially when you consider the fact that Formula One is a global event. This means the promotion is happening on a worldwide scale - just by simply wearing a cap! Therefore, you may see drivers wearing caps on multiple occasions, such as at:
- Ceremonies
- Interviews
- Media events
Gotta get those sponsorship views! Some of the biggest sponsors in F1 include:
- Ferrari: Santander
- Mercedes: Whatsapp
- McLaren: Workday
- Williams: Duracell
- Aston Martin: Boss
- Red Bull: Castore
- Alpine: XBOX
- Haas: Chipotle
As you can see, there’s a range of sponsors for F1 teams - from batteries and clothing brands to food and video games!
Image Source: Charles LeClerc
Shield from the Sun
It’s no secret that the Formula One calendar jets to some beautiful places. There’s Australia, Monaco, Italy, Abu Dhabi - the list goes on!
The common denominator in all of these? They’re very sunny places. So, who would have thought that one of the reasons why F1 drivers wear caps is simply for practicality?
Of course, drivers aren’t unused to hot climates - inside the cockpit of their cars can be 60°C! However, when out and about outside the cars, F1 hats can shield drivers’ eyes and faces from the sun to provide protection from the blazing rays.
This is important because they clearly need to protect their eyes for perhaps the ultimate driving experience as well as ensuring they don’t get sunstroke before the next race.
Image Source: Lando Norris
Team Spirit
You’ll hear so many F1 drivers and the wider team say that your F1 team is your family, with Carlos Sainz famously saying:
“In an F1 team at the end, you have your little family and I feel that Red Bull is definitely mine and my place to be at the moment.”
Of course, he’s since moved to Ferrari… and most recently Williams…. Talk about awkward!
But, the sentiment still stands. Especially for the fans, they feel like part of the extended family and an F1 cap is a way to make dedicated racing enthusiasts feel like they are part of the team. It may just seem like a hat to some, but to fans and enthusiasts, the caps signify belonging to a family that potentially they may not have.
It’s similar to wearing a football shirt from your favourite team - some people may not understand, but to you, it’s part of belonging and being part of a wider team.
Our founder, Matt Cole, says:
“Fans wear them to show support for their favorite drivers and teams, often choosing caps tied to specific races, championship wins, or limited-edition collaborations.”
Image Source: George Russell
Personal Branding
Sure, it’s the teams that fans tend to follow - for example, if you may support an F1 team based on where you and your family are. However, nowadays, many people tend to get behind one individual driver.
To you, they could be the best F1 driver in your opinion or you may stand for their morals. So, Formula One drivers may wear caps to enhance their personal branding and widen their fanbase.
We've already discussed how F1 teams get sponsorships but did you know that drivers can also have their own sponsors? In a similar manner to how footballers can expand their career opportunities outside of their beloved sport, the same can now be said for F1 drivers.
Some personal sponsors of Formula One drivers include:
- Nico Hulkenberg: Hineman
- Fernando Alonso: Kimoa
- Lando Norris: Bell Helmets
- Max Verstappen: Heineken
- Oscar Piastri: Quadlock
- George Russell: Puma
- Charles Leclerc: Richard Millie
- Alex Albon: Monsoon Valley
You may see some of these sponsors on each driver’s hat or race suit to meet contract agreements. Or, as advertisements on their social media platforms - check this one out!
Image Source: Nico Hulkenberg
Post-race Hair
Unfortunately, we’ve all been victims of a bad hair day. It doesn’t lie flat, you’ve got bits sticking up everywhere, and it just won’t do as it’s told. Well, just imagine how the drivers feel after a tough race out on the track. They take off their helmets and well… let’s just say it is a sight to behold!
So, one of the main reasons why F1 drivers wear hats is because they cover up their post-race hair. Yes, really! Especially for the races that are set in hot and humid climates, like Saudi Arabia, Las Vegas, or Australia, the drivers get sweaty and stressed and this can cause all sorts of eccentric hairstyles.
After each race, drivers will have to go and have interviews, or if they’re lucky enough, get on the podium, and a cap just makes things look a little more presentable than crazy hair that will be papped and referred back to for years.
Image Source: Oscar Piastri
Continuing the Tradition
You may think F1 caps have been around forever, but that’s not necessarily the case.
Back in the 1950s, drivers rarely wore caps (and helmets at that but that’s a topic for a different day). This is because the sport was far more casual back then and, most importantly, there wasn’t as much sponsorship involved. This changed from the 1980s onwards with race suits, helmets, and caps becoming more common to boost sponsorship visibility both on and off the track, especially during post-race interviews.
Nowadays, wearing a cap is part of a driver’s uniform. We can’t imagine a podium lineup without them wearing hats! They are an integral part of marketing for F1 teams and become an object of desire amongst the fans - especially as a collector's piece.
How interesting to see how the sponsorships have changed over the years for specific teams and more importantly, how the sport has evolved.
Long live the tradition of wearing F1 caps!
Image Source: Kimi Antonelli
Be Part of the Team with an F1 Cap from MysteryPitstop
So, now you know all the reasons why F1 drivers wear caps. Some of the reasons are for practicality (looking at you, post-race hair), but as is to be expected with the F1 a lot of the reasons are due to financial significance.
But the most important reason is feeling like you’re part of the team!
And you can do just that with an F1 hat from MysteryPitstop. As avid fans of the sport ourselves, we understand that feeling all too well. This is why we stock a wide variety of caps from a range of teams, including:
- Aston Martin
- Williams
- Mercedes
- Ferrari
To name just a few! However, if you prefer the element of surprise, take a look at our Mystery GP Boxes. No matter which version you pick, you’ll get a random hat from any team. The best bit? We work with trusted sources to make sure all of our products are 100% genuine.
There’s never been an easier way to build an F1 memorabilia collection. Shop now!
