A piece of New Zealand Formula 1 history is going under the hammer, with the actual helmet worn by Liam Lawson during his standout 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku now being offered for public auction.
Turners Auto Retail has confirmed the helmet is the Bell HP77 Lawson used when he qualified third and finished fifth in Baku, a result described by the company as his best Formula 1 finish to that point.
The helmet is signed by Lawson and carries the distinctive pink, white and navy design associated with his Visa Cash App RB Formula 1 Team campaign.
For motorsport collectors, the appeal is obvious.
This is not a replica, promotional shell or commemorative edition. According to Turners, it is the actual race-used helmet from one of the most significant weekends of Lawson’s Formula 1 career.
A helmet tied to one of Lawson’s strongest F1 weekends
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix at Baku has become an important reference point in Lawson’s career.
Turners says Lawson qualified third and finished fifth in the race, describing the result as an “incredible feat” and noting that the performance contributed to the tongue-in-cheek “New Zealand Minister of Defence” label that followed his efforts on track.
That makes the helmet more than a piece of racing equipment.
Its value comes from the moment attached to it.
In elite motorsport, race-used equipment from significant performances can become highly sought-after because of the combination of provenance, scarcity and historical relevance.
Turners says Lawson has not previously sold one of his racing helmets, making this auction particularly unusual.
Distinctive New Zealand design
The helmet itself is a Bell HP77, handmade by Bell.
Its visual design is immediately recognisable.
The photographs supplied with the auction show a vibrant pink and white helmet with navy sections, Red Bull branding, sponsor logos and Lawson’s signature across the upper shell.
Turners says the design incorporates Māori-inspired motifs as well as the silver fern and Southern Cross stars associated with New Zealand.
The combination gives the helmet a particularly strong national identity.
That matters because Formula 1 helmets have become far more than safety equipment.
Drivers are closely involved in their design, and helmets often become one of the most personal visual expressions available to them in a sport dominated by team liveries and sponsor branding.
Lawson’s design stands out because it is clearly linked to his New Zealand background.
Why race-used F1 helmets are different
Formula 1 memorabilia covers a wide spectrum.
Signed caps, photos, model cars and team merchandise are widely available.
Race-used equipment sits in a different category.
A helmet used in an actual Grand Prix carries direct provenance to the event itself.
It was in the cockpit.
It was used under race conditions.
And in this case, it was worn during one of Lawson’s strongest performances.
That combination is what can make such pieces particularly attractive to serious collectors.
The images supplied by Turners also show signs of genuine race use, including surface marks and wear, reinforcing that this is not being presented as a pristine display-only item.
Lawson’s place in New Zealand Formula 1 history
Turners also places the auction in the context of Lawson’s wider rise through Formula 1.
The company notes that Lawson is just the seventh New Zealander to race in Formula 1.
It also states he has moved to third on the list of Formula 1 points scored by New Zealand drivers, with 93 points, ahead of Chris Amon on 83.
The two names still ahead of him are among the most important figures in New Zealand motorsport history.
Bruce McLaren is listed by Turners on 188.5 points, while former world champion Denny Hulme remains ahead on 248.
Those comparisons should be treated carefully because Formula 1 scoring systems have changed significantly across different eras.
Modern drivers have more races and more points available per event than drivers from earlier generations.
Even so, Lawson’s growing total reflects the fact that he is now accumulating a substantial body of Formula 1 results rather than simply appearing occasionally on the grid.
Turners’ connection with Lawson goes back years
There is also a longer relationship behind the auction.
Turners says it has supported Lawson’s Formula 1 ambitions since he was 16.
That makes the sale more than a simple piece of inventory appearing on an auction platform.
The company has been publicly associated with Lawson’s progression through junior motorsport and into Formula 1.
In its release, Turners describes Lawson as one of New Zealand’s most exciting motorsport talents in decades and says it continues to support him as his Formula 1 career develops.
Auction runs until 13 September
Bidding opened on Friday, 4 September 2026.
Turners says bids can be placed through either its own platform or Trade Me.
The auction is scheduled to close at 7pm on Sunday, 13 September.
That gives collectors a little over a week to compete for what is effectively a one-off piece of New Zealand sporting memorabilia.
The final sale price will be closely watched.
Race-used Formula 1 equipment can vary significantly in value depending on the driver, event, provenance, condition and importance of the result.
Lawson’s helmet carries several of those factors at once: it was race-used, signed, tied to a strong Grand Prix result and connected to one of the most prominent New Zealand drivers currently competing internationally.
More than memorabilia
For many New Zealand motorsport fans, the significance of the helmet may be less about investment value and more about what it represents.
New Zealand has a deep Formula 1 history, but drivers from this country reaching the grid remain rare.
Lawson is part of a small group that includes McLaren, Hulme and Amon.
Owning equipment directly connected to one of his strongest Grand Prix performances gives the buyer a tangible piece of that story.
And unlike a poster, photograph or replica helmet, this one carries the marks of the race itself.
That is what makes the auction interesting.
It is not simply Liam Lawson merchandise.
It is a physical object from a specific weekend when a New Zealand driver delivered one of the best results of his Formula 1 career.
Source: Turners Auto Retail press release, 4 September 2026.