“
If they stop me, let them do it
”: seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton assured Friday that he would not remove his jewels as the International Automobile Federation asked the pilots (FIA), even if it means missing the Miami Grand Prix this weekend.
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“
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 his rings, necklaces, earring, nose piercing, and no less. of three watches around the wrists, aligned to different time zones.
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 new FIA race director Niels Wittich decided to tighten the screw to enforce it.
A first reminder in this sense was made during the Australian GP in early April, the third round of the season.
“
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.
Wearing jewelry during competition can impede medical interventions
And to justify: “
Wearing jewelery during competition can hinder medical interventions as well as subsequent diagnosis and treatment if they are necessary following an accident
”.
“
We have made such progress as a sport (…) 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
”.
If the measure does not delight Hamilton, who also says he is ready to sign a discharge to continue to be able to wear his jewels, he nevertheless judges “
useless to enter into a quarrel
”.
“
I will try to communicate and work with Mohammed (Ben Sulayem, the president of the FIA, Editor's note), I am here to be an ally of sport, of Mohammed and of F1 and I think we have other cats to do -- things to do, and an impact to have, so that's where we need to focus
,” he continued.
According to the specialized site Motorsport.com, the driver agreed for this weekend to remove all the jewelry he could remove - and received an exemption until the Monaco GP at the end of May to comply with the regulations.
