Picture Credit: Twitter
Seven-time F1 champion and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton could face action at Singapore Grand Prix due to breaching F1 regulation. The Briton was summoned to the stewards for an alleged breach of a rule that bans wearing jewellery in the car. However, Hamilton has defended wearing a nose stud by saying that it was recommended to avoid infection. Notably, FIA had stated at the start of the season that drivers must remove jewellery ahead of track sessions.
FIA race director Niels Wittich explained at the Miami Grand Prix in May that "metallic objects, such as jewellery, in contact with the skin, can reduce heat transmission protection and thus may increase the risk of burn injuries in the event of a fire".
Hamilton explained after qualifying that he was wearing a nose stud because removing it at previous rounds had led to an infection and he had been told to keep it in place to avoid the infection coming back. This will be not the first instance when Hamilton will clash with authorities in this regard. The Briton had a stand-off with the governing body in Miami as the seven-time world champion said he could not easily remove a nose stud to comply with the rule.
After this, he was granted an exemption which lasted till the British Grand Prix. However, Hamilton had to remove the stud ahead of the first practice session at Silverstone. But he was spotted with one during the qualifying in Singapore. Following this Hamilton was summoned to the stewards after final practice for an alleged breach of Appendix L, Chapter III of the FIA International Sporting Code, which includes an article on not wearing jewellery.
A Mercedes representative was then called to the stewards after qualifying for submitting an inaccurate self-scrutineering form, which includes the wearing of jewellery. Notably, breaching the article of the International Sporting Code could result in a fine on the first three instances, with potential sporting penalties being enforced if a competitor continues to defy the rule.