Hats, Horns and Cowboy Boots: F1 Went Full Texas

Mercedes put its star on cowboy boots. Verstappen’s lion got a hat—and matching footwear. Austin’s dress code extended well beyond the drivers.

Before packing up for Mexico, a moment for the cowboy hats, decorated boots and remarkably thorough commitment to the Texas theme.

Mercedes, with spurs of personality

Kimi Antonelli and George Russell paired their race suits with black cowboy hats and boots carrying the Mercedes star. The photograph of them sitting in boot-shine chairs captures the combination perfectly: sponsor-covered racing overalls, tall leather boots and two drivers looking thoroughly entertained.

Elsewhere, Nico Hülkenberg kept things simple: a white cowboy hat, sunglasses and his number 27 on the front. No need to check the timing screen to identify that one.

Verstappen’s familiar lion acquired a cowboy hat for Austin. That would have been enough to make the point, but the design continued onto his racing shoes.

Helmet to footwear, the outfit matched.

The fans held their own. A sparkling Red Bull-themed hat brought enough detail to reward a second look—and made the standard team cap seem a little underambitious.

Hats off. Horns up.

Antonelli supplied another memorable image, grinning beneath a set of metallic horns held behind his head. It belongs alongside the boots and hats as one of those photographs that captures a race weekend without needing a lap time underneath it.

That’s part of Austin’s appeal. Beyond the results, there are small, ridiculous, enjoyable details that give the weekend its personality.

Now the paddock moves to Mexico. After cowboy hats, branded boots and a lion dressed for Texas, can the sombreros keep up?