When a driver wins races, their performance often becomes the main headline. Yet for Thai racer Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak, competing in F3 for Campos Racing in 2025, it was not only his three victories—including a spectacular triumph at Monza’s Feature Race—that caught attention, but also the striking symbolism behind his helmet. His design this year told a deeper story of national pride and personal refinement.
After gaining experience through years of karting and junior formula racing, Inthraphuvasak decided that his 2025 helmet would not just be about style—it would be about identity. The Thai driver took a thoughtful approach, balancing aesthetics with meaning. He explained his philosophy behind the new look, noting how he wanted to retain familiarity while creating a more elegant appearance.
“My 2025 helmet, I kept it pretty similar to my helmet from last year. The design and the colour is basically the same, I just made everything more simple, a simpler look.”
Refining the look: Simplicity and identity
For Inthraphuvasak, the helmet is more than a safety device—it is an extension of the driver’s personality and heritage. Over the years, he had experimented with different motifs, colours, and patterns, yet he began to feel that the earlier versions were visually overwhelming. He wanted his 2025 design to embody sophistication, focus, and national pride in equal measure.
Reflecting on his earlier choices, he admitted that his previous helmet design may have tried to say too much at once. Now, his goal was to make the imagery meaningful but orderly.
“My helmet from last year was a bit too messy, so I kind of made everything simpler, the colours are basically the colours of the Thai flag, blue, white and red.”
By embracing simplicity, he was able to highlight the powerful symbolism of Thailand’s flag without unnecessary distractions. At the top of the helmet, he included an homage to Thailand’s late monarch, King Rama IX.
“I have the Thai flag on top and the Thai number nine on top, which represents, King Rama IX, which is very respected in Thailand.”
Every detail served a purpose—from the arrangement of traditional motifs to the careful placement of sponsor logos. His approach showed not only an artistic eye but also respect for those who supported his career.
“In front here, I have a few small designs on the back, which are Thai designs, Thai traditional designs, and I have a few sponsors, my main sponsors, my name on the side here and on the back, obviously giving me great support this year with helmet.”
This merging of heritage, gratitude, and modern design helped create a helmet that is both personal and instantly recognizable.
Cultural pride and national representation
For Inthraphuvasak, racing on the international stage carries a profound sense of responsibility. He is not only representing himself and his team but also his country. As Thailand’s only driver in Formula 3, he carries national pride each time he steps onto the grid. His helmet became a powerful expression of that duty. He described with enthusiasm how the Thai colours play a central role in his new look. The simplicity of the flag, with its bold stripes of blue, white, and red, became his guiding inspiration.
“I really like the Thai flag, on the helmet, which is cool on the helmet, but apart from that I kept it pretty simple. The colours represent Thailand, which is the country I am representing.”
Yet, Inthraphuvasak went further than simply featuring the flag. He incorporated intricate Thai traditional designs, patterns that speak to the country’s artistic heritage and spiritual symbolism. These motifs, subtly woven into the overall aesthetic, connect modern motorsport with centuries-old Thai artistry.
A collaboration with Adrien Paviot
“These designs are Thai traditional designs. If you look in the back, I also have a few in blue, which are Thai traditional designs. I wanted to show aspects of Thailand on the helmet, that’s how they did it and that’s how I like it.”
To bring his vision to life, he collaborated with a well-known designer, ensuring that every detail was rendered with precision and care.
“I let a designer design it, Adrien Paviot,” he said, continuing, “I basically gave him what I wanted, and gave him the Thai designs that I wanted to show on the helmet. I think he did quite a good job, and then Stilo painted it.”
Through this partnership, his helmet evolved into a polished piece of cultural storytelling—one that resonates both in the paddock and among Thai fans back home.
An evolution from karting to Formula 3
Every racer’s journey is a blend of evolution and experience, and Inthraphuvasak’s design choices mirror his growth from a young karter to a professional driver. Early in his career, his helmets were full of bold, bright patterns—typical of karting’s flashy visual culture. But as he matured and entered higher levels of competition, he realized that subtlety could be just as powerful. Reflecting on this transformation, he explained the reasoning behind leaving behind his more chaotic early designs.
“I’ve kind of kept the design from karting, and in karting you have messy helmets with a lot of designs and stuff. In cars now, it has to be a lot simpler, so people can recognise you and the fans can recognise you. So I wanted something simpler.”
Despite simplifying, he was determined not to lose his personal flair. His helmet, therefore, maintains the recognizable base design that has followed him since his youth, now refined to suit the aesthetics of modern single-seater racing.
“But I still wanted to keep the overall design, to have my own identity on the helmet, and that’s what I did this year. I like the matte navy blue on it, I think it works quite well.”
The navy tone, elegant and understated, pairs perfectly with the red, white, and blue of the Thai flag. It also complements his Campos Racing car, creating a cohesive visual identity. He then reflected on how his approach to colour evolved as he transitioned from karting to cars.
“The colours were a lot different in karting. I had orange helmets all the time, bright orange helmets, were the trend all the time, and now I want to represent Thailand a bit more.”
This shift demonstrates his maturation not only as an athlete but also as an ambassador of Thai motorsport.
Representing Thailand on the global stage
Inthraphuvasak is acutely aware of the importance of representation. Competing in Formula 3, he stands alone as the flag-bearer of Thailand, carrying national expectations and pride with every lap. That awareness drove him to reimagine his helmet as a symbol of unity and identity.
“I wanted to represent Thailand a bit more, have the colours of the Thai flag on the helmet especially in Formula 3, being the only Thai driver now, it’s super important to represent my country, so I changed it blue. The design overall is quite similar to karting, but the colours are different.”
Looking ahead to evolution with tastes of familiarity
Although Inthraphuvasak is proud of his current design, he continues to think ahead. His approach to design, much like his driving, is about constant improvement without losing the essence of what makes him unique. He already has ideas about what his future helmets might look like—iterations that respect his current aesthetic while adding new cultural elements.
“I have a few ideas for next year,” he said, concluding, “I want to incorporate a few more Thai designs on the helmet, but overall to keep the designs the same. I will change a few colours around and see how it looks with the design. But I like this helmet, so I will probably keep it similar.”
This mindset—balancing innovation with tradition—reflects the same discipline that fuels his racing career. Every detail, whether on the track or on his helmet, speaks to his deep sense of identity and dedication.
