Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, calls the sport’s ban on wearing jewellery during race weekends a “step backwards.”
This comes after F1 Race Director Niels Wittich stated that any sort of body piercing or metal neck chains are prohibited while driving the car ahead of this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix.
Prior to the round in Australia last month, drivers and teams were reminded of the relevant provision of the International Sporting Code. With the protocol already in place for Miami, it was thought that there would be a grace period to allow drivers to make plans.
The FIA stated that jewellery poses a risk to “both medical procedures as well as eventual diagnosis and treatment should it be required.”
Hamilton stated that he intended to continue wearing jewellery and addressed the issue again in Miami: “It’s almost like a step backwards,” the Briton said, adding that “there are more vital problems that we need to be focused on.”
Hamilton revealed that he has a piercing that he “can’t really explain where it is,” but added that it is made of platinum and isn’t magnetic, so he hasn’t had to remove it during MRI scans in his career.
The 37-year-old wants to avoid a fight with the FIA, so he’s reached out to FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem to resolve the problem.
“It seems unnecessary for us to get into this spat,” the Mercedes driver said. “So I will try to communicate and work with Mohammed [Ben Sulayem]. I’m here to try to be an ally of the sport, of Mohammed and F1.”
“As I said, I think we’ve got bigger fish to fry, bigger things to do, more impact to have. So that’s really where I think the focus should be.
“If they stop me, then so be it. We’ve got a spare driver so we’re all ready and prepped for the weekend. There’s lots to do in the city anyway! It’ll be good either way.”
