‘Women are not just decorative any more’: Grid girls banned

The Melbourne Grand Prix will be the first in the world without grid girls, after Formula One made the decision to ban one of the sport’s longest standing traditions.

Formula One have released a statement saying grid girls are at odds with modern day values.

“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.”

Author and social commentator Jane Caro told Neil Mitchell it’s all to do with modern marketing.

“It’s terribly old fashioned, I think that smart marketers have to keep up with the times,” she said.

“Sporting codes have realised they can’t just keep appealing to a particular kind of bloke.

“They need to attract a broader demographic.

“Women are not just decorative any more and that’s a big improvement.”

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Photo: AAP/Diego Azubel (Grid girls at the 2017 Melbourne Grand Prix) 

Five-time grid girl Rebecca Cooper has slammed the decision, taking to Twitter to express her frustration.

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 Cooper (@rebeccageldard) January 31, 2018