Haas Formula 1 driver Kevin Magnussen believes the FIA’s crackdown on jewellery has perhaps gone a step too far with drivers forced to remove items such as wedding rings.
The FIA reminded drivers of the rules surrounding jewellery earlier this season, but it’s only this weekend in Miami that they will start taking action against drivers for disobeying the regulations.
Lewis Hamilton has openly criticised the crackdown and turned up to a media briefing wearing three watches and multiple bracelets and rings in defiance of the rules. As a result, on Saturday morning the FIA added watches to the list of prohibited items.
Magnussen understands the reasons behind the FIA’s push, but believes it has gone too far when a simple wedding band can’t be worn and suggested drivers take responsibility for wearing personal items.
“I understand what they are they saying, but it is a wedding ring around your finger,” said the Danish driver.
“I’ll take a little bit of extra burn on my finger to race in my wedding ring. And if something was going to happen, something bad, I would want to wear my wedding ring. It kind of feels bad to take it off.
“With something like that, like your wedding ring. Let us take that responsibility. There must be somehow to remove liability.”
However Magnussen admitted he would follow the rules and remove it this weekend because of the threat of a heavy fine which is believed to be around $50,000 (£40,000) for a first offence, rising to $250,000 (£200,000) for a second offence. Championship point deductions have also been threatened for multiple offences.
“I don’t want to pay the 250,000 Euro fine,” added Magnussen.
Why not turn F1 into a hip-hop counter-cultural venue, drivers tatted up like gang-bangers, done up with with Mohawk hairdos, dressed like Mr. T, required to flash the correct gang sign every time they cross the start-finish line?
I think F1 cars needs paintball gun hard points, rules of engagement, only to be deployed in DRS zones. The color of the paint balls placed at the sole discretion of team principals.
I think Christian Horner would choose the color purple, to lob at Russell and Hamilton. I think Torger Woff would be partial to brilliant metallic silver, for which to pepper Perez and Verstappen. Of course, Ferrari would choose Red; Renault alternating between yellow and Alpine blue. ALFA Romeo, green. Team Williams, cue-ball white.
Under searing pressure from Apple, Twitter, Google and Mark Zuckerberg, Zac Brown would succumb to the LGBTQ peoples’ insistence they fire fire off rainbow lobs, but only at heterosexual competitors deploying their DRS.
Every f1 circuit should be mandated a fake marina –
And, F1 drivers should be allowed to shuck ‘n jibe while they drive, to the kewl hip-hop tumz.
Sadly, wheelspinners went out-of-style. I think F1 should further increase wheel diameter, to 45″ ghetto chromes, try ‘n bring them back.
The neon underglow would be a nice touch.
Drivers should be permitted to only drink Cristal during the races
I would cut off my finger before I removed my wedding ring.