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Formula One: Niki Lauda lashes out at ‘Grid Girls’ removal

By Asher Fair

SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 08: Mercedes GP non-executive chairman Niki Lauda in the Paddock during final practice for the Formula One Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on April 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 08: Mercedes GP non-executive chairman Niki Lauda in the Paddock during final practice for the Formula One Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on April 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /
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Three-time Formula One champion Niki Lauda lashed out at Formula One following their decision to remove the “Grid Girls”.

Formula One announced on Wednesday that they would be doing away with the “Grid Girls”, who had been used by the sport for several decades. The announcement came in a statement by Formula One managing director Sean Bratches, which you can read here.

The announcement made it clear that their departure would not just be for the 2018 season; they would simply be eliminated starting in 2018, thus meaning that the likelihood of a return is not high whatsoever, especially given the debate about this decision being “politically correct”.

This decision has caused several people to praise Formula One, but it is caused even more people to lash out at the sport as a result of the controversy surrounding it since these girls had been used to promote the Formula One and their sponsors for so long.

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Among those who have lashed out at Formula One are Bernie Ecclestone, the 87-year-old chairman emeritus of the Formula One group who was replaced as the group’s chief executive in January of 2017, and several “Grid Girls” themselves.

Now, three-time Formula One champion Niki Lauda, who currently acts as non-executive chairman of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport in Formula One, has taken his shot at the sport following the announcement that the “Grid Girls” would not be back in the 2018 season or anytime after that.

Here is what he had to say about the subject, according to Autoweek.

"“This is a decision against women. Men have made the decision over the heads of women. This is not doing any favors to F1 and especially not for women. How dumb can someone be? Women have emancipated themselves and do very well at it. So this is a decision against women.”“Grid girls have always belonged in F1, and they should continue to belong in F1. Women are stepping up (into senior team roles), and they are doing it very well — it is moving in the right direction. But one does not exclude the other. I don’t want to hold back women, I want to encourage them. If you continue on this path, there will be no cheerleaders left in America.”"

Next: Top 10 Formula One drivers of all-time

Do you think Formula One’s decision to remove the “Grid Girls” after several decades of having them in the sport was the right one, or do you agree with Bernie Ecclestone and Niki Lauda that the decision is not correct? It would seem that the majority of the population are going with the latter, but the 2018 season will go on without them anyway, as it is set to start on Sunday, March 25th with the Australian Grand Prix.

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