And so it goes on. Three days after Lewis Hamilton had been courteously declined entry to the Royal Box at Wimbledon, comments continue about the world champion's dress sense. The Daily Mirror, that paragon of style and substance, has declared the world champion to be possibly the worst dressed man in Britain. Other publications have been less polite but some have praised Hamilton for his sense of adventure. Whether he enjoys it or not - and I rather fancy he does - Lewis has become the Marmite Man of Formula One fashion. You either like his attire or you don't.
Personally, I enjoy seeing what he wears from one day to the next. It's fun, but not offensive. Which is more than can be said for some of the comments Hamilton's Wimbledon gaffe created on social media. It seems the unfortunate affair provided an excuse for critics to vent their dislike of the man with remarks that actually had little to do with the cause of this particular debate.
Hamilton has his faults but arrogance in this instance is unlikely to be one of them. I have never seen that as a trait, certainly in his dealings with the motor sport media. I don't believe he dressed as he did simply because he thought he could get away with it. Hamilton's failing on this occasion was not to read the dress code.
"As it happens, I thought his outfit was preferable to some sportsmen looking ill-at-ease in a collar and tie. Like it or not, it was Lewis Hamilton. Floral prints and all." Maurice Hamilton
But rules are rules and need to be respected, regardless of whether or not you agree with such old-fashioned form. I mean, it was not as if he was trying to gain entry in ripped jeans, studded sneakers and a bomber jacket. Hamilton cocked up his dress code; simple as that.
The incident drew comparisons with James Hunt and what the renegade former champion might have done. James loved tennis. Having announced his sudden and immediate retirement from F1 at Monaco in 1979, he then spent a happy couple of days spectating at Wimbledon while his former colleagues were thrashing round Dijon practising for the French Grand Prix.
To the best of my knowledge, Hunt did not sit in the Royal Box that weekend. But, had he been asked, I'm sure he would have worn a suit even though his favoured attire was tee shirt, jeans and trainers. The state of the suit, however, might have been another question entirely.
The last time I saw James (a few days before his untimely death in 1993) was at a memorial service in Chelsea for Denny Hulme. Wearing jogging gear, Hunt arrived at the church on a pushbike with a basket on the front, pulled out a crumpled shirt and suit and proceeded to get changed on the pavement. Despite a reputation for defying convention, James did his best to observe the code when it really mattered.
Stories are rare of F1 drivers actually being refused admission. But there was one classic in the early 1970s. With his dashing looks and a Ferrari contract in his pocket, Clay Regazzoni got himself a personal sponsorship deal with Etienne Aigner, the upmarket fashion house. Hard to believe now but, at the time, jeans were regarded as purely practical and most certainly not for evening wear. Etienne Aigner was at the forefront of making denim a fashion statement with extremely expensive jeans bearing their trademark horseshoe emblem on a back pocket.
The South African Grand Prix coincided with Mario Andretti's birthday, the then-Ferrari driver throwing a party in a Johannesburg nightclub. Regazzoni duly fronted up in his immaculately creased denims - and was told no one was allowed in wearing jeans. Faced by a resolute doorman, Clay nipped round the corner - and reappeared with the jeans neatly folded over his arm, claiming with a wide beam that he was no longer wearing the offending item. To save further embarrassment in such conservative society, 'Regga' was quickly ushered inside and told to get dressed. No more was said.
Can you imagine if Lewis tried to pull such a stunt in Soho? Cue opinion by the bucket load on a social network near you.