Lewis Hamilton on Formula 1's jewelry crackdown
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MELBOURNE — Formula 1’s crackdown on regulations prohibiting jewelry didn’t stop Lewis Hamilton from wearing earrings and nose piercing for last Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
“These ones on my right ear are literally welded in so I’d have to get them chopped off or something like that. So they will be staying,” Hamilton recently shared.
The seven-time world champion was one of the sport’s 20 athletes who sat down for what Hamilton called the “longest driver’s briefing” ever — two hours, to be exact — to discuss stricter enforcements of the FIA’s rules.
Drivers have been prohibited from wearing body piercings or metal neck-chains since 2004 but the rule has never been properly enforced. In addition to jewelry, wearing certain underwear is also prohibited.
“I feel there are personal things and you should be able to be who you are,” Hamilton said. “And I will continue to do that … I don’t really understand the small things they are picking up.”
The Mercedes driver, 37, whose star power has extended beyond the sport and into fashion, also joked in a press conference that he has some secret piercings only a few know about.
“I’ve got several piercings that I really can’t take out, that not a lot of people know of,” Hamilton laughed.
“Since I’ve been here in F1, it’s been the rule, so there’s nothing new. I’m just going to come up with more jewelry next week.”
Hamilton also had a cheeky exchange with 24-year-old Max Verstappen, the reigning world champ.
“I’d be too heavy with it,” the Dutchman said when asked about the jewelry ban.
Hamilton joked in response, “I know you have a nipple piercing, man,” to which Verstappen quipped, “You want to see it again?”
Beyond jewelry, Formula 1 officials have also cracked down on the wearing of flame-resistant underwear beneath the drivers’ race suits.
AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly said he wasn’t sure how the FIA intended to enforce the rule.
“I won’t comment on that. If they want to check my ass, feel free, I’ve got nothing to hide,” he told reporters.
Meanwhile, Red Bull boss Christian Horner joked that he won’t be running compliance on the issue.
“I certainly won’t be checking our drivers’ underwear,” he said.
“I’m reliably informed our drivers go commando. Hopefully, it won’t be an issue for them … I understand it was an entertaining drivers’ briefing.”
Formula 1 arrives in the US for the inaugural Miami Grand Prix on May 8.
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