Lewis Hamilton Wears 3 Watches and 8 Rings in Response to FIA Jewelry Ban

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The FIA bans drivers for wearing jewelry during a race, which irks Lewis Hamilton, who has a number of ear piercings. New Formula 1 race director Niels Wittich sent teams a note on Thursday indicating that the FIA will be checking to see if drivers are wearing jewelry and proper underwear as part of pre-race scrutineering. In what is not at all a coincidence, Hamilton showed up at the FIA pre-race press conference on Friday wearing eight rings, four necklaces, three watches, at least one bracelet, and his earrings.

In response to the jewelry ban, Hamilton said last month "I don't have any plans on removing [my earrings]," per ESPN. "I feel there are personal things. You should be able to be who you are. There is stuff that I can't move. I literally can't even take these out. These ones on my right ear, they are literally welded in so I have to get them chopped off or something like that. So they will be staying."

Hamilton today dismissed the jewelry ban as being trivial:

Sir Lewis wasn't the only driver to protest at this week's Miami Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel showed up at a pre-race party wearing a shirt that said: Miami 2060. 1st Grand Prix Under Water. Act Now or Swim Later." Vettel frequently speaks out about the need to address climate change. The New York Times wrote last year that Miami is more threatened by rising sea levels than any other U.S. metropolitan area.

If he races with piercings defiantly in, it remains to be seen if the FIA will take any action against Hamilton. We'll find out soon enough.

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