The character and determination shown by seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton is enough over the years, especially in recent years when together he and Sebastian Vettel are two free verse when it comes to voicing their opinions and making actions in favor of the causes they believe in and defend to the death. He confronted the ‘establishment’ of the FIA and refused to follow rules that he did not believe in, such as being told what to say on his social networks or what he should adorn his body or wear on his wrist which is a only people with their record can win. And at this moment he is bringing small battles to his land.
The FIA announced in December that it will prohibit the “public making and display of political, religious and personal statements or comments, in violation of the general principle of neutrality upheld by the FIA under its laws, unless approved in writing by the FIA .” FIA for international competitions, or of the corresponding ASN for national competitions within its jurisdiction”. And then in January the nuances began, such as the fact that pilots can freely express themselves in their social networks, something Hamilton usually signs off on.
This Friday in Bahrain before the start of Free Practice 1, another small victory for Hamilton came regarding his controversial punctures, a story that has been going on for more than a year. In one of the appendices of the FIA Sporting Code it is included that “the use of jewelry in the form of body piercing or metal chains for the neck is prohibited during the competition and therefore can be controlled before the start”.
The inclusion of the criteria is justified because it can hinder medical interventions in the event of an accident, especially diagnostic imaging, and in the worst case “the presence of jewelry in or around the respiratory tract can cause additional specific risks in the event of being released during an accident and being ingested or inhaled”.
Throughout 2022, Hamilton was granted exemptions, he was increasingly resistant to having his piercings removed, saying he would need complex medical interventions to remove them. And his acts of rebellion went so far as to appear at a press conference full of beads on his chest and with three or four watches on his wrists. And although there was a moment, his home GP at Silverstone, when he wasn’t too mad at the idea and apparently had his nostrils removed preparing checkmate on the idea with Mercedes.
Finally this Friday Mercedes convinced the FIA pSo they allowed him to compete with the nostrils and now he has both wings of his nose: “The stewards listened to a team representative and received a medical report from the Mercedes doctor, who requested an exemption. The stewards consulted the FIA medical delegate, who saw the medical report, examined the driver and agreed with his opinion. We have decided not to take any further action, as there is a concern of distortion with frequent attempts to remove the device.”
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
