For the second consecutive year, Qatar’s Years of Culture initiative has partnered with Pierre Gasly of the BWT Alpine F1 Team to merge contemporary art with the world of Formula One racing. The collaboration invites international artists to design helmets for specific Grand Prix events, turning the racing platform into a venue for cultural storytelling.

At the upcoming Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, Gasly will sport a helmet designed by Qatari artist Ghada al-Suwaidi. Known for her playful yet culturally grounded style, al-Suwaidi’s layered design reflects her signature approach, combining vivid colors and contemporary forms with motifs inspired by everyday life in Qatar. This helmet marks the launch of this year’s creative series and highlights Qatar’s effort to promote emerging artistic voices on global stages.

Al-Suwaidi, a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, has a diverse portfolio encompassing large-scale murals, illustration, and digital media. Her work often draws on themes such as nostalgia, neighborhood life, and collective visual memories, reinterpreted through bold color schemes and modern aesthetics. She has previously engaged in both national projects, like Posts of Qatar, and international art festivals including World Wide Walls, making her well-versed in bringing local narratives into public spaces.

Designing for a Formula 1 helmet presents a distinct challenge, as al-Suwaidi translates her multidisciplinary visual language onto a compact and highly technical surface viewed by millions worldwide. She expressed enthusiasm about participating in the project, emphasizing the unique opportunity to introduce personal and cultural stories within an unexpected context. “A helmet moves so fast, but I hope it still makes people pause, even for a second, and wonder about the story behind it,” she said, highlighting the potential for such moments of curiosity to foster connection beyond geographic and cultural divides.

The collaboration extends beyond Canada, with Gasly set to wear two additional helmets at the Qatar Grand Prix later this year, designed by artists from Canada and Mexico. This aligns with the three-nation partnership central to the Qatar, Canada, and Mexico 2026 Year of Culture initiative, reinforcing themes of shared storytelling and cultural exchange across borders.

Through this intersection of sport and art, the Years of Culture initiative continues to harness high-profile athletic events as platforms for cultural diplomacy. By integrating artistic expression into the global spectacle of Formula One, the program offers artists a unique avenue to reach broad international audiences while demonstrating how creativity can build enduring human connections beyond traditional cultural settings.