Lewis Hamilton is nonplussed after the reiteration of Formula One’s ban on jewellery - amid his continued struggles continued in practice for the Australian Grand Prix.
Friday practice ended with the seven-time champion well off the pace of the leaders, coming home 13th in FP2 and 1.5 seconds behind Charles Leclerc.
Before the GP, F1 race director Niels Wittich highlighted a long-existing rule over jewellery being banned from the cockpit on safety grounds. Hamilton, who has nose and ear piercings, shrugged off the clampdown.
“I have got certain piercings that I can't just take out and that not many people know of - I'm kidding,” remarked the British racer.
“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.”
Mercedes secured a surprise third and fourth-place finish to open the season in Bahrain before fighting with the midfield in Saudi Arabia a fortnight ago, a situation which will change little in Melbourne due to a lack of upgrades on Hamilton’s car.
“Nothing we change on the car makes a difference at the moment and that is the difficult thing,” he added.
“You get into the car and you are very optimistic, make changes, and then it doesn't improve. There is just not a lot we can do. This is the way it is so we just have to drive with it.
“It is frustrating because you are trying to push and trying to catch and even when you do a decent lap, I am 1.2 seconds down.”
