The topic is under scrutiny after the newly restructured FIA decided to apply every rule as it is supposed to, including enforcing more strictly a ban on the use of jewellery while in the car and the and ensuring all drivers use fireproof underwear while racing.

Lewis Hamilton, arguably the sport’s greatest star worldwide right now, has a set of piercings that he’s determined to keep, and that has caused the battle with the governing body that ecloded in Miami, when the FIA declared, some hours before FP1, that Mercedes hadn’t formally confirmed Hamilton was complying to the regulations regarding the matter.

Speaking to Reuters, current GPDA Chairman and ex-F1 driver Alex Wurz has given his views on the subject and why he thinks the rule is right, but the communication of it, not:

"It is a rule for the right reasons," he said.

"I would have probably liked a slightly different approach of how to deliver the message.

"I don't want to end up in football where there are more hands in the air and verbal abuse...you have to work together. It's a style I would have preferred in this case."

As a man involved in pretty much all matters regarding driver safety, Wurz recognizes the importance of wearing the correct underwear and avoiding the use of jewellery, especially in a situation of fire.

He mentioned a speech of his fellow driver Kris Nissen, who explained what he felt after not wearing the fireproof underwear and having a fiery sports car incident:

"He showed his body and said 'look at this'.

"For him the absolute most painful thing after fire, and it wasn't a long fire, was the rubber (elastic) in his normal pants being burnt into the skin. He said (it was) for years agony and pain. And it educated me.

"At this moment I said I don't want to live these consequences, only for (not) taking my pants off and putting fireproof underpants on. The same with jewellery."

Another matter of driver safety that came out during the Miami GP weekend was the lack of a TecPro barrier at Turn 13, which  even though is a slow corner, had two big accidents on the weekend – Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon – with both feeling the effects of the crash for some time after because it was a hit on concrete rather than a purpose-built barrier.

"Strictly speaking we didn't have an injury, so maybe you can say it (the barrier) is not necessary but we want to say that if we had it, it would improve the situation," he added.

"No research in the world can tell me it would have been a downside to put it (there).”