Norris unveils special helmet for Canadian GP to support Stewart's dementia charity

Lando Norris is running a special one-off crash helmet at the Canadian Grand Prix to support three-time world champion Jackie Stewart's Race Against Dementia charity. The design, revealed Thursday in Montreal, is split into two halves: one representing a healthy brain, the other showing the damage caused by synaptic loss from dementia.

Why it matters:

Formula 1 drivers have a long history of using their platform for charitable causes, and Stewart's personal battle with his wife Helen's frontotemporal dementia has rallied the paddock. Norris's effort brings direct attention to a disease that affects millions globally, while his merchandise shop will donate all profits from mini helmet replicas to the cause.

The details:

• The helmet concept was developed with Race Against Dementia Fellow Dr. Maura Malpetti, translating complex neuroscience into a visual statement.
• Different forms of dementia damage distinct brain regions, impacting memory, thinking, and decision-making — symptoms that worsen over time.
• Stewart founded Race Against Dementia after his wife's diagnosis, and the charity has committed over £20 million to research since 2016.
• "Knowing Jackie and hearing how openly he speaks about the impact dementia has had on Helen... has really highlighted how many people this affects," said Norris.
• The design is produced by Bell Racing, a longtime helmet supplier in F1.

What's next:

Norris's initiative is the latest in a series of driver-led charitable efforts, and the helmet will be auctioned or used to generate further donations. With the Canadian GP weekend underway, the visual statement is expected to spark conversations about brain health both inside and outside the paddock.