Lewis Hamilton remains on a collision course with Formula One bosses after joking he would need to chop off his right ear to comply with their jewellery clampdown.
The prohibition of jewellery in Grand Prix racing has been in place since 2004 but has always been largely ignored by drivers and by officials. But new race director Niels Wittich has decided the rule must now be prioritised and told that to Hamilton and his rivals in a meeting ahead of the Melbourne race, which was won by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
The clause in the F1 rulebook states that “the wearing of jewellery in the form of body piercing or metal neck-chains is prohibited during the competition and may therefore be checked before the start.” Wittich has, reportedly, given the drivers a period of grace to comply but would then be ready to enforce the FIA law.
