Lewis Hamilton protests rule against jewelry (with more jewelry)

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Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton will compete in the inaugural Miami Grand Prix on Sunday after Formula One deflected a clash with the Mercedes driver over a ban on piercings and jewelry.

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Race director Niels Wittich had sent out a reminder to all teams and officials that the wearing of body piercings and metal neck chains was prohibited during the competition for safety reasons and could be searched.

Hamilton, the sport’s most successful driver and biggest name in America, said he can’t remove some of his piercings and suggested Friday he could face a ban from racing.

“If they stop me (running), so be it. We have a spare driver,” he said. “There’s a lot to do in the city anyway, so I’ll be fine either way.”

But Hamilton’s team submitted paperwork to the FIA ​​saying they complied with the rule and a source told Reuters the driver would not wear jewelery and had been given a two-race waiver for his body piercing.

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The Briton is due to remove the piercing before the Monaco Grand Prix on May 29, the source added.

Hamilton had given no indication that he was in the mood for a commitment when he attended the pre-race press conference with rings on each finger, three large watches (set to different time zones), a bracelet, chunky necklace chains and studs. in both ears.

Another nose piercing was hidden by his face mask.

“I couldn’t get any more jewels today,” he said, adding that he felt the crackdown was almost a step backwards at a time when the sport and the FIA ​​government should be focused on their latest breakthrough in America.

“This is such a small thing,” he said. “It seems unnecessary for us to enter this dispute.”

Asked what the solution to an apparent impasse might be, Hamilton indicated there wasn’t much he could do.

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It seems unnecessary for us to enter into this dispute

“I can’t remove at least two of them,” he said. “One that I really can’t explain where he is.

“But what I can say is that what I have is platinum, so it’s not magnetic, it’s never been a security issue in the past. In 16 years I’ve had so many MRIs and I haven’t had to get the platinum out.”

Wittich had explained in his note that wearing jewelry under mandatory flame retardant clothing could reduce protection against heat transmission and increase the risk of burn injuries.

He said it could also make intervention and medical treatment more difficult due to the risk of ‘snagging’ when removing safety equipment such as a helmet, balaclava or overalls.

“In the event that medical imaging is required to inform diagnosis after an accident, the presence of body jewelry can cause significant complications and delays,” the German added.

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Hamilton said he had tried unsuccessfully to speak to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who was elected in December, and wanted to reassure the Emiratis that he was an ally and not an opponent.

“I’ll try to talk to him before the race,” he said.

Rivals were sympathetic to Hamilton’s stance before practice on the track around Hard Rock Stadium.

“I think it’s a bit unnecessary to blow this up,” said four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, who drives for Aston Martin.

“Probably at this stage it’s more of a personal thing and I feel particularly directed at Lewis. We talk about underpants too. Is that the most exciting thing we can talk about?

“To a certain extent it is personal freedom. We are old enough to make decisions outside the car, we should be old enough to make decisions inside the car as well.” (Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Christian Radnedge and Pritha Sarkar)