Best F1 Hats & Caps 2026: Official Team, Driver & New Era Caps
A team cap is the easiest way to wear your F1 colours, which is why it is the single most popular piece of Formula 1 merchandise. From official New Era team caps to driver editions, snapbacks and bucket hats, here are the best F1 hats and caps of 2026, ranked by type and budget.
An F1 cap is the merchandise equivalent of a football shirt — instantly recognisable, wearable every day, and a clear statement of which team and driver you support. The audience for it is enormous: according to Formula 1's own figures the sport reached a cumulative global television audience of around 1.6 billion across the 2024 season, and the headwear is officially licensed to match. New Era, the cap maker best known for its work with the major US sports leagues, is the official headwear partner for several F1 teams including Red Bull Racing and McLaren, while other teams partner with brands such as Puma and Castore and Formula 1 sells its own F1-branded caps.
The trick to buying the right F1 cap is matching three things: the team or driver the fan supports, the cap style they like to wear, and the budget. We have grouped the best F1 hats of 2026 below, with a price guide for each, so you can find the right one fast.
Quick Picks: Best F1 Hats by Type
- Best Overall: Official New Era 9FORTY team cap — correct livery, adjustable fit
- Best Personal Gift: Driver-edition cap (Verstappen, Norris, Hamilton)
- Best Neutral Pick: Official F1-branded logo cap — works for any fan
- Best Streetwear Look: New Era 9FIFTY flat-brim snapback
- Best for Summer Races: Official team bucket hat
- Best Budget Buy: Generic F1 / team-colour cap under US$20
Best F1 Hats & Caps by Type
1. Official New Era 9FORTY Team Cap — Best Overall
The official New Era 9FORTY team cap is the default best F1 hat for almost everyone. The 9FORTY is a curved-brim, adjustable strapback, so one size fits virtually any head, and the licensed version carries the team's exact livery, logo and current sponsors. Whether you back Red Bull Racing, Ferrari, McLaren or Mercedes, this is the cap you see drivers and crews wearing on the grid.
- Official New Era 9FORTY team cap: US$35-45 — the paddock standard
- Adjustable strapback fits almost any head size
- Buy in your team's colours for the correct livery and sponsors
2. Driver-Edition Cap — Best Personal Gift
A driver-edition cap adds the driver's number, initials or personal logo to the team design, making it far more personal than a plain team cap. A Verstappen fan should look for the Red Bull Racing driver line; a Norris fan the McLaren driver cap; a Hamilton fan the Ferrari driver edition. These are the caps to buy when you know exactly who the recipient supports.
- Official driver-edition cap: US$40-50 — driver number/logo detail
- Most personal option for a die-hard fan of one driver
- Check it is the current team and season livery
3. Official F1 Logo Cap — Best Neutral Pick
If you are not sure which team the fan supports, an official F1-branded logo cap is the safe play. It carries the Formula 1 logo rather than a single team's colours, so it never offends a Ferrari fan with McLaren orange or vice versa. It is also a clean, neutral look that works as everyday wear and as a reliable gift.
- Official F1 logo cap: US$30-40 — neutral, team-agnostic
- The safe choice when you do not know the fan's team
- Clean everyday look beyond race weekends
4. New Era 9FIFTY Snapback — Best Streetwear Look
For fans who prefer a flat brim, the New Era 9FIFTY snapback is the official streetwear-style F1 cap. It has a structured front panel and a plastic snap closure for an adjustable fit, and a flatter, more angular profile than the 9FORTY. Same official team licensing, different silhouette — pick this if the 9FORTY's curved brim is not your style.
- New Era 9FIFTY snapback: US$35-45 — flat-brim, structured front
- Snap closure for an adjustable, streetwear fit
- Same official team designs as the 9FORTY
5. Official Team Bucket Hat — Best for Summer Races
For sunny grandstands and summer race weekends, an official team bucket hat gives more shade than a cap while still flying your colours. Bucket hats have become a popular part of modern F1 team kit, and the licensed versions carry the same livery and sponsors as the cap range.
- Official team bucket hat: US$30-40 — more sun coverage
- Great for trackside, festivals and summer wear
- Same team livery as the official cap line
6. Budget F1 / Team-Colour Cap — Best Cheap Buy
If you only need a casual cap or a stocking filler, a budget F1 or team-colour cap does the job for under US$20. These unofficial caps capture the team's colours and a racing look without the official licence — fine for everyday or casual wear, though the logos and sponsors will be simplified compared with the genuine New Era article.
- Budget F1 / team-colour cap: under US$20 — casual, cheap
- Good stocking filler or everyday knockabout cap
- Designs are simplified vs official licensed caps
F1 Hat Comparison by Type
| Hat Type | Typical Price | Style | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Era 9FORTY team cap | US$35-45 | Curved brim, strapback | Best overall, any fan |
| Driver-edition cap | US$40-50 | Curved brim, driver detail | Fans of one driver |
| Official F1 logo cap | US$30-40 | Neutral, F1 branding | Gifts, unknown team |
| New Era 9FIFTY snapback | US$35-45 | Flat brim, snapback | Streetwear look |
| Team bucket hat | US$30-40 | Bucket, all-round brim | Summer races, shade |
| Budget team-colour cap | Under US$20 | Unofficial | Casual, stocking filler |
How to Choose the Right F1 Cap
Get the Team and Driver Right
F1 loyalties run deep, and colours matter. A Ferrari fan does not want Red Bull navy, and a Verstappen supporter wants a Red Bull Racing driver cap, not a generic one. If you are buying a gift and are unsure of the team, choose a neutral F1-branded logo cap rather than guessing wrong.
Pick the Cap Style
The two main official styles are the curved-brim 9FORTY and the flat-brim 9FIFTY snapback. The 9FORTY is the safe, universal pick; the 9FIFTY suits fans who like a flat brim and a streetwear look. For sunny trackside use, a bucket hat gives more coverage than either.
Check for Official Licensing
For accurate livery and sponsors, look for an official-licence note and the team or New Era branding. Unlicensed caps are cheaper but use simplified or approximate designs — fine for casual everyday wear, less satisfying as a main gift for a die-hard fan who knows the real thing.
Mind the Fit
Most official F1 caps are one-size-adjustable — a strapback on the 9FORTY or a plastic snap on the 9FIFTY — so they fit nearly everyone. If you specifically want a fitted cap with no adjuster, check the listing, as fitted sizes are less common in the official F1 range.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best F1 cap to buy?
The best F1 cap for most fans in 2026 is an official New Era 9FORTY team cap in the colours of the team you support — Red Bull Racing, Ferrari, McLaren or Mercedes — typically US$35-45. It uses the correct team livery and sponsors, has an adjustable strap so it fits almost everyone, and is the same style of cap the drivers and team wear in the paddock.
Are New Era caps official F1 merchandise?
Yes. New Era is the official headwear partner for several Formula 1 teams, including Red Bull Racing and McLaren, so its 9FORTY and 9FIFTY caps carry licensed team logos, liveries and sponsor detail. Other teams use partners such as Puma and Castore, and Formula 1 itself sells official F1-branded caps. Look for an official-licence note so the design matches the real thing.
What is the difference between a 9FORTY and a 9FIFTY cap?
A New Era 9FORTY is a curved-brim, adjustable strapback cap that fits almost any head size, which is why it is the most common official F1 team cap. A 9FIFTY is a flat-brim snapback with a structured front panel and a plastic snap closure, giving a more streetwear look. Both are official styles; the 9FORTY is the safer all-round pick, the 9FIFTY suits fans who prefer a flat brim.
What hat does Max Verstappen wear?
Max Verstappen wears the official Red Bull Racing team cap, made by New Era, usually in the team's navy and red livery with the season's sponsors. Driver-edition caps add the driver's number, initials or logo, so a Verstappen fan should look for the Red Bull Racing driver-line cap rather than a generic team cap. Other drivers have equivalent driver editions through their teams.
The Bottom Line
The best F1 hat is the one that matches the fan. For most people, an official New Era 9FORTY team cap in their team's colours is the standout pick — correct livery, adjustable fit and the same cap the drivers wear. For a die-hard supporter, a driver-edition cap is more personal, and when you do not know the team, an official F1 logo cap never misses.
A cap pairs perfectly with the rest of the kit — browse our guides to the best F1 jackets, best F1 gifts, best F1 helmet replicas and best F1 model cars, and when you are kitted out, cue up the team radio that made you a fan in the first place.