In a heartfelt gesture that bridges his deep connection with Brazil and his commitment to philanthropy, Formula 1 driver Esteban Ocon is auctioning off the one‑of‑a‑kind helmet he raced with at the 2025 São Paulo Grand Prix. The auction, held through F1 Authentics, is raising funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, a global charity that champions the transformative power of sport for children and youth.
Ocon’s relationship with Brazil is a storied one. The Frenchman, now driving for Haas, earned a surprise second-place podium at Interlagos in 2024 — a moment that has clearly stayed with him. He has described Brazil as “a country that means a lot to me … I got a lot of support, a lot of fans, and … fantastic memories from 2024.”
Earlier this year, he launched a design competition open to fans, inviting them to submit creative helmet liveries for his Brazilian Grand Prix run.
From hundreds of submissions, Ocon selected a striking design by a Brazilian fan named Fernanda. “Thank you Fernanda for your beautiful design. I love it and I can’t wait to wear it on track,” he said when announcing the winner. The design artfully melded his signature red‑and‑black palette with the vibrant greens and yellows of the Brazilian flag.
At the rear of the helmet, the inscription “Senna Forever” pays homage to the legendary Ayrton Senna, while a bird silhouette, symbolizing freedom, and a compass-like motif bearing his parents’ initials bring in deeply personal touches.
Fernanda explained the inspiration behind her artwork: “The helmet blends the warm colours of a Brazilian sunset with greens and oranges that bring to mind nature, birds, and lush vegetation. On the back, a bird silhouette symbolises freedom and movement, with a ‘north’ pointing upward where Esteban’s parents’ initials sit, representing guidance and family roots. Small stickers and details highlight personal touches … like Ayrton Senna’s S and logo … Essentially, the design reflects a guiding idea for life: always look forward, build your present, and keep your ‘north’ aligned with what gives your life purpose.”
After wearing the helmet during the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend — including the sprint race and the main event — Ocon has made the race-used item available for bidding. According to reports, bidding opens on 18 November via F1 Authentics, with a starting price set around £10,000.
All proceeds will be channeled to Laureus Sport for Good, supporting the foundation’s wide-ranging youth sports programmes in more than 40 countries.
Ocon reflected on the auction with sincerity, saying, “I truly believe that sport has the power to change the lives of young people, it certainly changed mine, so I’m happy to be teaming up with F1 Authentics … to raise funds for Laureus Sport for Good … It is a cause that is very dear to me … Funds raised will help support Laureus programmes around the world including Brazil, a country that is very special to me … Thanks for the support.”
Laureus Chair Sean Fitzpatrick also expressed his gratitude, noting, “We are incredibly grateful to Esteban for donating such a unique and personal piece of F1 memorabilia … All funds raised by this incredible helmet will directly support Laureus’ work using sport to positively impact more young people in Brazil and around the world …”
Beyond its charity value, the helmet stands as a rare collectible. Race‑used helmets are already hard to come by, but a one-off design worn by a current-season F1 driver makes this piece particularly desirable for collectors.
The auction forms part of the End of Season F1 Auction hosted by F1 Authentics, a branch of Memento Exclusives that specialises in officially licensed Formula 1 memorabilia. Barry Gough, Founder & CEO of Memento Exclusives, remarked, “We are delighted to support Esteban Ocon … The unique nature of this fan‑designed helmet … suggests this will be a very popular auction and we hope this will raise significant funds to go towards the brilliant work of Laureus Sport for Good.”