Since taking over as Formula 1 race director, Niels Wittich has clamped down on a number of elements of the regulations, including wearing jewelery and wearing the correct undergarments to meet FIA requirements.
Wittich reminded drivers before the Australian Grand Prix that wearing jewelry in the car was prohibited under the International Sporting Code .
In that same race there was also a long discussion in the drivers’ briefing about what they wore under their suits while they were in the car, after remembering that all underwear, gloves, socks and balaclavas had to be homologated by the FIA.
Although the drivers understood the FIA’s safety concerns about what could happen in the event of an accident, many questioned the push from F1’s governing body.
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton said he didn’t “really understand the little things they’re picking up”, revealing there were certain piercings he couldn’t remove without breaking.
However, jewelery and underwear checks will form part of each team’s checks prior to the race weekend, providing yet another reminder for drivers to comply with the regulations.
The update was confirmed in a document issued by Wittich on Thursday before the Miami Grand Prix, detailing the modification of the scrutiny declaration form template to include controls to ensure compliance with the International Sporting Code.
Wittich also gave more information relating to the wearing of jewelery and the use of the correct flame resistant clothing inside the car, explaining the safety concerns of the FIA.
The fire from Romain Grosjean’s crash at the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix has been regularly cited as the type of incident that demonstrated the need for drivers to stick to the regulations.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG
Photo by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images
Wittich explained that the use of jewelry under fire-retardant clothing “may reduce the protection offered by this equipment”, since “metallic objects, such as jewelry, in contact with the skin can reduce protection against heat transmission and, therefore, they can increase the risk of burns in the event of a fire.”
In addition, he noted that the use of jewelry can “difficult medical interventions” due to the risk of snagging in the event that the helmet, balaclava and nomex are removed.
“In the event that medical imaging is required to inform diagnosis after an accident, the presence of body jewelry can cause a significant complication and delay,” Wittich added.
“In the worst case, the presence of jewelry during imaging can cause further injury. Jewelry in or around the airway can pose specific additional risks if it becomes dislodged during an accident and ingested or inhaled.” “.
Regarding the use of the correct clothing, Wittich wrote: “The regulations mentioned above are written to ensure that FIA approved flame retardant clothing, including both the outer layer suit and the inner layer in contact with the skin, can function. effectively and provide the designed level of protection if exposed to flame.
“The use of non-flame retardant materials in contact with the driver’s skin, and in particular synthetic materials, can reduce protection by heat transmission and therefore increase the risk of burn injuries in the event of a fire.
“In the worst case, such materials can melt, which can make treatment difficult in the event of a burn injury.”
Although it remains the responsibility of the teams to ensure that their drivers comply with the regulations as part of verification checks, the FIA has the ability to carry out random checks to ensure compliance.
