Hamilton: I’m willing to withdraw over piercings
LEWIS HAMILTON indicated he was ready to withdraw from tomorrow’s Miami Grand Prix in his ongoing jewellery row with Formula One’s governing body.
Hamilton arrived for Thursday’s official FIA press conference wearing a ring on every finger, a series of necklaces, a bracelet, piercings in both ears and three watches – two on his left wrist and one on his right – in a clear show of defiance.
The ban on drivers wearing jewellery in the cockpit has been in place for a number of years. But the ruling is now being enforced by new F1 race director Niels Wittich and Mohammed ben Sulayem, the FIA president.
But, in response, seven-time world champion Hamilton said: “If they stop me then so be it. We’ve got a spare driver, so we’re well prepped for the weekend. There’s lots to do in the city anyway.”
Dutchman Nick de Vries, 27, who has never raced in F1, is Mercedes’ reserve driver here.
The PA news agency understands Hamilton will require a medical exemption to prove his piercings cannot be removed to avoid a sanction from the FIA.
At last weekend’s FIA-accredited Formula E race in Monaco, Pascal Wehrlein and Mitch Evans were handed a suspended 1000 euro (£855) fine and a point on their licences for wearing necklaces in the cockpit.
Hamilton added: “As I said, I can’t remove at least two of the piercings. One I can’t really explain where it is. But it is platinum, so it’s not magnetic.
“It’s never been a safety issue in the past. I am willing to sign a waiver to take the responsibility away from the FIA if I need to. It is about individuality and being who you are.”
Hamilton heads into tomorrow’s first grand prix in Miami 57 points behind championship leader Charles Leclerc. Hamilton finished 13th in Imola and was lapped by Max Verstappen a fortnight ago.
Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko poked fun at Hamilton by saying he should have retired last year, while Hamilton’s former rival Nico Rosberg was also critical of the Briton’s performance.
“It has been interesting to see there has been quite a lot of disrespectful comments,” said Hamilton. “It is to be expected. I just keep my head down. I know who I am, I know what I do, I love what I do. We are going through a tough time. We didn’t come out the starting blocks as we wanted this year, but we are fighters and if you don’t know that about me then you just don’t know me.”