Sir Lewis Hamilton is at risk of an upcoming race ban, as the seven time World Champion looks set to ignore the FIA’s request over his jewellery.
The British driver was given a two race period to get all his jewellery removed, with some of his accessories needing surgery for removal.
However, with these two races now over, Hamilton is still yet to remove some of his jewellery.
Questions will now be asked of the FIA, who have a decision to make over how strict they are going to be.
When the FIA made the announcement regarding the clamping down on jewellery wearing, prior to the Miami Grand Prix, Hamilton told the media that there are “at least two” he can’t remove.
One of the issues is known to be his nose stud, whilst the other he “can’t really explain where it is.”
It’s almost a coincidence that the most historic and glamourous race of the season, the Monaco Grand Prix, is where Hamilton may face a fine and even a ban.
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The Mercedes F1 Team driver has called the rule enforcement a “step backwards”, with Hamilton stressing that there are more important matters currently at hand.
It was also revealed that Hamilton has been in contact with FIA President Mohammed ben Sulayem, over the jewellery saga.
“I sent him a message, just reassuring him that I want to be an ally, I don’t want to fight with you guys over this,” Hamilton said.
“This is very silly.”
Hamilton stood by these comments last weekend at the Spanish Grand Prix, where he told the media that his attitude over the area hasn’t changed.
Interestingly, it appears the FIA might be backing off of Hamilton’s case; the 37-year-old explained in Spain how he hasn’t heard from the FIA since Miami.
“I haven’t had any discussions with anybody since the last time I spoke on Sunday at the last race,” said the Mercedes driver prior to the Spanish GP.
“So what I’m aware of is that those who are married are allowed to wear their wedding ring.”
Hamilton isn’t alone in feeling disgruntled by the FIA’s actions, with Pierre Gasly holding a similar view to the Brit.
“I do believe there are bigger, bigger things to focus on,” Pierre Gasly said before the Miami GP.
“And I appreciate FIA are looking after our safety. That’s also their priority and our priority. My personal case, I have also a religious item that I wear with me when I’m racing, which is important to me, which I don’t feel comfortable not having with me driving the car.
“And I do feel it’s a little bit personal. We should have the freedom to do what feels right for us. We have the responsibility to go out there, put our life at risk.
“And I do feel it should be a personal choice, but I respect the FIA and their will to always improve the safety.
“But I’ll appreciate a talk with them to see if we can find a better solution than such a strict decision as they made.” concluded the AlphaTauri driver.
Despite the FIA threatening race bans for those who don’t comply with the rule, it appears that at least for the time being a fine is all that’ll be dished out.
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This is according to Jonathan McEvoy of the Daily Mail, who Ben Sulayem recently spoke to.
“There are fines that apply,” ben Sulayem told the newspaper.
“It’s like if someone speeds on the roads — you can’t stop them doing it, but they get fined, even if it was accidental.”
Whilst a fine may frustrate Hamilton, the British driver may consider it as being let off the hook.
Ahead of the Monaco, the FIA need to decide how strict they’ll be over the matter, in order for the body’s integrity not to be tarnished.