Why F1 drivers were handed different USGP trophies after late switch

Pirelli was forced into a late trophy swap for the top three drivers at the United States Grand Prix due to "similarities with other products".

As partner to the race at the Circuit of the Americas, Pirelli was due to unveil a range of bizarre trophies to the podium finishers, and the winning constructor. 

Italian artist Matteo Macchiavelli had designed a trophy consisting of a human silhouette with its arms raised, with each featuring a different colour helmet. The character had been given the name 'Heroo'.

The winning driver and winning team representative were to be given a trophy featuring a golden helmet, whilst silver and titanium had been used for the helmets on the trophies for second and third place, respectively.

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But a Pirelli spokesperson has confirmed to RacingNews365 that it had decided "to be on the safe side" and pull the trophies.

This is due to the fact they resembled collectables designed by bearbrick.com, so they were replaced "with other objects to represent Pirelli".

The decision was taken in collaboration with the race promoters, and with the FIA informed along the way.

Race-winner Charles Leclerc held up an ornate and elongated silver-coloured trophy, with sculpting at either end in red, white and blue to represent the flag colours of the United States.

Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz received a smaller version of a Pirelli medium-compound tyre, whilst third-placed Max Verstappen was handed the hard-compound version.

For winning constructor Ferrari, represented by head of strategy Ravin Jain, it was the soft compound rubber.