Hamilton cleared by doctor's note for again wearing jewellery

Ian Parkes
Saturday 1 October 2022 18:32 - Updated: 18:39

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has been cleared by the Singapore Grand Prix stewards despite again wearing jewellery whilst driving.

Hamilton had been summoned to see the stewards before qualifying for an alleged breach of the FIA's International Sporting Code.

The seven-time F1 champion was cited for a violation of Appendix L, Chapter III of the Code, which relates to drivers' equipment, which includes the wearing of jewellery.

A ban on jewellery was declared earlier in the season by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, leading to Hamilton being forced to remove all his jewelley, which included a soldered-in nose stud.

Hamilton recently reinserted the nose stud due to him suffering an infection, and handed a doctor's certificate to the stewards after being summoned that explained the circumstances.

In clearing Hamilton, the stewards noted: "Broadcast footage showed Hamilton wearing an item of jewellery in the form of a body piercing (nose stud) during the session [final practice].

"Hamilton admitted this fact but explained that he had been advised by his doctors not to remove it for the time being.

"In response to a request by the stewards, the team produced reports from a medical practitioner which confirmed Hamilton's explanation.

"The stewards then consulted the FIA deputy medical delegate, Dr Ian Roberts, who viewed the medical report and concurred with the opinion therein.

"In light of the extenuating circumstances, we have determined to take no further action."

Mercedes fined for not reporting nose stud

Mercedes, meanwhile, has been fined €25,000 by the stewards for not reporting the fact Hamilton was again wearing the stud in its self-scrutineering form, as required by the regulations.

A stewards' report read: "As required by Article 31.1 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations, prior to P1 the team submitted a self-scrutiny form for Car 44 [Hamilton] by which they declared that the driver complied with the requirement not to wear jewellery in the form of a body piercing.

"That declaration was incorrect in the case of Hamilton who had a nose piercing which he had not removed.

"The team manager explained that the team was unaware that HAM had a piercing.

"In recent events, Hamilton had removed the piercing prior to the competition. The team assumed, without enquiring of Hamilton, that he had followed or would follow the same procedure for this event.

"The stewards accept that the error in the declaration, in this case, was not intentional or deliberate but it would not have occurred had the team made an enquiry of Hamilton before completing and submitting the declaration.

"Given these circumstances, we fine the team €25,000."