Saturday 17th February 2001
Michael Schumacher was faced with potential legal action after deciding to switch helmet supplier from Bell to Schuberth. His contract with Bell was set to end at the end of 2001 but Schumacher wanted to switch to his new brand, which had made a bullet-proof construction. Schumacher claimed the new lid was safer, but when Bell proved that its helmet wasn’t unsafe a Belgian court ordered the Ferrari driver to pay US$115,300 in damages every time he didn’t wear it. Schumacher wasn’t deterred, however, and wore the Schuberth make for the whole season.