F1 renounces grid girls

The grid girls will no longer be present in F1 from this season. This was decided by Liberty Media, the new owner of the discipline, who confirmed it this Wednesday. This decision, echoing that taken by the WEC several years ago, will also apply to other support races on Grand Prix weekends.

“Formula 1 views the time spent by teams and drivers on the grid before a race as a party, where guests and various artists can bring glamor and spectacle to the Grand Prix, allowing promoters and partners to showcase their countries and their products. » specifies Liberty Media.

Sean Bratches, director of commercial operations for the American entity, also highlights a decision linked to developments in today's society. “Over the past year we have looked at a number of areas that we felt needed to evolve in order to be more in line with our vision for this great sport, Bratches says.

While the practice of grid girls has been a staple of Formula 1 Grands Prix for decades, we believe this custom does not align with our brand values ​​and is clearly at odds with modern societal norms. We do not believe the practice is appropriate or relevant to Formula 1 and its fans, old and new, across the world. »