In recent years, Formula One has gained quite a lot of attention for its off-track antics, from the FIA’s intervention in Abu Dhabi last year to the ongoing jewelry ban war. But, for the time being, let’s focus on the latter. It is a known fact that Lewis Hamilton has remained quite vocal when it came to the recent ban on jewelry and has clearly expressed his displeasure with the FIA on several occasions.

Of course, despite the persistent opposition, the seven-time world champion did take down most of his piercings, leaving behind a nose piercing that requires surgery for removal. Hence, thanks to the rather effective response from the Briton, the FIA hasn’t really been on Hamilton’s back since the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. And the situation is certainly beginning to cool down.

But amidst such an actively positive trend, former F1 boss, Bernie Ecclestone, has given out a heavy-worded response to Hamilton’s resistance against the jewelry ban, potentially triggering another wave of controversy.

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The British kingpin reckoned that he wouldn’t have let Hamilton drive out of the pit lane until he had the piercings removed.

Ecclestone thrashes Lewis Hamilton over jewelry ban resistance

During an interview with Daily Mail, Ecclestone absolutely squashed Hamilton and his reluctance to remove his piercings ahead of race weekends.

“If he wants something in his nose, that’s fine by me. Whatever he wants. He wears all these bloody clothes. It’s wonderful,” he said. “He is doing it for him, not for Formula One. The danger is that people speak more about Lewis than Formula One. You write about him. But I feel these are the rules and that has to be that.

“End of story. Because if I were a driver and went over the white lines and got a time penalty, I’d say, ‘You sort out this guy properly according to the rules, and then you can sort me out, otherwise, shut your mouth. They are rules, not maybes’.

“I’d say if you can’t take them out, no problem, you’re just not driving a car with them in, that’s all. When the drivers used to say to me, ‘We can’t race in this weather’, I’d say, ‘OK, you don’t have to’,” he concluded, referring to an incident featuring Alain Prost.

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Overall, this is highly likely to cause a pretty massive uproar amongst the Formula One fans. But, of all, how is the main man Hamilton going to react to this? Will the seven-time world champion come up with a strong reply to Ecclestone in the coming days?