Custom replica helmets were taken from the Red Bull STEMx van at Silverstone after the British Grand Prix. Former Red Bull mechanic Calum Nicholas has publicly condemned the theft and warned the culprits via social media. The items were intended for educational visits to schools this summer.
Nicholas posted on social media on Monday that the thieves had deprived children from underprivileged backgrounds of planned school visits. He noted that the incident was captured on CCTV and urged the return of the helmets.
The Red Bull STEMx initiative runs a mobile classroom that travels across the United Kingdom. It introduces students to engineering, physics, mathematics and mechanics through Formula 1. The replica helmets were custom-made specifically for these educational sessions.
Nicholas confirmed that the theft had been reported to local authorities and that CCTV footage had been provided. Red Bull launched the programme in 2024 in partnership with Milton Keynes College Group as part of its Drive for Change strategy.
Milton Keynes College Group CEO Sally Alexander said at the time of the launch that the initiative aims to widen access to STEM careers for underrepresented communities.