97 replies to this topic

[SophieB]

As we all know, Pirelli were yesterday awarded an extension to their contract to supply the grid with F1 tyres for another three years. But are they resting on their (heh) laurels? Well, did Marie Curie pack it in after her first Nobel Prize? Did Shakespeare call it a day after The Two Gentlemen of Verona? Or Beethoven mutter 'Ah, that'll do' after 8 Symphonies? No, they did not, they strove for more. And so it is that Pirelli haven't just been bringing us tyres, they've have been branching out into the novelty hat game.
 
After the first US GP at the COTA, we were treated to Stetsons...
 

 
I thought they were great. Race winner Lewis Hamilton obviously did too because he was so disappointed not to see them back last year that he asked for (and got) Sheriff Andretti's so that his hat lust could be at least partially sated:
 

 
So it was perhaps predictable that he was thrilled to see that the Russian GP was somewhat belatedly awarded novelty podium caps of their own:
 
Lewis Hamilton ‏@LewisHamilton  9h9 hours ago
Loved my hat yesterday on the podium!! What a day!! #RussianGP #TeamLH @mercedesamgf1

 
 
But as Homer Simpson once noted, professional athletes, always wanting more:
 
]Lewis Hamilton to the BBC yesterday: 
"I'm aiming for the Mexico one - the sombrero. My aim is to get on the podium there and get one of them."
 
I don't actually know if there are any actual plans for Pirelli Sombreros or if this is just Lewis getting carried away with his hat covetousness. But the question for you is... do you think there SHOULD be? Are the hats a good thing?

 

I think they're pretty great but I noticed that Sebastian Vettel was more circumspect on being asked by the BBC what he thought of the Pirelli Ushanka. He said how basically it was nice and all but.... weren't they trying to get away from the preconceived notions people had about Russia = cold, snow stuff like that. It really isn't that cold, he added a touch bemusedly. So maybe they might reinforce lazy stereotyping? 
 
Personally, I think screw it, they're pretty fun and should be rolled out to all the classic races. Bowler hats for Silverstone and I've never been more sorry F1 isn't in France anymore so we could have podium berets. But maybe they can do them for Monaco, I don't know.
 
So, over to you: novelty hats   or  ?

[TomNokoe]

x100

[Jon83]

 

Just a bit of fun.

[MikeV1987]

 I do not care for gimmicky hats, but whatever it's not hurting anything.

Edited by MikeV1987, 12 October 2015 - 16:29.

[RekF1]

I wanna see those car hats on the podium at the next Japanese GP.

Off topic: For some reason I'm desperate to see Bruce Forsythe as MC on the podium at Silverstone. "Didn't he do well" etc.

[Gilles4Ever]

Just goes to show that F1 needs another gimmick to make the drivers/spectacle more appealing. 

 

That said, it's harmless until they start doing it all over. 

[RedBaron]

We'll definitely get a Pirelli Sombrero's in Mexico. At least I hope so.

 

I think it's a nice touch, especially as a one off for a new race - like it was in Texas. Russia was 1 year too late, but no problem.

[ViMaMo]

   Would love to see these guys wear this.... .... provided there is even a indian gp in future. 

[MasterOfCoin]

We'll definitely get a Pirelli Sombrero's in Mexico. At least I hope so.

 

I think it's a nice touch, especially as a one off for a new race - like it was in Texas. Russia was 1 year too late, but no problem.

Yes that would be cool to have some Sombreros at the Mexican round.

[Lotus53B]

Bowlers at Silverstone ftw....

[Jimisgod]

Seems like some gimmicky crap out of a late 90s F1 game where you'd get a brief montage of things associated with a country to remind you it is a world championship.

[Marklar]

Im all for Lederhosen at the German GP

[Fastcake]

And naturally, no true Australian round is complete without one of these

 

[Radoye]

[AustinF1]

As we all know, Pirelli were yesterday awarded an extension to their contract to supply the grid with F1 tyres for another three years. But are they resting on their (heh) laurels? Well, did Marie Curie pack it in after her first Nobel Prize? Did Shakespeare call it a day after The Two Gentlemen of Verona? Or Beethoven mutter 'Ah, that'll do' after 8 Symphonies?

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? 

[Garagiste]

Wow, was this really three years ago?

 

http://sniffpetrol.c...1/#.VhvjuI3D9Fo

[RedBaron]

 Bowler hats for Silverstone

 

That would be good, but I'm hoping for full on Bearskin like the Queen's guard.

 

Edited by RedBaron, 12 October 2015 - 16:56.

[Marklar]

Wow, was this really three years ago?

http://sniffpetrol.c...1/#.VhvjuI3D9Fo

McLaren victory? Yeah so long time ago...

[043Max]

I like it very much! lol

[milestone 11]

Positively NO. Imagine this taken to conclusion in Abu Dhabi with Susie Wolff and Carmen Jorda in the niqab were they to happen upon a podium. The mind boggles.

[Vitesse2]

Sombreros? No chance - if you're not Mexican you're racist if you wear one (apparently)

 

http://www.theguardi...acist-sombreros

 

So if they are planning that, Pirelli will have to hope Perez is the only finisher.

[Maustinsj]

Maybe the Mexican GP podium could go the whole hog and have them dressed as the Three Amigos?

[BullHead]

It's all abit silly really. One off novelties, yeah a bit of fun, but as a regular thing....nah. The motorsport pinnacle should not be showbiz.

[AustinF1]

Sombreros? No chance - if you're not Mexican you're racist if you wear one (apparently)

 

http://www.theguardi...acist-sombreros

 

So if they are planning that, Pirelli will have to hope Perez is the only finisher.

As someone who married into a Mexican-American family and who vacations in Mexico once or twice a year, I can tell you that that's utterly preposterous. Mexicans celebrate their heritage and wearing traditional dress is one of the ways they do it, much like any other culture. And they are happy to share that by seeing others wear it as well.

[AustinF1]

It's all abit silly really. One off novelties, yeah a bit of fun, but as a regular thing....nah. The motorsport pinnacle should not be showbiz.

Heh...

[Maustinsj]

It's all abit silly really. One off novelties, yeah a bit of fun, but as a regular thing....nah. The motorsport pinnacle should not be showbiz.

But, but, what about "the show"? WHAT ABOUT THE SHOW??!!?!

[Afterburner]

A late entry for OP of the year after the close of the Indycar season? Madness.

In all seriousness, I like them. They appear to be one of the few lighthearted things in F1 at the moment.

[Vitesse2]

As someone who married into a Mexican-American family and who vacations in Mexico once or twice a year, I can tell you that that's utterly preposterous. Mexicans celebrate their heritage and wearing traditional dress is one of the ways they do it, much like any other culture. And they are happy to share that by seeing others wear it as well.

You've obviously never come across British university student union officials before!

 

This reader comment from below that article sums them up perfectly: http://discussion.th...malink/60419890 (scroll about one-third down the page and it will be highlighted).

[RekF1]

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

When did that happen?

[AustinF1]

When did that happen?

1978.

 

[AustinF1]

You've obviously never come across British university student union officials before!

 

This reader comment from below that article sums them up perfectly: http://discussion.th...malink/60419890 (scroll about one-third down the page and it will be highlighted).

Oh, I believe it happened. Never underestimate the damage the ignorant can wreak in their quest to police everyone's thoughts.

 

I liked this one, too:

 

 

 

Watch out for the stoopid, the undertow is deadly.

Edited by AustinF1, 12 October 2015 - 19:57.

[jjcale]

As that douchbag at the last podium press conference said, "get serious or I stop it, Now!" .....

[Disgrace]

Here's hoping we see a Pirelli fruit hat at Brazil.

[Fastcake]

It's all abit silly really. One off novelties, yeah a bit of fun, but as a regular thing....nah. The motorsport pinnacle should not be showbiz.

 

It's not like the baseball cap has any sort of purpose behind it. Bernie just realised one day he could make an extra 100 quid by sticking a sponsor on the front.

 

If you're going to force them to wear hats on the podium, you may as well have a bit of fun.

[RedBaron]

As that douchbag at the last podium press conference said, "get serious or I stop it, Now!" .....

 

Is that actually what he was saying?

[Marklar]

Is that actually what he was saying?

His exact words were : "Serious now or I shut you down!"

[byrkus]

Formula 1 is getting more and more uniform, and I'm for everything that breaks that uniformness.

 

Firstly, they should get rid of same trophies (Ok, they've done this, more or less). Next step, get rid of those caps, and give something else.

 

So yes. I'm for it.

[RedBaron]

His exact words were : "Serious now or I shut you down!"

 

Wow, I knew he was trying to stop it but I didn't know he was speaking to them like kids in a school classroom. I assume it was Matteo Bonciani? 

 

I did hear Perez laughing commenting on how 'Matteo wasn't happy' to Lewis at the end as they were getting up to leave.

 

Sorry to go off topic. I just realised there's a thread already going about that press conference, could these posts be moved please?

[KWSN - DSM]

Anything which could be spontaneous instead made into a corporate marketing poster add is of no interest.

 

[Mat13]

They're made to wear hats anyway, may as well make them amusing. Turkish GP- Fez?

[DampMongoose]

Anything that prevents Hamilton's Wesley Snipes haircut from public view is surely a plus.

[DampMongoose]

Its not like the podium ceremony could be any more cringeworthy...

[plumtree]

What's the harm? I wouldn't mind having a unique hat in every race like trophies, as long as it's not mandatory, not making drivers look too silly. It probably gets old very quickly though.

[Garndell]

I think it's very appropriate when a country is associated with a type of hat for them to be given out to the podium 3.  Can't wait for the Bowler hats at Silverstone 2016, Cordobes in Spain and the Fezes if Turkey ever comes back.

[Maustinsj]

Does anyone know ANY English person who wears a bowler hat?

 

I expect there are more Busby-wearers.

Edited by Maustinsj, 12 October 2015 - 19:16.

[KWSN - DSM]

Does anyone know ANY English person who wears a bowler hat?

 

I expect there are more Busby-wearers.

 

Butchers?

 

[SophieB]

Does anyone know ANY English person who wears a bowler hat?

 

 

 

Don't YOU know some, Bod?

 

[SonJR]

Maybe in Austin they can also let loose with some sixshooters like in IndyCar.

[Donkey]

We'll definitely get a Pirelli Sombrero's in Mexico. At least I hope so.

 

I think it's a nice touch, especially as a one off for a new race - like it was in Texas. Russia was 1 year too late, but no problem.

Hamilton has asked for it, I don't think Pirelli/Mexico GP organisers have a choice now.

[Maustinsj]

Don't YOU know some, Bod?

 

 

That's Mr Benn!

 

Bod's friend is PC Copper. Now THERE'S a hat.

 

Edited by Maustinsj, 12 October 2015 - 19:41.