Most artists do not expect their work to appear on a Formula 1 grid. But for Qatari artist Ghada Al Suwaidi, that became reality when she was invited to design a custom helmet for Alpine driver Pierre Gasly ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.
The collaboration is part of the 2026 Years of Culture programme, a cultural exchange initiative focusing on Qatar, Canada, and Mexico. Al Suwaidi's design combines Canadian symbols—the maple leaf and moose—with Qatar's national animal, the oryx.
“It's bridging between two cultures that are so different but you still can find similarities between them,” she told Euronews.
A different kind of canvas
Known for her murals, illustrations, and digital artwork, Al Suwaidi said designing a Formula 1 helmet presented a new challenge. Unlike large-scale artworks, the design had to work within the curved surface of a racing helmet while remaining visually distinctive on track.
“It's actually very tricky, because it's my first time designing a helmet,” she said. “So I had to do a lot of research to see how other people incorporate design elements and graphics in their work.”
Every detail had to fit within a limited space while leaving room for sponsor logos and remaining visible at racing speed. For Gasly, the process was largely hands-off. “I don't want to have any input. I really want to let the artist work its magic,” he said.
The French driver noted one feature of the final design stood out immediately. “The maple leaf to me is very Canadian. But I thought the oryx and the moose horn on the other side gave a very aggressive look to the helmet, which fits my style of driving,” he said.
From Doha to Montreal
The project brings together a Qatari artist, a French Formula 1 driver, and a race in Canada. Gasly said collaborations like this can introduce artists to audiences beyond the traditional art world. “I find it amazing to give the opportunity to some artists that may not have a global exposure to actually express themselves through sport,” he said.
Formula 1 has become an increasingly popular platform for one-off helmet designs, with drivers regularly using special liveries and artwork for individual races throughout the season. This trend mirrors broader cultural crossovers in sport, such as the 2026 World Cup kits that have already drawn museum-like acclaim for their design.
For Al Suwaidi, the project highlighted the ability of art to reach people across different backgrounds and audiences. “I think art is a universal language. You don't need any translation to understand it,” she said. “Everyone will be interpreting it in a different way.”
The helmet will be worn by Gasly during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, offering a mobile canvas that merges Qatari and Canadian identity at high speed. Such initiatives reflect a growing recognition of sport as a platform for cultural diplomacy, much like the Eurovision 2026 Grand Final in Vienna, which also blends politics, protest, and performance on a continental stage.
For European audiences, the collaboration underscores the continent's role as a hub for international cultural exchange, where a French driver, a Qatari artist, and a Canadian race converge. It also highlights how Formula 1, with its global reach, can serve as a medium for artistic expression beyond the track.
