Miami GP: Verstappen, Leclerc and Sainz in NFL helmets on the podium sparked quite the fan reaction

The Miami Grand Prix certainly pulled out all the stops in terms of bigging up the event, with a huge opening ceremony, celebrities galore, fake marinas and, on the podium, NFL helmets replacing the usual caps.

The US city was hosting its first-ever F1 race over the weekend and it certainly left us with plenty to remember, with the build-up about as feverish as it could get.

Whatever your opinion on it all, you can’t deny that it caused a stir with many new eyes on the sport, and hopefully that will translate into more fans getting into Formula 1.

Certainly, though, various aspects divided opinion with some finding fun in what the organisers brought to the Grand Prix, whilst others weren’t so convinced.

Indeed, in keeping with that theme, onlookers on social media found themselves torn over Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz bowling out onto the podium in NFL helmets, rather than the caps we’re used to seeing the top three wear at the end of the Grand Prix.

Undoubtedly, it drew a few smiles and many could see the fun in it, as Miami delivered its own twist on another of F1’s traditions, but others also were not so sure whether they liked it or not.

Let’s take a look at some of what was said on social media:

Say what you will about the #MiamiGP but I wish people would stop pretending the Pirelli NFL Helmets weren’t cool.#Formula1 #F1 pic.twitter.com/2W9evZCnVN

These F1 podium NFL helmets instead of baseballs are just well I don’t know whether to laugh at or applaud the idea of being different like the Cowboys hats at Austin