Lewis Hamilton admits he was ‘uncomfortable’ after F1 chiefs chose not to wear face masks at an Australian Grand Prix briefing… as he says he was left baffled by officials telling drivers to wear fireproof underwear
- F1’s race director Niels Wittich held a two-hour meeting ahead of Australian GP
- He announced a clampdown on jewellery and insisted on fireproof underwear
- Lewis Hamilton was uncomfortable that FIA chief did not wear face masks
- Under local law, it is not mandatory to wear a face mask in an enclosed space
Lewis Hamilton said he felt uncomfortable after members of Formula One’s ruling body failed to wear face masks during a drivers’ briefing for Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix.
F1’s new race director Niels Wittich chaired a two-hour meeting at Melbourne’s Albert Park on Friday night where he announced a clampdown on jewellery and insisted on fireproof underwear.
Under local law, it is not mandatory to wear a face mask in an enclosed space.
Lewis Hamilton reveals FIA chiefs made him feel ‘uncomfortable’ after failing to wear face masks at Australian Grand Prix briefing
Drivers were reminded that they are banned from wearing jewellery while racing, such as nose studs, which seven-time champion Hamilton wears
Hamilton, speaking after he qualified fifth for the third round of the new season, said: ‘No one in the drivers’ briefing were wearing masks. Some of the drivers were but most of the FIA were not, which for me was uncomfortable.
‘It was the longest drivers’ briefing of my life. I have been racing a long time and they have never done such a long briefing.
‘I don’t understand the small things they are picking up on, like the underwear – are we really talking about that kind of thing? But anyway you take it and move on.’
Lewis Hamilton qualified fifth for the third round of the new season in his misfiring Mercedes
Hamilton will head into Sunday’s race 29 points adrift of championship leader Charles Leclerc.
The Ferrari driver will start from pole position, with Hamilton the best part of a second slower in his misfiring Mercedes machine.
‘We have not made any progress,’ added the seven-time world champion.
‘I really hope over this next week we can get as much information and figure something out.
The Brit sits 29 points adrift of championship leader Charles Leclerc (pictured in qualifying)
‘I wish I could be optimistic and say we have got something better coming, but at the moment we don’t.
‘Winning is a long way off, a second off, so it is a huge gap.
‘I don’t enjoy driving this car but I enjoy the collaboration with the guys, knowing that there is a steep hill to climb and remaining hopeful that we will get there.’
