ONE BRILLIANT HELMET

MADELINE COLEMAN REPORTS IN THE ATHLETIC, The New York Times, October 9, 2025, “Isack Hadjar’s F1 Helmet is a Tribute to Physics, Fatherhood, and a Decade of Racing.” 

Coleman observes of F1 livery, “There are a few customizable elements to the race day uniform, such as shoes, but the most prominent place where a driver can showcase their personality is their helmet.” 

Isack Hadjar’s 2025 helmet. Image by Red Bull from The New York Times.

She describes, “Etched on the back of the 21-year-old’s yellow-and-purple lid are equations. A couple formulated by Albert Einstein (E=mc² is entirely written out in the top-right side of Isack’s helmet), another by Isaac Newton and a few by theoretical physicists you may or may not have heard of: Max Planck, Irvin Schdrödinger and Werner Heisenberg. Only one, Daniel Bernoulli’s equation for fluid mechanics, is directly used in motorsports.”

“All were selected,” Coleman continues, “with the help of his father, Yassine, a quantum physicist and a senior researcher at the University of Technology of Troyes in France in the field of Nanophotonics (which explores how new materials can be created).”

Isack with his quantum physicist father, Yassine, and his mum, Randa. Image by DPPI/Almany Live News via The Sunday Times.

Fluid in Motion. Coleman cites Isack’s dad: “Bernoulli’s equation essentially explains how fluid moves, specifically ‘the result of applying conservation of energy to a flowing fluid,’ Yassine said in a written statement to The Athletic. Air is an example of a fluid and how it moves around an F1 car’s wings and bodywork is the aerodynamic element of the sport. The other physicists ‘are the most famous,’ he added, ‘and allow us to understand our universe.’ ”

And in Helmet Design. Coleman continues: “ ‘I have always considered physics equations to be works of art,’ Yassine explained. ‘On the other hand, I have always taught my children never to set limits for themselves. The only limit is the universe… this is why you see it on the top of the helmet.’ ”

“On the back is the galaxy,” notes Coleman, “an atom is at the top, while an electron circles Hadjar’s racing number (6).”

Some Helmet History. Coleman offers motor sports history: “Helmets became mandatory in 1952, but they were a far cry from the full-face coverings we see today. It wasn’t until after 1968, when Dan Gurney wore the first full-face helmet, that they became standard.”

“Helmets have continued to evolve over the years,” Coleman says, “as the sport has improved its safety, now being made of multiple materials such as carbon fiber. However, that doesn’t mean they’re resistant to damage, as seen by the chips in Pierre Gasly’s 2024 Belgian GP helmet from the gravel.”

Isack Hadjar, Paris-born 2004, French and Algerian race driver, currently racing under the French flag for Racing Bulls.

Hadjar History. Like many drivers (Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher,  Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen to name four), Isack Hadjar began his racing career in go-karts. Coleman observes, “His parents, however, both of whom are academics, prioritized his education over the track until he reached Formula 2 in 2023 when a teenager. Yassine said, ‘That’s why he didn’t win any championships in karting or junior formula racing, because he was present physically at school until F2.’ ”

Coleman recounts, “Hadjar has thrived this season, slowly overcoming his formation lap crash in Australia on the opening race of the season. He finished on the podium [third to Verstappen’s second and Piastri’s win] at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort in August, putting him in the conversation of a potential promotion to Red Bull next season, and is ninth in the driver standings.”

Coleman quotes Hadjak: “ ‘I remember my first helmet when I got it painted 10 years ago. It was exactly the same,’ Isack said, gesturing to the galaxy on the top of his helmet that was also part of his design in F2. ‘So this is like, this part here is me.’ ”

Thus displaying a great respect for physics and fatherhood, a laudable combination. ds 

© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2025