Rosberg forced to change World Cup helmet by FIFA

By Luke SmithJul 17, 2014, 10:30 AM EDT
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Nico Rosberg has been forced to change his special one-off helmet design for the German Grand Prix after a complaint by FIFA.

Following Germany’s 1-0 win over Argentina in last weekend’s World Cup final, Rosberg had planned to run with a unique lid at Hockenheim this weekend in tribute of the victory. It featured the German flag, four stars – one for each of Germany’s World Cup wins – and the World Cup trophy itself.

However, by putting the World Cup on there, FIFA claimed that it was in breach of its copyright, and asked the Mercedes team to remove it.

“Too bad, I would have liked to carry the trophy on my helmet as a tribute to the guys,” Rosberg tweeted. “But I respect the legal situation.”

Rosberg has since removed the trophy, and instead put a large fourth star in the centre of the design.

Here’s the before and after:

Trust FIFA to spoil the party. That said, back in 2006, Jarno Trulli ran with this design following Italy’s win over France. Nothing was said then…

Speaking in the press conference about the change, Rosberg made no secret of his disappointment: “Yeah, all the things you have to think of, it’s amazing, even the trophy has its trademark. I was surprised, but of course I fully understand.

“It was a pity because it looked really cool with the trophy on the top. It’s replaced now with a big star, and no-one can take that away from us. That’s ours!”

Lewis Hamilton receives Daytona 500 invitation from Bubba Wallace

Lewis Hamilton Bubba Wallace
Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images
By Nate RyanSep 22, 2020, 7:30 PM EDT
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Lewis Hamilton is a fan of the new NASCAR Cup Series team formed by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan to field a car for Bubba Wallace.

Will the six-time Formula One champion also be a fan in person at a NASCAR race in the near future?

Wallace is hoping so.

After Hamilton tweeted his support Tuesday morning about the news of a Hamlin-Jordan-Wallace team making its debut with the 2021 season, Wallace responded with a sly invitation to the Daytona 500.

Much would need to be worked out, starting with how much garage and grandstand access would be afforded for a 2021 season opener that likely would occur during a still ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

But it would seem fitting given that Hamilton and Wallace have been two of the world’s most outspoken Black athletes about the quest for diversity and racial justice. Hamilton recently reaffirmed his commitment to activism after his donning a Breonna Taylor shirt sparked an FIA inquiry.

The idea of Hamilton attending the season opener already had legs, too. The Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 driver has expressed a desire to race the Daytona 500 after he has retired from Formula One.

He was a spectator (with racing legend Mario Andretti) at four-time champion Jeff Gordon’s final Cup race as a full-time in the 2015 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In 2011, Hamilton swapped cars with three-time champion Tony Stewart at Watkins Glen International.

Having rubbed shoulders with other racing greats so often, it only would be fitting if Hamilton — who is one victory from tying Michael Schumacher’s career record and also could tie the F1 record with a seventh championship this season — spent some time with the greatest basketball player of all time.

Jeff Gordon was flanked by Mario Andretti and Lewis Hamilton before the 2015 Cup season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway (Jared C. Tilton/NASCAR via Getty Images).