When the Formula One season kicks off in Australia next month, one of its longest-standing traditions will be absent.
This week Liberty Media, who own the sport, announced that they would be scrapping Grid Girls as they claim the custom ” is at odds with modern day societal norms.”
However those employed as Grid Girls have hit out at the decision, with a number of them laying the blame squarely at feminists.
https://twitter.com/laurenjadepope/status/958751588419620864
So the inevitable has happened, F1 gridgirls have been banned. Ridiculous that women who say they are "fighting for women's rights" are saying what others should and shouldn't do, stopping us from doing a job we love and are proud to do. PC gone mad 😡 #Gridgirls
— Rebecca 🇬🇧🏁🏎️ (@rebeccageldard) January 31, 2018
"Scantily clad furniture", "sexualising women", "provocative", "Id never let my daughter wear a grid girl outfit"… just some of today's comments, yet people clearly haven't dont their research as these are my outfits from my 5 years in F1 #gridgirl #gridgirls pic.twitter.com/etbcCPnCC1
— Rebecca 🇬🇧🏁🏎️ (@rebeccageldard) January 31, 2018
“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”, explains Sean Bratches, MD of commercial operations at Formula One.
“While the practice of employing grid girls has been a staple of Formula One 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 One and its fans, old and new, across the world.”
A petition to reinstate the tradition has been mounted, and currently sits at over 2,000 signatures.
