Roger Benoit (text) and Lukas Gorys (photos)
The man with the seven world titles was responsible for most of the fuss in the run-up: As announced, the eccentric Brit Hamilton is going on a confrontation with the FIA.
The Mercedes driver showed up at the media conference with more jewelry than ever before. Four curb chains around the neck, three watches on the arm (which are allowed, by the way), a plastic bracelet on the left, three bracelets on the right, plus a ring on each finger!
The FIA President is silent…
Although the FIA has banned all jewelry on the body from Monaco, the 103-time GP winner does not want to do without jewelry and piercings. “I wrote to FIA President Muhammad. But he didn’t answer. It’s a shame, because there are more important topics to discuss.”
Hamilton, hungry for a fight: “If you want, I sign to be on the road at your own risk – and to take responsibility for myself. And if need be, Mercedes would have some replacement drivers!” Which sounds like a warning.
FIA also threatens to deduct points!
But the FIA under the new German race director Niels Wittich (just recovered from Corona) has declared war on Lewis. The FIA recommends to the stewards that every driver must pay 50,000 euros in the event of an infringement. Plus 25,000 on probation.
If it happens once more, it costs 100,000 euros. And the 25,000 probationary condition would also be withdrawn. The third refusal becomes brutal. Then 250,000 euros are due – and World Cup points gone.
So the question is: When does Hamilton buckle? Well, he wants to remove two piercings, the third requires medical intervention.
The gray underpants…
The penalties for the underwear crash are not yet known. Commercially available underpants will be taboo for pilots in the future. Only fireproof underwear that meets FIA standards is allowed. It should be regarding safety – as with jewelry – in the event of fire accidents.
It is clear that the protests are inevitable in both cases. So Vettel ran around in the pit lane with gray underpants over green overalls. Apparently the adults are suddenly to be re-educated to be good children.
The “green” Vettel has found another battlefield in Miami. Scientists explained to him that Miami will be under water by 2060. Now, of course, the environmentalist has been startled once more.
Focus on Formula 1
For Hamilton and Vettel, however, the 5th World Championship round in 2022 will finally get going once more. Their teams have brought new parts to Florida for the US appearance on Sunday at 21.30 CET (TV live).
At Mercedes, only Russell benefited in the first practice session at 31 degrees with second place behind world championship leader Leclerc (Ferrari). At Aston-Martin-Mercedes one continues to struggle. Vettel must (like Hamilton) finally bring the important scenes back to the race track. Because only there’s the sporting applause. The fans of the two superstars hope for a speedy recovery. Things are looking better at Mercedes…
Nach Bottas crash Sainz
In the first practice session, the Finn Bottas in the Alfa-Sauber caused the first red flag on the 5.421 km long and not very spectacular course with a crash following 33 minutes. The damage was not insignificant, especially at the rear.
In the late followingnoon, it was just 20 minutes before a red “interruption” occurred: Sainz, who was in the lead, crashed his Ferrari into the tire wall following a clear driving error. The Spaniard has been delivering a bit too much junk at Maranello lately.
Max: “I can’t steer!”
For Bottas, the “teaching day” in Miami was over, for Sainz (sixth in the first training session) the end of the day came earlier than expected. Even world champion Verstappen was not (yet) happy in Florida. After just 14 laps at midday, the Dutchman was only able to drive following 33 minutes in the second 60 minutes. Only to stop immediately with a hydraulic problem and a light fire from the rear: “I can’t steer!”
With often more than 50 degrees on the asphalt, cooling plays a decisive role throughout the weekend. Super Max was the first victim…
Mercedes front – 8. Zhou!
Eleven minutes before the end, the Canadian Nicholas Latifi, who had come under criticism, parked the Williams-Mercedes in a dangerous place (“I no longer have any power”) – and the red flag once more. But of course the clock keeps ticking.
In addition to Mercedes (best time for Russell, 4th Hamilton), Alpine (5th Alonso, 9th Ocon) also gave a good performance. And at Haas-Ferrari, Magnussen, in tenth place, was once once more over half a second faster than Schumi (15th).
The Chinese Guanyu Zhou did well in his fifth GP appearance. After 13th place in the morning, he was eighth in the second practice session, just 0.9 seconds slower than stage winner Russell.
