At just 25 years old, Paraguayan architecture student Fernanda Lezcano has achieved something most designers only dream of. Her artwork was worn by Formula 1 Haas driver Esteban Ocon at the 2025 São Paulo Grand Prix.
Fernanda speaks to The Asunción Times about her whirlwind journey that took her from a late-night burst of inspiration to the Interlagos paddock, where she watched her helmet design roar down the straight on the French racing driver.
A chance worth taking
While scrolling through social media, Fernanda came across Ocon’s helmet design competition, yet she did not immediately apply.
“I was going through a really difficult creative moment with my thesis. I had an artistic block,” she recalls. But two days before submissions closed, something changed. With her family insisting she had nothing to lose, and everything to offer, Fernanda finally decided to enter the competition.
“Two days before the deadline I finally said ‘Okay, I will try.’ I started writing down ideas, things about Ocon’s family, Brazilian elements, and the concept just started to flow. I submitted it without expecting anything.”
But what came after, took her completely by surprise. A message from Ocon’s team, and the surreal news that her design had been chosen.
Fernanda Lezcano’s design with purpose
The chosen design is both visually striking and deeply symbolic. Fernanda’s helmet colour palette takes inspiration from the warm colours of a Brazilian sunset with greens and oranges that evoke nature, birds, and tropical vegetation.
At the back of the helmet, she included a bird silhouette, an intentional symbol of freedom and movement. Above it, she placed a small upward-pointing “north,” positioned exactly where Ocon’s parents’ initials appear. This detail represents guidance and family roots, reflecting the values that anchor a person through life.
The design is filled with thoughtful touches. ”Small stickers, subtle symbolic details, and a tribute to Ayrton Senna through his iconic “S” and logo. It is a nod to Brazil’s rich racing heritage and to Senna himself, a national icon whose legacy carries immense weight in his home country.”
Together, these components create a helmet that blends emotion, identity, and tribute. It connects nature with family heritage while echoing the energy and speed of motorsport. The concept embodies a philosophy, a guiding idea of life: look forward, build your present, and keep your “north” aligned with what gives your life purpose.
A prize beyond expectations
Although the original prize only involved Ocon using her design and sharing it on his social media, the team soon realised Fernanda lived in Paraguay, right next door to Brazil. They invited her to attend the São Paulo Grand Prix in person.
Fernanda hesitated at first, explaining that she could not cover the travel and accommodation costs. When Ocon’s team learned this, Esteban himself offered to pay for her plane tickets. Turning an already unbelievable experience into something even more extraordinary.
“Everything that happened after that felt unreal. Completely unreal”, she recalls
A message to other artists
As her story spreads, Fernanda Lezcano hopes it inspires others who feel stuck in their creative journeys.
“My message is: Do not give up. If you feel something is meant for you, keep going. Push through the doubts, because the things done with passion always find their way.”
Fernanda’s experience is both a triumph, and a reminder that creativity often reappears in the moments we least expect.
To see her designs, follow Fernanda Lezcano on Instagram. More racing? Read Paraguayan dacing driver Joshua Dürksen signs with Invicta Racing for F2 title push.
