Formula 1 is planning a future without "grid girls"

Formula 1 is planning a future without "grid girls"

2017 was the year when the ownership of Formula 1 switched hands. The new owners - American Liberty Media have been working hard during the season to overcome failed audience figures and one step they are now considering to take to restore them is to remove the so called "grid girls".

50 years

The girls have been at the car's starting position for over 50 years but soon they can be gone for good. The classic 24-hour Le Mans race and the other race in the WEC branch have already removed the women since 2015.

There are many who appreciate the girls in the starting lineup and there are many who think it's an old tradition that needs to go, we have to discuss it," said Liberty sports director Ross Brawn to BBC.

The drivers themselves, however, are of the opinion that the girls should remain. Several are critical to the proposal that the US company has developed.

"It's part of the sport's attraction, fast cars and fast girls," said Daniel Ricciardo to the BBC and team mate Max Verstappen agrees:

"The girls have to stay."

Sebastian Vettel: "It's not funny at all"

Another who does not look forward to the proposal is German Nico Hülkenberg.

"It would be a shame to remove the eye candy from the start. What do we get instead? Oh my God!"

Formula 1 has already tried to replace the girls. At Monaco's GP 2015, guys took over the job to keep the sign in front of the start and in Austria there has been a child at some point.

"I'm cracked," said multiplier world champion Sebastian Vettel after the race.

"Had I been interested in guys, it would have been a different thing, but I'm not. What's the point of parking behind a "Dave" or a "George"? That's not funny at all."