Special Ayrton Senna F1 crash helmet auctioned for record sum

Ayrton Senna's crash helmet from the 1992 F1 season has been auctioned off, collecting a record sum.

At an RM Sotherby's auction, held between April 23-28 this year, the famous yellow, blue and green design fetched a stunning £720,000 ($966,449 or around €847,000).

In doing so, it has comfortably surpassed the previous record for an F1 helmet, according to auction house.

The previous record was held by Charles Leclerc, whose helmet from the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix was sold for £262,700 ($352,315). The proceeds were donated to assist the flood relief efforts that saw that year's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix cancelled as part of a charity auction.

Senna's helmet was manufactured by Shoei, a Japanese company and is a light-weight version, weighing between 100 and 200 grams less than the standard X-4 model.

Why is this helmet so special?

1992 was a difficult campaign for Senna and McLaren. Despite taking three grand prix victories, he finished only fourth in the drivers' standings as Nigel Mansell took the dominant Williams FW14 to the title.

Part of what has made his particular helmet so valuable, is the ties it has to a brave act of heroism by Senna at the 1992 Belgian Grand Prix.

When Erik Comas crashed heavily during qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps, he lost consciousness with his foot stuck on the throttle of his Ligier.

Senna, having driven past the wreckage, realised the immediate danger and parked his McLaren on track, running back to the stricken vehicle, risking his life in the process, as other cars approached.

The three-time F1 drivers' champion knelt down and turned off Comas' car, cutting the fuel supply to the engine despite the danger of explosion, which his actions prevented.

Comas remembers nothing of the accident or the following day. In an interview with RacingNews365 last year, to mark the 30th anniversary of Senna's untimely death at Imola, Comas reflected on whether the Brazilian saved his life that day.

"Of course, you can never say that with 100 per cent certainty, but I was in a car with 170 litres of gasoline on board. For me, it is clear that he saved me," he said. You can read the full interview here.

Ayrton Senna passed away 31 years ago today, during the San Marino Grand Prix.