Pierre Gasly has called for "common sense" and an "open conversation" regarding F1's jewellery regulations, following an FIA clampdown in Miami. The rules - which prohibit the wearing of jewellery while drivers are out on track - have been in place since 2005, but they were rarely policed. However, new F1 Race Director Niels Wittich raised the matter with drivers at the Australian Grand Prix and jewellery declarations became a formal part of the FIA scrutineering process last time out in Miami. Lewis Hamilton was unable to remove some of his piercings and received an exemption for the event, as well asthis weekend's Spanish Grand Prix. He will need to remove all piercings ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix (27-29 May) or risk punishment, though he has already stated that he plans to ignore the deadline. At the recent Monaco E-Prix, Pascal Wehrlein and Mitch Evans were hit with penalty points and €1000 euro fines, after they were found to be wearing metal chains around their necks in qualifying.
Gasly questions the "big fuss" around jewellery in F1
Gasly empathised with Hamilton's position over the Miami weekend and admitted he wears religious items that "I don't feel comfortable not having with me driving the car". As the debate rumbles on, and with the potential for further developments this weekend, Gasly reiterated his views on the matter. "Obviously I have my beliefs, some others have their beliefs; some other guys may want to wear jewellery for different reasons," Gasly told media, including RacingNews365.com . "That's my own feelings and my own view. Lewis has got his own one as well. It's more having like having an open conversation on what could be done. "At the end of the day, we're talking about a very small subject. We're making a pretty big story and a pretty big fuss about it."
Gasly wants more communication between drivers and the FIA
Gasly hopes drivers and F1's governing body can continue their discussions and reach a "compromise" going forward. "I think to me, it's more like using common sense," he added. "It's been fine for [many] years and all of a sudden there's a lot of changes this year. Compared to last year, there's a lot of changes in the regulation and the way everything is policed. "I think as drivers we all kind of agree on the fact that we would like more communication between what we feel is right and what they [the FIA] think is right, and then trying to find like a compromise."
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