No more jewelry for Formula 1 drivers. That’s what the rulers of the premier class of motorsport have decided. The ban is already in effect this weekend at the Grand Prix in Miami (USA). The procedure against wearing jewelry and private underwear is thus tightened. From the Miami weekend onwards, the teams must confirm in official documents that their pilots comply with the regulations. Race director Niels Wittich informed the racing teams about the new measure before the Grand Prix in Florida and announced spot checks.
The world association FIA justified the procedure by saying that rings, chains or piercings could pose unnecessary obstacles for first responders and doctors in emergencies. As a heat conductor, jewelry on the skin can reduce the protective effect of fireproof clothing over it. This increases the risk of burns in a fire. Last but not least, the jewelry itself carries the risk of injury and could be swallowed in the event of an accident. In addition, the wearing of standard underwear, which was allegedly still common practice for some drivers, is now prohibited according to the regulations. Only clothing that meets the FIA Formula 1 standards is permitted.
Record world champion Lewis Hamilton recently had a lack of understanding about the crackdown “I don’t get why they care about these little things,” said the Mercedes driver. The seven-time world champion said he could not remove some of his piercings and jewelry without destroying them.
