Helmet manufacturer Schuberth has reacted to Felipe Massa’s Hungarian Grand Prix accident by developing an upgraded version of the design used by the Ferrari driver.
Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher will launch the new model later this month at the European GP in Valencia, where he is set to return to Formula 1 as a high-profile stand-in for his former team-mate Massa.
The Brazilian suffered a fractured skull and brain concussion after being hit in the head by a spring weighing 800g that had detached itself from the rear suspension of Rubens Barrichello’s Brawn car.
Although Massa’s lightweight carbon fibre helmet stood up well to the impact – testifying to the efficacy of stringent safety standards introduced by the FIA in 2004 – the left visor mounting was knocked off.
Schuberth has therefore reinforced the mounting point between the helmet and visor with a titanium disc, a change it says will double the strength of the mounting.
“Felipe’s visor only came off when the doctors pulled on it,” Schuberth’s Oliver Schimpf told German newspaper Bild.
“But we have inserted a titanium disc at the transition from the visor to the helmet where before there was only plastic.
“It is a reaction to the accident.”
Schumacher’s new €12,000 Schuberth RF1 lid sports a revised livery designed by Jens Munser, with a barcode-style cluster of white stripes below the top white band and some Mandarin script on a black background behind the visor on either side.
On the right side of the helmet, the names of Schumacher and his son Mick are written in Chinese characters, while the names of his wife Corinna and daughter Gina Maria appear on the right side and a dragon adorns the rear.
The seven stars denoting his record number of F1 world titles remain on the top of the helmet.
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