Lewis Hamilton Rejects FIA Regulations Ahead Of Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is already sparking some intense discussions among F1 fans. Lewis Hamilton's nose piercings, which have already caused quite a stir early in the 2023 season, were granted an exemption by his doctor for the Bahrain Grand Prix. But the question remains, what about the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix?
The FIA has implemented strict regulations to ensure driver compliance and safety. Drivers are no longer allowed to wear jewellery or piercings while driving their machines, and teams must confirm to the FIA that their drivers have been checked before the race weekend. But Lewis Hamilton's two nose piercings have caused a bit of a problem for the reigning champion.
The list of teams and drivers who have confirmed they will not be racing with jewellery for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has been published and, again, Hamilton's #44 is missing from the list.
Mercedes has included George Russell on the list, but Lewis Hamilton's name is missing. According to regulations by the FIA, any driver who fails to pass this compliance check will be referred to the stewards.
The absence of Hamilton's name from the list has sparked a fierce debate among F1 fans and pundits alike. Some say that it's a minor issue and that the uniqueness of each driver, such as Hamilton, should be respected. However, others see it as him ignoring the rules and a sign of arrogance on the part of the driver and the team.
As of now, there's no official statement from Mercedes or Lewis Hamilton regarding the compliance check. It remains to be seen whether Hamilton will provide another doctors exemption for the nose studs ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.