“If they stop me, let them do it”: Lewis Hamilton assured Friday that he would not remove his jewelry as requested by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) pilots.

Even if it means missing the Miami Grand Prix this weekend.

“We have reserve drivers so we are ready and prepared for the weekend.

There are a lot of things to do in this city so I will be fine in any case, “said the Briton at a press conference, clad in rings and necklaces, earring, nose piercing and watches around. wrists.

If the ban on wearing jewelry on board single-seaters was introduced in 2005 as a security measure, it has never really been applied by the pilots.

But this season, the new FIA race director Niels Wittich decided to tighten the screw.

A first reminder in this sense was made during the Australian GP in early April, the third round of the season.

I had my style, you had your style

“Wearing jewelry in the form of piercings or metal chains around the neck is prohibited during competition and can therefore be checked before the start,” he recalled on the sidelines of the Miami GP.

And to justify: “Wearing jewelry during competition can hinder medical interventions as well as subsequent diagnosis and treatment if they are necessary following an accident”.

“I have been playing this sport for sixteen years.

I have been wearing jewelry for sixteen years”, regretted the Mercedes driver, who assures that “in the car, I only have my earrings and my nose piercing, which I cannot even remove”.

The seven-time Formula 1 world champion also says he is ready to sign a discharge to continue to be able to wear his jewelry.

According to the specialized site Motorsport.com, the driver nevertheless agreed, for this weekend, to remove all the jewels that could be, and received an exemption until the Monaco GP at the end of May to comply with the rule.

Sport

Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton says he had "mental difficulties for a long time"

Sport

F1: After the disappointment of 2021, Lewis Hamilton is on the hunt for the Formula 1 title record

  • Sport

  • Formula 1 (F1)

  • Lewis Hamilton

  • mercedes

  • Auto Moto