Speaking after the Australian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton's response to the impending clampdown on jewellery and body piercings was clearly a little less jocular than on Thursday.

When race director Niels Wittich brought attention to the long-standing rule concerning the wearing of jewellery on Thursday, there is little doubt that the first name that came to mind for most fans of the sport was that of seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton.

"The wearing of jewellery in the form of body piercing or metal neck chains is prohibited during the competition," declares Appendix L, Chapter III, 5 of the FIA's International Sporting Code, "and may therefore be checked before the start."

The media was quick to seize on the directive and at Friday's press conference Hamilton made light of the matter.

"Well, I've got certain piercings that I really just can't take out that not many people know of," said the Mercedes driver.

"No, I'm kidding, I'm kidding," he laughed. "OK, I mean, it's been the rule forever. Since I've been here, it's been the rule, so there's nothing new. I'm just going to come up with more jewellery next week."

In Wittich's second set of event notes issued on Saturday, along with news of the removal of the fourth DRS zone and a clamp down on safety car restart protocols, drivers were once again reminded that: "The wearing of jewellery in the form of body piercing or metal neck chains is prohibited during the competition and my therefore be checked before the start."

Speaking after the Grand Prix, in which he finished a surprise fourth, Hamilton's approach was a little less jocular than on Thursday.

Asked about the jewellery ban, and in particular his ear piercings and nose stud, the Briton replied: "I don't have any plans on removing them.

"I feel there are personal things," he continued. "You should be able to be who you are.

"There is stuff that I can't move," he added. "I literally can't even take these out... these ones on my right ear, they are literally welded in so I have to get them chopped off or something like that. So they will be staying."

It's understood that drivers will be given a period of grace before the FIA decides how to proceed, with some suggesting refusal to adhere to the rule could result in a fine or loss of points.

Along with the announcement that the rules on regulation underwear are to be enforced also, it is clear that the FIA means business, how the drivers will react remains to be seen.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 13/04/2022 23:18

"
There are tattoos and there are tattoos. Personal body adornment has been around as long as we've been standing upright and I have no problem with it although I do find it highly amusing to observe the effects in some places. As an example why would someone spend an inordinate amount of money to have images inkined on the backs of their calves and neck? That and the distortion of images as body shapes change and age. IMPO tattooing is a form of tribal identification...the medium is the message and the message is the medium. the burning question however is, how long before we see a 'DTS' tattoo and who will be the first to display it ? Zak or Stefano ?"

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2. Posted by alvarezh3, 13/04/2022 17:45

"@Editor

I am with you, but this is the stuff of the new generation, we must adapt ! :-)

I remember when -as a teen- some of us wanted to have long hair like the Beatles and the Stones, it was my case that my father would have none of it, nor was it allowed at the school I attended to in Connecticut.

I guess you could call our difference in taste a "generational gap" ! :-)"

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3. Posted by Editor, 13/04/2022 12:59

"I'm showing my age I know... but personally, I'd like to see a ban on tattoos also."

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4. Posted by Dajomas, 13/04/2022 12:53

"Not 100% sure this is the reason for these rules but from a medical point of view: If cautery is used during a medical procedure, body jewelry may lead the patient to have a skin burn.

So yes, you may feel it is a personal choice BUT think about the MD trying to save your live after a massive incident and in return causing you to have 3rd degree burns around your body jewelry.

Stop whining and just follow the rules."

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5. Posted by kenji, 13/04/2022 7:37

"Surely teams would insist on no 'big link' gold rapper chains due to the weight problems they all seem to be having? "

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6. Posted by Egalitarian, 13/04/2022 6:06

" As long as these people are well grounded and have everything in perspective. I mean, jewellery and other self-adornment - what's more important than that, right? "

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7. Posted by Superbird70, 12/04/2022 17:42

"When I was in the artillery. Same rule, no rings on your fingers, Safety first."

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8. Posted by Defiant, 12/04/2022 17:12

"Although I'm of the opinion that having a jewellery rule is ridiculous and makes little sense, Lewis should probably zip it and just go along with it.
its a long standing rule and it's a rule that others in the big wide world have had to go along with.

I've had to remove jewellery to work on Shell oil site's many times."

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9. Posted by elsiebc, 12/04/2022 15:19

"I remember this jewelry rule coming up with Antonio Liuzzi, not sure if that was it's inception or just a reminder. He complied, another example of that "privilege" some like to cite. "

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10. Posted by Superbird70, 12/04/2022 14:31

"@kenji is right exclusion is the only satisfactory deterrent. They have been warned. Jewelry exclusion. No underwear, no race. Semper ubi sub ubi!!"

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11. Posted by alvarezh3, 12/04/2022 14:10

"If a driver is to pay a fine and then allowed to race after the infraction, and again pay another fine at the next race, and again and again, then the fine in essence becomes the payment fee for a license to do what is otherwise prohibited.

You fine the first time, if the infractor does it again, then you must impose some kind of harsher penalties, like race bans, license points, championship point removal, etc. I would recommend not giving any team/driver championship points if, after the race, the driver is found in breach of these rules. I don't think team principals would like to race for no points, they will enforce the rules on their driver."

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12. Posted by kenji, 12/04/2022 13:28

"It's quite simple really. Failure to comply with the rules after being given ample warning results in not being able to start the race. I'm sure that the 'welded in' nonsense would vanish. They could quite easily be removed with a pair of flat faced jewellers cutters. Another safety angle would be that in the event of an accident where the driver needs an MRI scan any ferrous material would be a serious pronblem. If they are silver then the removal would be even easier. Debate however is not necessary. The rules are clear."

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13. Posted by jcr, 12/04/2022 12:29

"Both issues, Jewellry and clothing are being treated by FIA as safety issues.
So therefore are non negotiable.

We dont know yet how the powers are going nçto police this ?
But they must surely realise monetary fines are only pocket money to most drivers."

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14. Posted by aroutis, 12/04/2022 10:04

"It really is simple.
New management; they want to enforce pre-existing rules.
Lewis is free to either follow the rules or feel the consequences.

Contrary to what he may believe, he's no more special than the rest of the pack.

And I am pretty sure he 's going to live to realize this soon if he goes on like that. "

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15. Posted by roamy, 12/04/2022 2:42

"he looks like an idiot - but sobeit but he could just go to electric car
"

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Hamilton defiant over jewellery ban

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