Shortly after taking up his post as the FIA’s new F1 race director, Niels Wittich was keen to remind drivers of two points in the regulations that some were not respecting. Indeed, the FIA’s International Sporting Code stipulates that the wearing of jewelery in the car is prohibited and that drivers are obliged to wear fireproof underwear approved by the federation.
Wittich’s call to order was not greeted with a big smile in the paddock, and the German decided to tighten the screw more for the Miami Grand Prix. On the sidelines of the first race weekend in the city of Florida, it was decided to implement controls for jewelry and underwear. These two regulatory points are now an integral part of the technical verification process.
Although Wittich gave the argument of safety to justify this decision, explaining that jewelry and non-flame resistant underwear could “reduce the protection against heat transmission and therefore increase the risk of burns in the event of a fire”, Lewis Hamilton expressed his displeasure.
“If you think about the progress we’re making and the bigger issues and causes we need to focus on, it’s almost like a step backwards”he confided in a press conference about the recall of Wittich. “We have made great strides as [discipline sportive]… It’s so insignificant.”
The seven-time World Champion has also received the support of Pierre Gaslywho specified at the same conference that there was “more important things to focus on” and that wearing jewelry should be a pilot’s choice. The Frenchman also wears a jewel at the wheel, “a religious object”and would be “uncomfortable” if he had to part with it. “I think it’s a bit personal. We should be free to do what we feel is right”he argued.
Hamilton concluded this discussion by saying he would be willing to sign a waiver to continue wearing jewelry while driving, if it would lessen the FIA’s sense of responsibility for driver safety: “It’s about individuality and being who you are. I sent a message to [Mohammed Ben Sulayem, président de la FIA] to reassure him and tell him that I wanted to be an ally. I don’t want to fight with [la FIA] for that. It’s very, very silly.”
And it is interesting to note that Jo Bauer, the technical delegate of the FIA in charge of the report on the verifications of each team before each first free practice session, indicated that Mercedes “had not confirmed in the self-check sheet that its pilot Lewis Hamilton complied with the requirement not to wear jewelry, in the form of piercings, metal chains or watches.” The star team, however, corrected the situation before the first free practice session.