McLaren Formula 1 driver Lando Norris is to sport a Valentino Rossi-inspired helmet design at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix.
Norris, 19, has often spoken of the nine-time motorcycle World Champion as his idol, and recently visited the Yamaha rider at MotoGP’s British Grand Prix.
Norris will run Rossi’s fluorescent design and his personalised number – 4 – has been tweaked to mirror Rossi’s font style.
“It’s something I’ve always loved doing: [designing] my own kit, in karting I used to have different helmets, boots, sticker kits, whatever. You’re more limited in car racing.
“But for the races I can I want to have special helmets and boots.
“For this one I already spoke to Valentino quite a while ago on social media about trying to sort this as I have to ask him if I can do it.
“It was just an opportunity to make this race more special, something to remember it by, and that was by having more of a connection with Valentino, the guy I’ve always looked up to, my hero, from Italy, so it was more of a dedication to him than anyone else.”
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