Mike Krack: Sebastian Vettel is 'free to decide’ what he wears after helmet controversy in Canada

Monday 27 June 2022

F1 | Mike Krack: Sebastian Vettel is 'free to decide’ what he wears after helmet controversy in Canada

Mike Krack denies the Aston Martin Formula One team instructed Sebastian Vettel to remove his controversial helmet last weekend in Canada. It was designed to protest Canada’s oil sand mining, and the impact it has on the country and planet.

Last weekend in Montréal, four-time Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel sported a special helmet, designed to highlight, and protest Canada’s oil sand mining industry, and its affects on the planet.

Wearing the helmet during Friday’s and Saturday’s sessions, the German reverted back to his traditional designed helmet for Sunday’s Grand Prix.

There were reports in the German media ahead of the race that the team had insisted Vettel couldn't wear the special helmet as it produced a backlash from Canadian politicians who were far from happy at what it was. 

Team Principal Mike Krack denied those rumours that the team insisted Vettel remove the helmet ahead of the race eight days ago.

Speaking to MotorLAT and other selected media outlets following the Canadian Grand Prix, Krack said:

“He wanted to create awareness with the t-shirt and the helmet, and at one point he decided, ‘now the awareness is created’, and that was it. He took it off. You cannot wear the same t-shirt every day… [laughing] Or do you?

“He decides long before what he is doing and then we agree how to do it. Normally we have seen him in past weeks, it was always mainly a Friday thing, or Friday, Saturday.

“He’s free to decide. We talk about it and then… I don’t know where they [German television] heard this from.”

On deciding if Vettel wore the helmet on the Sunday as well as the previous days, Krack stated: “He’s a free man.”

When Vettel was asked about his change in helmet for Sunday’s main event, the German driver told Sky Sport: “I don’t want to say anything, I have more than one helmet.”