---
title: "The Drive at US F1 GP: The 10 Coolest Hats at the Circuit of The Americas"
description: "Vikings, the Pope, and even a Hamilton-loving Michael Myers were in attendance in Austin, Texas."
date: "2018-10-21"
modified: "2019-06-10"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/24345/the-drive-at-us-f1-gp-the-10-coolest-hats-at-the-circuit-of-the-americas"
categories:
  - "F1"
  - "News"
  - "Racing"
tags:
  - "Circuit of the Americas"
  - "Fernando Alonso"
  - "Formula 1"
  - "Lewis Hamilton"
  - "Motorsport Photography"
  - "racing"
  - "Racing News"
  - "Sebastian Vettel"
  - "Texas"
---

# The Drive at US F1 GP: The 10 Coolest Hats at the Circuit of The Americas

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/10/ripshaub_2018_f1_cota_hats-1.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

The majority of racing fans support their favorite teams and drivers with the typical [overpriced hat and t-shirt](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/22168/behind-the-shadowy-billion-dollar-payouts-of-f1-nascar-and-indycar>) they purchased at overcrowded merchandise trackside shops. However, there's another category of fans that wouldn't dare get caught wearing the same run-of-the-mill souvenir that everyone else can get their hands on. No sir, they're simply too hardcore for that.

This became more than evident at the [Circuit of The Americas this weekend](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/24344/photo-gallery-behind-the-pit-wall-at-the-2018-f1-united-states-grand-prix>), where tens of thousands of F1 fans congregated to cheer their favorite automakers and daredevils, hoping that all those positive vibes will help them deliver good results.

While Japanese fans are known for creating some highly technical and realistic fan gear, which has previously included McLaren [hats with working DRS wings](<https://twitter.com/BigBuedro/status/647299841035497472>), we Americans aren't too far behind in terms creativity and style. After all, where else would you see *Halloween's* Michael Myers holding an enormous hammer with the Mercedes-Benz logo and ["Hammertime"](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/19672/red-bull-racing-wants-f1-to-crack-down-on-mercedes-party-mode-engine-setting>) plastered on it? Yeah, that's what I thought.

Of course, it being Texas, a plethora of cowboy hats were in attendance, but there was one specific dude whose hat was so big you could spot him a mile away in a sea of people—quite literally. Other special mentions include a fake Bernie Ecclestone, a Ferrari Pope, a somewhat disturbing dog wearing headphones and Mercedes-Benz [sunglasses](<https://www.diffeyewear.com/collections/collaborations>) (which I can only assume is Hamilton's Roscoe), and the always creepy and ridiculously large-headed [F1 dolls](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/18112/formula-1-to-cease-use-of-grid-girls-in-2018>).

Which one is your favorite?

![Grazie Ragazzi.](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1540127442462-ripshaub_2018_f1_cota_fans-4.jpg>)
*Grazie Ragazzi.*

*, *RIP SHAUB**

![Jaguar makes F1 comeback with Force India.](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1540127529335-ripshaub_2018_f1_cota_fans-16.jpg>)
*Jaguar makes F1 comeback with Force India.*

*, *RIP SHAUB**

![Only the Pope can save Ferrari.](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1540127564570-ripshaub_2018_f1_cota_fans-18.jpg>)
*Only the Pope can save Ferrari.*

*, *RIP SHAUB**

![Creepy Bottas.](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1540127599802-ripshaub_2018_f1_cota_fans-5.jpg>)
*Creepy Bottas.*

*, *RIP SHAUB**

![And his creepy friends.](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1540127753664-ripshaub_2018_f1_cota_fans-8.jpg>)
*And his creepy friends.*

*, *RIP SHAUB**

![Bernie, is that you?](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1540127780066-ripshaub_2018_f1_cota_fans-1.jpg>)
*Bernie, is that you?*

*, *RIP SHAUB**

![And then there was one Magnussen fan.](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1540127821138-ripshaub_2018_f1_cota_fans-3.jpg>)
*And then there was one Magnussen fan.*

*, *RIP SHAUB**

![Forza Ferrari.](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1540127849263-ripshaub_2018_f1_cota_fans-12.jpg>)
*Forza Ferrari.*

*, *RIP SHAUB**

![Everything is bigger in Texas.](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1540127908977-ripshaub_2018_f1_cota_fans-10.jpg>)
*Everything is bigger in Texas.*

*, *RIP SHAUB**

![Who let the dogs out?](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1540127954885-ripshaub_2018_f1_cota_fans-11.jpg>)
*Who let the dogs out?*

*, *RIP SHAUB**

![No comment.](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1540127988600-ripshaub_2018_f1_cota-60.jpg>)
*No comment.*

*, *RIP SHAUB**

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)