The fan whose helmet went up Goodwood’s hill
As the Festival of Speed returns, we caught up with the Atlassian Williams F1 Team fan whose winning design rode with James Vowles aboard the FW14B
Published
09 JUL 2026
Est. reading time
4 min
When the FW14B fired up the hill at last year's Goodwood Festival of Speed, with Team Principal James Vowles at the wheel, there was one detail that belonged not to the team, but to the fans.
The helmet JV wore up the famous hill was designed by one of our own, lifelong Atlassian Williams supporter Nathan Mundy.
Nathan's design was the winner of a competition run through the official Williams app, open to fans everywhere. James shortlisted the top three entries himself before the final decision was handed over to supporters worldwide, who voted Nathan's concept as the winner.
"It was really easy, for one," Nathan laughs, recalling the moment the competition appeared on the app. "I do loads of graphic design in my spare time anyway, so as soon as it came up I thought: that's a little bit of me. I'll give it a crack."
"One of the cool things was that James shortlisted the top three, and then it came down to people like me, the fans, worldwide, voting on the design to be made. It was a really nice feeling that something I'd spent time on went up the hill, and that fans around the world really liked it too."
Hidden details
Some of Silverstone's famous corners shaped the red pinstripe on the helmet...
Look closely at Nathan's design and you'll spot a love letter to British motorsport woven through it. Some of Silverstone's most famous corners are hidden in the artwork, including the legendary Maggotts and Becketts sequence, with Copse tucked in too.
Seeing it in the flesh, inside one of our most iconic cars, was something else entirely.
"When we got there, James pulled out the helmet and showed me it. That was a surreal experience anyway," Nathan says. "But then making our way down to watch the car come up the hill... it's a car which is so iconic to the Williams brand, the Williams team and the Williams history. Arguably the most iconic in terms of its livery. Nigel Mansell and that era of Formula 1 was amazing for Williams.
"I can't lie, it was a little bit emotional. Especially that first glimpse as it came around the corner, we were on the straight by the stand, and just hearing it roar and then watching it come round... it was amazing."
A knock at the door
The story didn't end at Goodwood. Some time later, Nathan answered his door to find a familiar face from Grove: Jim Barker, one of the longest-serving members of the Williams team, holding a scaled-down replica of the winning helmet.
"He knocked on my door and presented me with the scaled-down version of my helmet, which is always going to be pride of place in my office now," Nathan says. "We had a good chat about what he does, the car, and some of the amazing things he's worked on over his time at Williams. I think he's been there almost as long as the team's been at Grove. He does an amazing job."
JV in the FW14B, with Nathan's winning helmet, tackling the Goodwood hill
Two decades in blue
Nathan's Williams story stretches back to the 2003 French Grand Prix, when Ralf Schumacher led home Juan Pablo Montoya for a famous one-two at Magny-Cours.
"Ever since then I've been along for the ride, if you want to call it that," he says. "The ups and the downs and everything in between."
These days, that ride runs through the Williams app, where Nathan is a familiar name, and not just for helmet design. Since the launch of WClub this year, he's wasted no time climbing the ranks.
"I'm actually at Legend already," he says. "I do like that it's a bit of a competition - you pick up the points and see how far you get. You take a quiz, you get some points; you purchase on the shop, and things like that. I've not seen any other team do something like this, where you're that exposed to the team outside of social media."
He's also a veteran of the Williams Experience Centre at Grove, and speaks about the museum the way only a true fan can. "Being able to go through the museum, see all the historic cars, listen to the stories... if you aren't a Williams fan, then you definitely want to be, and get yourself down to the museum. It's the smell as well – the old cars, the petrol. It's awesome."
Inside our Experience Centre
"The wins are coming"
So what would Nathan say to those fans watching from the fringes – the casual followers, the ones without a team?
"If you love Formula 1 and you love history, Williams is the team for you," he says. "With Alex, Carlos and James, it brings a dynamic the team haven't had in a long time. It's exciting. Especially last year, with Baku and Carlos and a couple of podiums – the wins are coming. I wholeheartedly believe that.
"If you're debating who to support, just look up Williams' history. And you need look no further than James Vowles, Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon."
Keep an eye on the Williams app for the latest competitions, WClub rewards and chances to get closer to the team.
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