Lewis Hamilton has claimed his jewelery argument with the FIA is ‘unnecessary’ as he calls upon FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem to make changes. The seven-time champion was asked whether he believes the FIA were singling him out after the officials aim to crack down on jewelery offenders.
He said: “I couldn’t get any more jewelery on today. I don’t really have a lot more to add than last time when I spoke about it.
“I feel like its almost like a step backwards. If you think about the steps we are taking as a sport. All the more important issues and causes we need to be focused on.”
He added: “It’s a small thing. I’ve been in the sport for 16 years… in the car I only have my earrings on and my nose ring, of which I can’t really remove.
“It seems unnecessary for us to get into this late. I’ll try and communicate and work with Mohammed. I’m here to be an ally of the sport, of Mohammed and Formula 1.”
Hamilton was responding to FIA bosses outlining strict new jewelery guidelines for race weekends. The new rules will mean jewelery checks are part of the weekend’s scrutineering documentation.
The teams must declare their drivers do not wear jewelery and that the underwear meets FIA fire-proof guidelines. As the rule is now part of the technical regulations, it means drivers could get punished if they fail to follow the guidelines.
It is likely drivers would only receive fines for wearing jewelery but grid penalties could be an option.
Officials had clamped down on the rules at the Australian Grand Prix but Hamilton defied the rules. In Melbourne, Sky Sports Ted Kravity warned the rule appeared to be targeting the seven-time champion.
He said: “We checked with Mick Schumacher who wears, when he’s not in the car, a metal chain necklace and he says he doesn’t wear it in the car, so it isn’t him. So it did seem to be on the face of it, a measure, or wanting to enforce a rule specifically targeted at Lewis Hamilton who of course has ear piercings and a nose piercing.”