F1 is the pinnacle of motorsports for a reason. That reason isn’t just the speed of the cars but also the R&D and technology that is developed while making an F1 car. And that technology is now not only limited to the cars but is being incorporated into other aspects of the sport as well. The Trophy for the 2024 Chinese GP is an example of the same, as F1 introduced the first wearable trophy. 

Wearable trophy in F1? What do we mean by that? Is it something that the driver will wear as a cap, their glove, or their racing suit? No, not really. The trophy is inspired by the Laurel Wreaths that the drivers used to wear back in the day on the podium. The trophy is designed similarly to that and drivers will be wearing them around their necks, almost like a garland. And that’s not all. 

Remember the 2023 Japanese GP where the drivers were given the special trophies that lit up when kissed? A similar technology has also been inculcated in the Chinese GP trophy, but instead of kissing the trophy, the LEDs will light up when the drivers wear the trophy. There are special sensors that will detect when the trophy is worn and will light it up. 

The trophy has been designed by Lenovo in partnership with Pininfarina. Last year’s Japanese GP trophy was also developed by Lenovo. The company tried to inculcate the Chinese tradition into the trophy, and since it’s the Year of the Dragon, the color and the twist of the trophy represent a dragon’s movement, whereas the light pattern denotes ‘the breath of an awakening dragon’. 

But wearing the trophy might bring another question to your mind- Why the tradition of Laurel Wreaths stopped in the first place? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. 

Why did F1 Stop with the Tradition of Laurel Wreaths?

While F1 used to be all about racing in the early days, as the sport was commercialized, it became more and more about the money. And this was the reason behind the disappearance of the tradition of Laurel Wreaths. An F1 car is essentially a huge billboard for the sponsors, and so are the racing suits of the drivers. Back in the 80s, when the sponsorships were growing ever so much, the sponsors raised complaints against the Laurel Wreaths. 

The Laurel Wreaths were a symbol of triumph in ancient Rome and hence were worn by the F1 drivers on the podium. But in the 80s, the sponsors complained that it was obstructing their sponsorship of the race suit when the all-important pictures were taken on the podium. And as a result, the tradition ended. But F1 still continues it in their own way, as a golden Laurel Wreath is embroidered on the cap worn by podium finishers. 

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What do you think of this new trophy? Do you like it and the meaning behind it?