The Bell Racing brand once again lines up at the start of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship as the undisputed leader in racing helmets. The 2026 season, which begins with the Australian Grand Prix on March 8, will see 14 of the 22 drivers on the grid equipped with the HP77 Evo IV, featuring a carbon-fiber shell and ballistic-grade materials, homologated to the FIA’s most stringent safety standard, the 8860-2018-ABP.
The HP77 has now been updated with the patented side-mounted SmartLock™ visor locking system, combining cutting-edge innovation with Bell Racing’s iconic design heritage. The SmartLock™ has been implemented to further reduce the risk of visor release in the event of high-speed impacts, while eliminating any potential distraction caused by central visual obstructions.
Bell Racing helmets were consistently at the forefront throughout the 2025 season, which concluded with the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles for Lando Norris and the McLaren F1 Team. Among the drivers wearing Bell Racing helmets – alongside the reigning champion – are seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc of Scuderia Ferrari HP, for which Bell Racing is the official technical partner, as well as Oscar Piastri, George Russell, Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Fernando Alonso
In addition to McLaren Mastercard F1 Team and Scuderia Ferrari HP, three other teams rely on Bell Racing-developed helmets for their mechanics during pit-stop operations, ensuring maximum protection combined with performance and comfort even for the crew members.
Beyond the outstanding engineering of its products, Bell Racing’s strength in Formula 1 also lies in its trackside service, with a dedicated staff committed to meeting every detail of the drivers’ needs throughout all 24 race weekends on the calendar.
