Haas Formula 1 driver Kevin Magnussen believes the FIA’s crackdown on jewellery has perhaps gone a step too far with drivers forced to remove items such as wedding rings.

The FIA reminded drivers of the rules surrounding jewellery earlier this season, but it’s only this weekend in Miami that they will start taking action against drivers for disobeying the regulations.

Lewis Hamilton has openly criticised the crackdown and turned up to a media briefing wearing three watches and multiple bracelets and rings in defiance of the rules. As a result, on Saturday morning the FIA added watches to the list of prohibited items.

Magnussen understands the reasons behind the FIA’s push, but believes it has gone too far when a simple wedding band can’t be worn and suggested drivers take responsibility for wearing personal items.

“I understand what they are they saying, but it is a wedding ring around your finger,” said the Danish driver.

“I’ll take a little bit of extra burn on my finger to race in my wedding ring. And if something was going to happen, something bad, I would want to wear my wedding ring. It kind of feels bad to take it off.

“With something like that, like your wedding ring. Let us take that responsibility. There must be somehow to remove liability.”

However Magnussen admitted he would follow the rules and remove it this weekend because of the threat of a heavy fine which is believed to be around $50,000 (£40,000) for a first offence, rising to $250,000 (£200,000) for a second offence. Championship point deductions have also been threatened for multiple offences.

“I don’t want to pay the 250,000 Euro fine,” added Magnussen.

Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes George Russell is doing a better job at Mercedes than team-mate Lewis Hamilton because of the experience he has had battling quicker cars, whereas Hamilton has had the luxury of always being in the quicker car.

Although both Hamilton and Russell have finished on the podium this season, Russell has enjoyed a much better run of results and sits fourth in the championship, with Hamilton only seventh.

The Mercedes W13 has lacked outright pace thanks to extreme porpoising, which has forced Mercedes to experiment with its setup. Montoya believes that is also a contributing factor to Russell’s better form as the two cars are running varied setups to try and combat the issue.

“The focus, at the team, at the moment, they’re not racing each other at all,” he told VegasInsider. “They’re just trying to figure out the car. And I bet you they’re trying different setups and different things.

“If they struggle on a weekend and it’s terrible, they’ll be like, ‘okay, we move on to the next one.'”

Montoya also believes Russell’s experience at the back of the field with Williams is helping him to overcome some of the problems he and the team are facing.

“Lewis is struggling and people are like – ‘it really shows it was just the car, look how good George is’.

“I’m a big fan of George, I really like Lewis as well. I think the biggest difference is that you got to remember, George has been in Williams for the past three-four seasons. So, he’s been in the melee every weekend. Like he is ‘traffic, traffic’ and racing people all day.

“And Lewis, the last seven-eight seasons, he’s been cruising by himself every weekend. He hasn’t really raced people because when he gets to lap them, everybody needs to get out of the way.

“All of a sudden he’s stuck in traffic and it doesn’t matter how good you are, if you don’t practice it, it’s hard.”

However it something Montoya believes Hamilton will get on top of; “It doesn’t mean he’s [Hamilton] worse, it’s just going to take him more time to figure it out.

“Did he forget how to drive? No, that doesn’t happen. You don’t forget overnight. He’s just not happy with the car.”

Formula 1 heads to Miami for the first time ever, with the Hard Rock Stadium playing host to the pinnacle of motorsports. From fake marinas to cable cars, Miami might just be the wildest race on the calendar. Check out our best shots from Thursday.