Government orders Karthikeyan helmet change.

The Indian government has banned any of its sportsmen from carrying the national colours on their equipment, meaning that recently-confirmed Jordan driver Narain Karthikeyan will have to change the helmet design he has carried almost throughout his career.

The paintjob, one of the more eye-catching and deliberately patriotic destined for this year's world championship, has been caught up in the furore surrounding last week's decision by the Indian government to invoke an existing rule concerning the use of the colours of the national flag on clothing or equipment. Along with members of the national cricket and hockey teams, Karthikeyan will now be forced to drop any reference to the flag from his equipment.

The 28-year old has confirmed that he will be altering the colour scheme, which had been due to accompany him at tomorrow's official Jordan launch in Russia, but admitted that he could not see what the fuss was about.

The 'new' law will also see the national cricket team forced to lose a representation of the flag from their helmets ahead of the forthcoming test series with neighbours Pakistan, something that has caused mixed reactions.

"I personally feel [sportsmen] should use the tricolour as the national flag,'' sports minister Sunil Dutt told the AFP news agency, "It acts as a morale-booster. But I have to follow orders, and it is the Home Ministry which takes decisions with regard to issues involving use of the national flag.''

Karthikeyan, the first Indian to make it into Formula One, will be the only driver affected by the ruling, as the majority of governments welcome the patriotic use of colour by sports people. Jenson Button only altered the Union Jack design on his helmet because he was unable to copyright the design for merchandising purposes, and now runs a stylised 'JB' motif similar to the flag.

The Schumacher brothers both incorporate the red, black and yellow of the German flag in their designs, while Jarno Trulli clearly displayed the colours of the Italian flag before adopting a chrome version of a helmet used by an old friend. Juan Montoya uses the Colombian colours, while newcomer Christijan Albers has opted for the Dutch national sports colour of orange in his design. David Coulthard uses the Scottish saltire prominently - and even suggested that he should try to trademark the design - while both Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso include their national colours on their helmets.

Karthikeyan recently revealed that he was not receiving a salary from the Jordan team this season, but would be rewarded for hauling the Toyota-powered EJ15 into the top eight at any of the 19 rounds. He has now suggested that he may sell any future helmet design idea to a potential sponsor, offering them greater value for money.

"I earn money if I manage to get points," he revealed to Times of Indian, "Drivers start earning only after they show their ability on track, and everybody gets their start on account of sponsorship support, be it Michael Schumacher], Kimi Raikkonen or me."