Haas team director Guenther Steiner has said that “everyone” in the Formula 1 paddock would support a change in current regulations amid Lewis Hamilton’s dispute with the FIA. Hamilton is fighting the governing body of F1 to bring jewelery and piercings to the cabin.
The FIA issued a two-race warning to the Mercedes driver to remove all jewelery and piercings while driving the W13. However, he reacted to the Miami Grand Prix and also cut a challenging figure at last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.
If he refuses to accept the FIA’s demands in Monaco this weekend, the governing body will be pressured to enforce the punishment. But there is a belief that they could let it slip after other drivers, including Pierre Gasly and Sebastien Vettel, did not publicly agree with the extent to which the saga has been exaggerated.
Steiner is the latest figure to suggest he is on Hamilton’s side, saying the rules must be followed, but he would not oppose a change in anti-jewelry and piercing regulations. Speaking before the Monaco Grand Prix, Steiner said he believed the whole F1 paddock would not be against leaving the saga behind with a change of rules.
JUST START: Lewis Hamilton could cause a “huge shock” if he doesn’t run at the Monaco GP
He told Sky Sports: “I think the big picture is for everyone, it’s in the rules, the regulations. It’s not an invention that you have to take out. It’s in the regulations that you can’t have it. So I personally have no problem with [Hamilton] have earrings or whatever.
“I asked our guys; they don’t have piercings or anything. They’re fine; we’re not in the mix here. For me, it’s a bit. [excessive]… but they are the rules. Some people have the job of enforcing the rules and they have to do it, so if they have to change the rules, I think everyone would agree to change that. “
READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg comment on Verstappen and Perez