Ayrton Senna’s Iconic 1992 Helmet Fetches Record Price At Auction

The helmet worn by legendary Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna during the 1992 season, including the famous Belgian Grand Prix where he rescued a fellow driver, has been sold for a staggering £720,000 ($966,449) at an online auction held by RM Sotheby’s. This sale sets a new world record for race-worn helmets, surpassing the previous mark set by Charles Leclerc’s helmet from the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix, which sold for £262,700 ($352,315) at a charity auction benefiting flood relief efforts in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region.

Senna, a three-time world champion, wore the iconic helmet while racing for McLaren throughout the 1992 season. The helmet gained particular significance at the Belgian Grand Prix held at Spa-Francorchamps, where Senna famously came to the aid of an unconscious driver following a crash during practice. Ligier driver Érik Comas credits Senna with saving his life after the Brazilian stopped on track, cut off the car’s engine, and held Comas’ head until paramedics arrived at the scene.

Although Senna finished fourth in the 1992 championship, which was dominated by Williams’ Nigel Mansell, he solidified his status as one of the greatest drivers in F1 history with three race wins and his ultimate act of sportsmanship at Spa.

The helmet, featuring Senna’s signature yellow, green, and blue design, was manufactured by Japanese company Shoei. It was a custom, lightweight version of the X-4 model, weighing 100 to 200 grams less than the standard version. The online auction, conducted by RM Sotheby’s, took place between April 23-28.

Prior to the sale of Leclerc’s helmet, the previous record for a race-worn helmet was £139,100 ($186,551), which was also for a Senna helmet from the 1990 season, sold in 2019.