Formula 1 to stop using ‘grid girls’ this year

Formula 1 has announced it is to stop the use of ‘walk-on grid girls’, effective from the first race of the 2018 world championship season. That’s the Australian GP.

The change will also apply to “our other motorsports series that take place during the Grands Prix weekends”.

Sean Bratches, MD of commercial operations at F1, said: “Over the last year we have looked at a number of areas which we felt needed updating so as to be more in tune with our vision for this great sport.

“While the practice of employing grid girls has been a staple of Formula 1 Grands Prix for decades, we feel this custom does not resonate with our brand values and clear is at odds with modern day societal norms.

“We don’t believe the practice is appropriate or relevant to Formula 1 and its fans, old and new, across the world,” he added.

F1 management considers the pre-race grid time “as one of celebration”, envisioning guests and performers to “add to the glamour and spectacle of the Grand Prix”.