May 27, (THEWILL) – The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has extended the exemptions for drivers to continue wearing jewellery in their Formula One cars until the end of June, allowing for more discussions on the issue.
Several sections of the FIA’s International Sporting Code, particularly the rules governing the wearing of jewellery in the car, have been enforced more strictly in the early part of the 2022 season under new F1 race director Niels Wittich.
After an early warning in Australia about wearing piercings or chains in the car, a new crackdown was implemented in Miami, with compliance inspections becoming part of the pre-race scrutineering declaration.
Sir Lewis Hamilton, frontline Mercedes driver, branded the action “unnecessary” and “a step backwards,” adding that he had no plans to remove all of his piercings. Because his nose piercing is difficult to remove, the seven-time world champion has been granted a two-race exemption.
The exemption previously only applied to the races in Miami and Spain, but it has now been extended until the end of June to include the next three races in Monaco, Azerbaijan, and Canada to allow for continued communication between the drivers and the FIA’s medical experts, who are working to find a means to enforce the ISC’s Appendix L item on the wearing of jewellery in a safe and practical manner.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
