Lewis Hamilton’s beef with the FIA on their latest style ban is entirely justified – here’s why.
Lewis Hamilton is in Miami for the first-ever Miami Grand Prix. The Magic City’s playing host to the sport’s biggest names. And given the city’s reputation, it was hardly going to be quiet. Still, you’d have expected the first bit of controversy to be more about safety cars and pit stops – not jewellery and bling.
The FIA (the sport’s big bosses) have long disliked stars wearing watches or jewellery whilst racing. It’s a long-standing rule – but one that’s hardly ever enforced. But in what some might see as a bid to reinforce their authority (after the whole Hamilton/Verstappen saga), they’re re-enforcing the rule, much to the dismay of the sport’s biggest and most legendary (argue with the wall) name.
“I feel like it’s almost a step backwards if you think about the steps we are taking as a sport, and the more important issues and causes we need to be focused on,’ Lewis Hamilton said. And he’s completely, absolutely right. Formula 1 hasn’t enjoyed the best PR for the past couple of years, and there’s a lot to do to restore the sport’s image.
To make his point, the 37-year-old was dripped out in some of the world’s best and most recognisable timepieces and a whole lot of sparkly bling: eight silver rings, several bust-down Cartier Juste un Clou bracelets, pearl necklaces, and three IWC watches (Hamilton’s a brand ambassador).
Sporting bodies are notorious for enforcing dumb rules, and the FIA’s latest attempt is a perfect example. For the rules are rules crowd, there’s a lot to do before seizing Cartier’s and Rolex’s on the track. And that’s Hamilton’s point: “This is such a small thing. I’ve been in the sport for 16 years and I’ve been wearing jewellery for 16 years. In the car, I only ever have my earrings on and my nose ring, which I can’t even remove. It seems unnecessary for us to get into this spat.”
Plus, when you take into account the religious and cultural significance of some jewellery pieces, the strong stance taken by the sport’s governing body seems a little off the mark. Don’t take our word for it, here’s what Hamilton’s fellow driver, Pierre Gasly had to say: “[there’s] a religious item that I wear with me when I’m racing, which is important to me. I don’t feel comfortable not having that in the car. I do feel like it’s personal; we should have the freedom to do what we feel is right for us… At the end of the day, we have the responsibility to go out there and put our lives at risk. It should a personal choice.”
Damn right. And in the lead up to the race, it’ll serve the FIA a whole lot better to leave the drip restrictions behind and work on fixing their reputation.
Speaking of style, here are the lessons you need to pick up from Jack Harlow.