Lewis faces Monaco ban if he won’t remove nose stud

LEWIS HAMILTON runs the risk of missing Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix if he fails to take out his nose stud today. The seven-time world champion turned up in the paddock yesterday wearing the controversial piercing, which seemed to indicate he would defy the FIA’s ban on jewellery in the cockpit. Hamilton, 37, was given a grace period of two races to remove the stud, a process that he said required surgical intervention. His exemption runs out here today, with all eyes on how the FIA respond if he refuses to yield at the 11th hour. A crunch moment presents itself ahead of this afternoon’s first practice. To take part in the session, all teams must complete a self-scrutineering form declaring themselves in compliance with the rules.

If Mercedes fail to do so because of Hamilton’s jewellery, the three-time winner of the world’s most famous race might be reduced to a bystander. An FIA spokesman told Sportsmail: ‘If any team does not make the declaration, the car in question is theoretically not allowed to leave the pit lane. The matter would go not to the race director (Eduardo Freitas) but to the stewards for adjudication.’ Other possibilities are Hamilton being granted a further period of immunity or receiving a fine.

Bernie ecclestone has been arrested in Brazil after trying to board a private jet with a gun in his luggage.

The former Formula 1 boss, 91, was stopped after the semi-automatic pistol was spotted during Xray screening.

The unloaded gun in Mr ecclestone’s luggage was a LW Seecamp.32 pistol – a small 11oz (325g) handgun designed to be carried concealed for self-defence. The billionaire acknowledged the gun was his, but told police he was unaware it was in his luggage.

He was detained at Viracopos airport in Campinas, near Sao Paolo, on Wednesday night as he prepared to board a flight to Switzerland.

illegal possession of a gun carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison in Brazil, but Mr ecclestone was released after he paid bail, which was reportedly set at £1,000.

The gun, which was seized by police, had not been loaded and Mr ecclestone was not carrying ammunition or the pistol’s magazine, said Brazilian broadcaster Globo.

He did not want to call his lawyer and his Brazilian-born third wife Fabiana, 44, acted as interpreter.

He was allowed to continue his journey. in 2016 his Brazilian mother-in-law Aparecida Schunk was abducted in Sao Paulo.

The kidnappers demanded a £28million ransom but police recovered her unharmed. Mr ecclestone reportedly increased security around his family after the kidnap, including bodyguards for daughters Tamara and Petra.

Mr ecclestone, who has an estimated £2.5billion fortune, divides his time between Brazil and europe. He and his wife own a coffee plantation near Sao Paulo, a £23million chalet in the Swiss resort town of Gstaad, and a £30million super-yacht. He was unavailable for comment.