Formula One create controversy with elimination of ‘Grid Girls’ ahead of 2018 season

Formula One are doing away with the “Grid Girls” ahead of the 2018 season. The move has been both praised and criticized, as expected.

Formula One announced on Wednesday that the 2018 season would be contested without the presence of the “Grid Girls” for the first time in several decades and that these girls would not be coming back.

This is not the first time that an issue involving political correctness has taken over the Formula One world this offseason. Four-time champion Lewis Hamilton posted a video of himself making fun of his four-year-old nephew for wearing a princess dress. It was met with immediate criticism to the point where he removed himself from social media for a few weeks.

The “Grid Girls” had been used in prior years to promote the sport and and its sponsors. Formula One managing director of operations Sean Bratches released a statement as to why the decision was made to eliminate them.

Here is what Bratches had to say about the matter, according to F1.com.

"“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.”"

As can be expected with pretty much every decision made in this day and age, many have praised Formula One for their decision while many have criticized them. Among those who have praised them is Susie Wolff, a former British Formula 3 driver and Formula One development and test driver.

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Wolff is married to Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport Formula One team executive director Toto Wolff. She wrote an article on BBC Sport about the subject of the removal of the “Grid Girls”.

Among those critical of the removal of the “Grid Girls” is Bernie Ecclestone, the 87-year-old chairman emeritus of the Formula One group who was replaced as the group’s chief executive last January. Here is what he had to say about the subject of the removal of these girls, according to The Guardian.

"“These girls did nothing harmful to anybody. They were smartly dressed. We might as well say we don’t want people to go to a fashion show because, basically, that’s what happened. Sponsors wanted to see the people that represented them very smartly dressed, which is what they did. I thought people enjoyed seeing the girls and they were necessary really because when a driver wants to get on to the grid it’s much better and easier for them to know their place where they need to stop.”"

Ecclestone also stated the following, according to Sky News.

"“The country at the moment is getting a bit prudish…We have people saying it was going in darts, but that’s a different type of sport, if you call it a sport. I thought people enjoyed seeing the girls and they are necessary really. When the team driver wants to get on the grid, it is much easier for them to know their place, where they are going to stop than hope they get it right and hope the teams were helping.“It took a lot of time and stress from the teams. You should be allowed to have grid girls because the drivers like them, the audience like them and no one cares. These girls were…part of the spectacle. I can’t see how a good-looking girl standing with a driver and a number in front of a Formula One car can be offensive to anybody.”"

Several “Grid Girls”, including Rebecca Cooper and Lauren-Jade Pope, also lashed out at Formula One’s decision on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/rebeccageldard/status/958718387361861633

All in all, Haas Formula One driver Romain Grosjean may have had the best response to the decision to remove the “Grid Girls”.

Next: Top 10 Formula One drivers of all-time

When the 2018 Formula One season begins, which it is scheduled to do on Sunday, March 25th with the Australian Grand Prix, it will begin without the presence of the “Grid Girls” for the first time in several decades. How will the fans react? Tune in to find out.