Formula 1’s bling ban comes into effect at the British Grand Prix

Formula 1’s grace period regarding the wearing of jewellery expires on Thursday with questions about Lewis Hamilton and his piercings.

At a time when Formula 1 is dealing with not one but two racist incidents, the FIA is set to turn its attention to jewellery of all things.

At the start of this season the sport’s new race directors announced that the wearing of jewellery during a grand prix is prohibited.

It is not a new regulation, but one that Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas have decided to enforce based on safety grounds.

The drivers were given a grace period after Hamilton revealed that “there is stuff I can’t move, these ones on my right ear are literally welded in, so I’d have to get them chopped off or something like that”.

lewis hamilton’s piercings are a work of art. pic.twitter.com/ZtFZsEwpXS

— tanya 🍒 (@leclercscherie) April 7, 2022

The Mercedes driver, who said he would happily sign an indemnity form, added: “I don’t have any plans on removing [them]. I feel there are personal things and you should be able to be who you are. And I will continue to do that.”

That has potentially set the Brit on a collision course with the FIA at his home race, the British Grand Prix.

The Daily Mail reports that the grace period ‘expires today, yet Hamilton retains his contentious nose stud.

‘The FIA are not backing down, either. At least for now.

‘President Mohammed Ben Sulayem is keen to stick to his insistence that the previously unenforced jewellery rule is an important safety issue.’

The big question, though, is what exactly can the FIA do about it.

They could, says the Daily Mail, ban the driver from racing.

‘Lewis Hamilton faces possible expulsion from the British Grand Prix as the row over wearing jewellery in the cockpit reaches boiling point,’ the report stated.

‘In the most extreme circumstances, Hamilton could be barred from competing at his home race for taking to the track in jewellery – a move that would test the ire of 140,000 fans due at Silverstone on Sunday.’