No F1 Grid Girls from 2018 Onwards

Come 2018, there will no longer be any F1 grid girls accompanying the drivers. The move is not just restricted to motor racing’s top category, but  all support events at each grand prix. This encompasses the Formula 2 and GP3 series and comes as a part of Liberty Media’s revamp. F1 commercial chief Sean Bratches believes that the practice of using grid girls is not in conformity with the new brand image that Liberty wants for grand prix racing.

He 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 clearly 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.”

Not everyone has welcomed the move though, like Max Verstappen, Nico Hulkenberg and Lewis Hamilton. They felt that the practice of having F1 grid girls was traditional for the sport.

No matter what the motorsport series was, there were always grid girls. However, it would be wrong to assume that the women were just there for ‘eye candy’. Some grid girls who used to work in the British Touring Car Championship said that they often felt like part of the team. Even once the race begins, the girls still hang around in the garages to watch the races. Just like the drivers, they often give interviews and sign autographs.

The girls believe that the practice isn’t sexist because they are all there by choice. Also, their primary objective is to represent the teams on the grid and they came walk around more freely than the drivers and can interact with the fans.