Kamogelo Olaitan
Formula One is one of the most dangerous sports in the world. The upcoming Miami Grand Prix has the potential of becoming a serious disaster because of the substandard surface.
But Lewis Hamilton is instead focusing on the important things of stardom: his nose stud (or his ego). The multiple world champion has a point to prove and he will risk championship points to prove it.
As part of a safety push by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) to minimise injuries in the event of accidents like fires, it has banned drivers from wearing jewellery.
Any driver who doesn’t follow this will be fined or lose points.
Lewis Hamilton, who at 37 has not been a pouting teenager for a long time, is willing to get rid of his jewellery, including his earrings, for Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix. But the legendary driver will not give up his nose stud for anything.
And it’s not just for this race – it’s for the rest of the season.
The FIA has given him an exemption for two races but Hamilton says he won’t remove his nose stud even for the races after them.
Hamilton even suggested that he could withdraw from the Miami race in protest against the ban but FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem talked him out of it.
“No, I’m not going to give it up,” said Hamilton, who arrived at the press briefing wearing three watches, eight rings, four necklaces and two earrings.
“I got an exemption here, and I will get exemptions for the rest of the year. Wedding rings are allowed. I will wear four watches next time.”
Hamilton added that when they told him about the jewellery, they said safety is everything.
“I said, well, what’s happened for the last 16 years? I’ve had jewellery on for 16 years, so was safety not an issue back then?”
His exemption expires on 29 May at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Mercedes F1 team executive Toto Wolff suggested that Hamilton and the FIA would reach an understanding.
“What was needed was a dialogue between Lewis and Mohammed. It is clear that regulations are here to protect the drivers, but on the other hand, we need diversity and the means of expressing yourself, and we know that this is important to Lewis,” he said.
