Formula 1 race car driver Lewis Hamilton can now wear his preferred choice of jewelry after a medical examination.
In 2022, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the governing body for world motor sport and the federation of the world’s leading motoring organizations, passed a rule forbidding drivers from wearing body jewelry while racing for safety reasons. If drivers didn’t follow this new regulation, they would have to pay a fine and risk suspension.
Hamilton sports a nose ring but stopped wearing it once the rule passed. Because of the constant removal and replacement of his ring, he began to have blood blisters, according to TMZ.
Since the new rule complicated his piercing, a Mercedes team doctor asked if the FIA could make an exception after examining the adverse side effects, which was approved.
“The Stewards consulted the FIA Medical Delegate, who viewed the medical report, examined the driver and concurred with the opinion therein,” TMZ reported the decision read. “We have determined to take no further action as there are concerns about disfigurement with frequent attempts at removal of the device.”
Hamilton previously spoke about how he would get infections due to having to remove his nose rings so much.
Hamilton’s approval to wear his nose ring came before the opening race in the Bahrain Grand Prix. Hamilton finished seventh, and CNN reported he said, “We’re the fourth fastest team now, as opposed to the third last year. We’re going backwards, [so] we really have a lot of work to do to close that gap.”
