Jewellery ban the least of Lewis Hamilton’s concerns as Mercedes struggle again

Lewis Hamilton has told Formula One bosses he is ready to defy a ban on jewellery.

F1’s new race director Niels Wittich has prioritised the clampdown ahead of Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix.

While the prohibition of jewellery has been in place since 2004, Wittich – the German who replaced Michael Masi – brought the rule to the fore in his pre-race notes before addressing the subject directly with Hamilton and his peers in Friday night’s drivers’ briefing.

Wittich says the law is there protect the driver by not hindering a speedy escape from their car.

But Hamilton, who has jewellery in his nose and ear, said: “I have got certain piercings that I can’t just take out and that not many people know of. I’m kidding.

“Since I’ve been here in F1, it’s been the rule, so there’s nothing new. I’m just going to come up with more jewellery next week.”

The FIA clause 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.”

Hamilton could theoretically be fined or docked points if he breaks the sporting code.

The record-breaking Briton has faced a trying start to the new season in his under-performing Mercedes machinery, and he is braced for further pain here at Melbourne’s Albert Park.

Hamilton, already 29 points behind championship leader Charles Leclerc, demanded more power and greater grip after he finished 10th at the controversial Saudi Arabian Grand Prix a fortnight ago.

But his Mercedes team arrived in Australia without any major upgrades as they continue to battle the new regulations.

Hamilton finished 13th and a distant 1.5 seconds behind Leclerc in practice, with world champion Max Verstappen second, 0.245 sec