LEWIS HAMILTON’s Mercedes team-mate George Russell will NOT wear a red helmet out of respect for F1 legend Michael Schumacher.
The Brit will instead wear a black helmet for the up-coming 2022-23 season.
Russell’s decision to ditch red – a colour he has largely used in his career – is out of respect for legend Schumacher.
Russell said: “A red helmet in a Mercedes I thought was very Michael Schumacher, and I really wanted to respect that and go in a different direction.
“I’ve brought forward the black, I’ve got the red on the side with the Crowdstrike [sponsor], and bringing forward this blue detailing, which I really, really love and it’s probably something you’ll see a bit more of this year.
“I’ve obviously got my GR63 logo on the side, my number on the top, Mercedes star on the front.
“I think it looks really cool and really aggressive. I hope you like it and you’ll be seeing it soon in the W13 at Silverstone.”
Schumacher wore a red helmet between 2010-12 when he was racing for Mercedes.
The colour of the helmet would often stand out against the silver car.
Son Mick will be on the grid for this season racing for Haas.
The 22-year-old made his F1 debut last term and hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Schumacher, 53, has largely been cared for at home since suffering a life-changing brain injury in a 2013 ski crash.
Few details of his condition have emerged since, although it’s understood the German has had stem cell treatment in an attempt to regenerate his nervous system.
