A brief appearance in the Miami F1 briefs is a “taste”

The use of flame retardant underwear has been the subject of talk this past weekend of the Grand Prix after new FIA racing director Niels Wittych pinned it down.

According to the letter of the International Sports Code, Wittich has told drivers not to wear plain pants or any jewelry while driving as a safety measure in case of fire.

The topic of potentially igniting intimate clothing re-emerged on Friday at a regular meeting of team leaders.

Several drivers have expressed their disappointment at the new focus on the subject, and before FP1 on Friday Vettel was spotted in a podium and on a pitlane in Puma pants on the outside of an Aston Martin Superman-style jumpsuit.

Asked by Motorsport.com whether his appearance was a form of protest against the rules, the GPDA director replied: “It was just an acceleration. I don’t care, but it’s just funny that we keep talking about it.”

Vettel, meanwhile, spent a restrained day on the track in Miami, finishing FP2 in 14th place after a slight slippage when he had a late spin.

“It’s hard,” he said of the track. “I think we can still set up our car. We have to set up our car! To adapt a little bit more to the track. But yeah, overall I think it’s fun, it’s very soon.

“There are a lot of direct ones. Most of it is pretty blind, which makes it very difficult to move, and I think the race will be difficult. And on the other hand – the asphalt that breaks. The patches they put in some places work well.

“Like everyone else, obviously we’d like to drive a little more laps, especially if the track is new.”

Vettel warned that the passage may not be as simple as expected: “If we want to race, we need to be able to go side by side, and at the moment it’s like just one line. All in all, it’s good fun. “

Vettel hopes to be able to pass in Saturday’s qualifying session in the second quarter.

“If I feel really comfortable in the car, then I think I need a lot more to squeeze out,” he said. – But this is probably a comment you will receive from most drivers after the first day of stay here.

“So that would be crucial. And then I think we can improve a little bit. Maybe somewhere around P10 to 15, it’s real, but I hope it’s more than that.”