Vettel backs Hamilton in jewellery ban, Button disagrees

Michelle Foster
Sebastian Vettel fist bump Lewis Hamilton. Hungary August 2021

Sebastian Vettel fist bump Lewis Hamilton. Hungary August 2021

Sebastian Vettel says Lewis Hamilton is being “targeted” by F1’s jewellery ban but Jenson Button says it is there for a reason.

Earlier this year F1 race director Niels Wittich informed the drivers that the regulation banning drivers from racing while wearing jewellery would be upheld.

He gave them until Miami to confirm, and announced on Friday that as of this weekend’s race, both jewellery and underwear would form part of the official scrutineering.

Hamilton showed up in Friday’s driver press conference decked out in piercings, jewellery and even wore several watches while declaring that Mercedes have a “spare” on hand if he is banned from racing.

He later removed what piercings he could with the FIA agreeing to give him a two-race exemption on those, such as his nose ring, that can’t easily be removed.

Vettel says the seven-time World Champion is being “targeted” by the FIA over the ban.

“I think it is a bit unnecessary to blow this topic up,” said the Aston Martin who walked down the pit lane with his underpants outside his race suit as he took the mickey out of the underwear rule.

“Probably at this stage it’s more of a personal thing. And I feel in a particular way targeted to Lewis.

“I mean, we spoke about underpants as well. But really, is that the most exciting thing we can talk about?

“So in a way, you know, there’s a concern for safety. Obviously, if you have stuff and the car does catch fire, then it will be unpleasant.

“But on the other hand, I think, you know, to some degree, it’s personal freedom, and we’re old enough to make our choices outside the car, we should be old enough to make choices also inside the car.”

However, former F1 driver Jenson Button says the rule on jewellery is there for a reason.

“It is not just what happens at the circuit, it is when they take the crash helmet off, is it going to pull on the ear and then the marshal feels bad that he’s hurt you,” the 2009 World Champion told Sky F1.

 

“Or, it could be if you are taken to the hospital and they have to do an x-ray or an MRI, you can’t have metal in your face either.

“It is a tricky one and it is weird we are talking about it. There are so many things to talk about in motorsport and F1 at the moment and we are talking about that.”

 

Hamilton, Wolff speak on F1 jewellery ban

Lewis Hamilton made it clear you would have to chop his ear off if he were to comply with the rules.