Hamilton defiant in face of F1 jewellery ban

Method A single F1 – Australian Grand Prix – Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia – April 10, 2022 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton throughout the drivers parade ahead of the race REUTERS/Martin Retain

MELBOURNE, April 10 (Reuters) – 7-occasions world champion Lewis Hamilton responded defiantly on Sunday after Formula One reminded drivers that jewellery simply cannot be worn during races.

New race director Niels Wittich wrote in pre-race Australian Grand Prix notes that “the donning of jewelry in the variety of human body piercing or metallic neck chains is prohibited for the duration of the level of competition”.

Hamilton, the sport’s most effective driver, advised reporters immediately after finishing fourth for Mercedes in Melbourne that he would not be shedding his ear piercings and a nose stud.

“I you should not have any designs on eliminating (them),” said the 37-year-old.

“I experience there are personalized factors. You ought to be in a position to be who you are,” he added.

“There is things that I are not able to go. I virtually can not even just take these out. These ones on my ideal ear, they are literally welded in so I have to get them chopped off or a little something like that. So they will be keeping.”

The ban on sporting jewellery in the course of the race is for security factors and is established out in Appendix L of the FIA’s Worldwide Sporting Code. Though not new, it has not been rigorously enforced.

The subject matter was also elevated at a drivers’ briefing on Friday alongside with a discussion about the necessity for flame-resistant underwear.

“I definitely won’t be examining our drivers underwear for compliance,” joked Pink Bull group boss Christian Horner when the subject was raised on Saturday.

Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Ed Osmond

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