Ab-baring Lewis Hamilton is dripping in jewellery after backing down on promise to boycott the Miami Grand Prix over piercings clash with F1 boss
Lewis Hamilton was dripping in jewellery at the Miami International Autodrome in Florida on Saturday after backing down over his promise to boycott Sunday’s Grand Prix over wearing piercings while racing.
The F1 champ, 37, previously admitted he’d have to pull out of the race if FIA insisted he remove his piercings but in a swift U-turn, agreed to a medical examination at the track on Friday and whipped out all but two piercings.
Lewis insisted these studs cannot be removed easily and has been granted a two-race exemption to keep them in place while he looks into possible solutions.
Bling king: Lewis Hamilton was dripping in jewellery at the Miami International Autodrome in Florida on Saturday after backing down over his promise to boycott Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix
On Saturday, Lewis wore £1800-worth of rings and a silver chain as he bared his chest while walking to the Paddock prior to final practice this weekend.
Lewis showed off his rippling torso and body art as he wore his £299 red and blue Daily Paper Menefer faux-leather bomber jacket.
He teamed his jacket with Daily Paper’s £214 Munda trousers in the same colour and opted for a pair of £640 red and white Giuseppe Zanotti Talon high-top sneakers.
The star shielded his eyes from the bright sunshine behind some £145 Retrosuperfuture Colpo sunglasses and carried an Athletic Greens nutritional supplement bottle with him.
All change: The star, 37, said he’d pull out of the race if F1’s ruling FIA insisted he take off his earrings and studs but agreed to a medical at the track on Friday and whipped out his earrings
According to reports FIA President Mohammed bin Sulayem is ‘fixated’ on cracking down on Lewis’ flouting of the rules as he continues to wear jewellery to race.
During a press conference ahead of the race on Friday, Lewis made a statement in three watches, eight rings, four necklaces, one bracelet and two earrings.
When asked what was happening regarding his piercings, he said: ‘I really don’t know. As I said, I can’t remove at least two of them. One I can’t really explain where it is. But what I can say is it’s platinum that I have, so it’s not magnetic. It’s never been a safety issue in the past.’
Adding that there’s a possibility he may not race, Lewis said: ‘So yeah, if they stop me then so be it. We’ve got a spare driver. So we’re well prepped for the weekend.
Making a statement? Lewis was also spotted wearing his bling at the autodrome on Friday ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix after admitting he may have to pull out of the race
‘There’s lots to do in the city anyway so it will be good either way. I couldn’t get any more [jewellery] on today!’
He said that he believes that the initiative is a ‘step backwards’ for sport and told how he has been wearing jewellery while racing for 16 years.
However, his U-turn agreement to the medical test and two-race exemption to keep them in means he can continue to drive for the time being.
It comes after race director Niels Wittich sent a letter to teams yesterday revealing his intention to clamp down on jewellery, because it may become ‘lodged or snagged’ while driving.
Glitterati: Lewis Hamilton has taken Formula One’s latest warning over wearing jewellery in his stride, joking that he has some piercings he ‘can’t remove’ ahead of the Australian Grand Prix
Last month, Lewis suggested he was unfazed by the FIA’s warning regarding jewellery, joking that he has some piercings which cannot be removed amid the latest crackdown.
Formula One drivers were served a reminder that they are banned from wearing jewellery while racing ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.
The ruling was included in the Melbourne event notes that were issued by new F1 race director Niels Wittich, who will share the position with Eduardo Freitas following the sacking of Michael Masi.
It has been part of the sporting regulations since 2005, though drivers who have worn jewellery behind the wheel have not been penalised.
What’s the issue? Formula One drivers were reminded that they are banned from wearing jewellery while racing, such as nose studs, which seven-time champion Hamilton wears
Lewis took the reminder in his stride, though, and was in a relaxed mood as the drivers took to the Albert Park track for the first time in three years.
‘I’ve got several piercings that I really can’t take out, that not a lot of people know of,’ the Briton joked, via Daily Telegraph.
‘But that’s been the rule forever so nothing new.’
Lewis then turned his attention to reigning champion Max Verstappen and said: ‘I know you have a nipple piercing, man!’
The Red Bull ace quipped: ‘You want to see it again?’.
The new race directors though are set to take a sterner stance and fine those who are caught wearing any form of body piercing or metal neck chains.
It’s said the reminder is not aimed at any one person and that multiple drivers up and down the grid have been spotted wearing jewellery – also including rings and bracelets.
Hamilton was seen wearing a nose stud at both last year’s season-ending Abu Dhabi GP and this year’s opener in Bahrain, where it was clearly visible through his open visor.
The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) confirmed a nose stud would fall foul of the ban, raising the prospect of Hamilton being forced to remove it.
The rule prohibiting the wearing of jewellery is Article 5 of the third chapter of Appendix L of the governing body’s International Sporting Code (ISC).
The full wording of the rule states: ‘The wearing of jewellery in the form of body piercing or metal neck chains is prohibited during the competition and may therefore be checked before the start.’
Ready to race: Lewis is set to take part in the race in Miami this weekend after he was granted a two-race grace period to find a solution for his jewellery
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