Formula 1 Scraps The Use Of Grid Girls For The 2018 SeasonFormula 1

[lancia delta hf]

Serious question, how old are you?

Old enough to finally be really sick of all this PC nonsense and the need to shush everyone and expect humans to live up to this idea that we are perfect. My coment has nothing to do with age. Your reply has to do with being PC though and being programmed to expect everyone to be perfect and squeaky clean though. Go look at the women ( and the muppets who tried assasinate LW character and label him a bigot and homophobe over his boys dont wear dresses comment ) who have problems with girls using their body's to make a living and feel the need to paint them as being forced to do the job. They mostly fit my description. They are quite happy to beauty shame though and no one lambasts people for that.

Personally I find the idea of anyone being lusted after to be uncomfortable, but that's just me.

Utterly bizarre. It's as if we are not human.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

My coment has nothing to do with age.

It does, since most people grow past the stage of having to insult people they don't agree with. Seems you're not there yet.

Your reply has to do with being PC though and being programmed to expect everyone to be perfect and squeaky clean though.

Ignoring the massive assumptions you're making about my upbringing and general world views, let's start a running tally of how many times you paint a large group of people with the same brush.

That'd be one.

Go look at the women ( and the muppets who tried assasinate LW character and label him a bigot and homophobe over his boys dont wear dresses comment ) who have problems with girls using their body's to make a living and feel the need to paint them as being forced to do the job. They mostly fit my description.

That'd be two.

They are quite happy to beauty shame though and no one lambasts people for that.

That'd be three.

 

[Carbon_6]

I can sort of see the reasoning behind the decision, but it feels more like a knee jerk reaction to be seen to appease the vocal minority.

Whilst I personally don't "need" grid girls to spice up any category of racing, the idea of being denied the opportunity to do that, particularly when they're saying they enjoy what they do, don't find it demeaning and so on, is a bit concerning.

It's the attitude of "I know what's better for you than you do", which I really think you have to be careful over.

 

[UnkaD]

I tend toward the free choice side of this argument. I don't notice an unsettling focus on the grid girls when I watch a grand prix, but I guess that can depend on which network's pre-race show you're watching. NBC's Will Buxton always talks about the drivers, teams, and cars while the camera focuses on such.

The grid girls are often in shot, but they certainly don't dominate the screen time. Also, I don't see the "sexualization" or "exploitation" in the recent years with many of the outfits being quite modest and sometimes holding a theme specific to each grand prix. I sometimes just hold a general interest in the fashions themselves, much like the different Pirelli podium hats. Wasn't that just fun to see?

Formula 1 had grown well beyond whatever roots may have played a role in the origins of its use of grid girls, and as others have said their roles were not limited to just what was shown on screen. They're are many cases in other sports that seem more questionable(with girls showing as much skin as possible, and even that's subjective as many women dress that way as a norm), but I think it's sad that F1 is dropping something that I felt had already been corrected, or at least reached a state that didn't warrant any social concern.

 

[twitcher]

It's not really a "ban" (though that word gets the most clicks in the - mainly tabloid - media, obviously). F1 has decided simply not to have grid girls any more. It isn't legally required to provide employment to grid girls and it's a decision by the sport itself rather than by the governing body of the sport, the FIA.

Fair point. I understand it's not a ban, as in making the activity illegal, and "ban" is the word being tossed around by the media.

However, if this is the case...is this just not an excersize in rebranding?

What's to stop Merc and Hugo Boss from having a fashion model model some of Hugo Boss's sexy female clothing in front of the car on the grid?

 

[Northstar]

The only retorts people have had have been a bunch of female drivers that aren't even in F1,

Just because they aren't personally in F1 doesn't mean they can't be a good role model for someone with F1 aspirations. It's not like Jackie Robinson, Arthur Wharton, Jesse Owens or Lewis Hamilton had black athletes to look up to in their respective sports.

I didn't say there was. The entire point is that models are currently the sport's defining female role - not the drivers.

And what will the defining role be now? If F1 takes the effort to highlight females behind the scenes than great, otherwise I think it's the corporate equivalent of posting "thoughts and prayers" on twitter.

Nor did I say that.

You may not have flat out said it, but you lumped their thoughts in with a group of people whose opinion you obviously don't like, which gives the impression both are held in the same regard.

So far the only people online I've seen complaining are actual grid girls themselves (predictable, though it's probably not a long-term career choice) and men who just like looking at totty in short skirts (veiled beneath complaints about political correctness).

My hypothetical eight-year-old might grow up not to be interested in F1 at all and go on to do something else entirely.

Come now, no reason to move the goal posts.

I'm not undervaluing their accomplishments.

You made comments about their lack of success in current and future careers while admittedly knowing nothing about them (which makes it a tad sexist as well). The fact you couldn't take the time to do even a simple google search seems to say you are indeed undervaluing them.

You either get to talk about the handful of female drivers who hover around the top flight briefly and then forever disappear

It's quite appropriate for the argument in fact that I'd not heard of most of them before that post

Well, that's on you for not expanding your own horizons. Considering most engineering positions are in the shadows it's not like you about most of them regardless of what's between their legs.

it's illustrative of the fact that you basically have to go out of your way to find women who are actually anywhere near the top level. Winning in drag racing is pretty cool, but I'm sure you'll appreciate that F1's profile is vastly, vastly bigger worldwide than drag racing, which is why we're discussing it at all.

Rome wasn't built in a day. Yes F1 has yet to see a female run competitively, but if the numbers keep expanding like they have in the "lesser" series' than it's bound to happen at some point.

Of course parents should nurture their kids, but that's much easier to do if the general zeitgeist is gives them a more positive environment in which to do so.

Certainly, but the way things should be and the way things are usually don't match up. It sucks but you can either take your ball and go home or you can view it as a mountain to conquer.

Anyways, it's obvious that we are starting to just go in circles so I'm bowing out.

 

[Jimmy_DA]

I dont really see the issue with grid girls. The removal of them is just from someone looking into the matter too much. But i do agree the role shouldnt only just be restricted to females. They should have male grid guys too.

Though using females makes scientific sense. There have been studies that links males to mechanical mindness and interest. So as motorsport being based on mechanics there will be a higher proportion of male interest thus females suit more for promoting.

To the one saying what sjould i tell my 8 year old daughter. Watch Indy with her where one of the top 3 drivers is a female. Also where i from, someone made the comment of females in engineering positions, females are highly soughted for within the field as they not only just engineer but think more about the broader impacts said engineering purpose will have on society and therefor are on higher wages than males due to their desireability in the field.

 

[twitcher]

I tend toward the free choice side of this argument. I don't notice an unsettling focus on the grid girls when I watch a grand prix, but I guess that can depend on which network's pre-race show you're watching. NBC's Will Buxton always talks about the drivers, teams, and cars while the camera focuses on such.

The grid girls are often in shot, but they certainly don't dominate the screen time. Also, I don't see the "sexualization" or "exploitation" in the recent years with many of the outfits being quite modest and sometimes holding a theme specific to each grand prix. I sometimes just hold a general interest in the fashions themselves, much like the different Pirelli podium hats. Wasn't that just fun to see?

Formula 1 had grown well beyond whatever roots may have played a role in the origins of its use of grid girls, and as others have said their roles were not limited to just what was shown on screen. They're are many cases in other sports that seem more questionable(with girls showing as much skin as possible, and even that's subjective as many women dress that way as a norm), but I think it's sad that F1 is dropping something that I felt had already been corrected, or at least reached a state that didn't warrant any social concern.

I agree that from what I can recall watching over the last 5ish years, in F1, the grid girls outfits did get more modest, and more relevant with the cultural attire or fashion show type stuff. I actually think it's a missed opportunity, as F1 could do financial deals with clothing sponsors and use the grid and camera coverage as a fashion exhibition for a local and/or up and coming fashion designer.

That said, there are other series where I have found myself cringing a little bit. The ones that spring to mind are DTM and Euro F3, which ran on the same card together. They usually do these awkward, artsy panning shots starting zoomed in on the number board, and ending up zoomed in on the driver's helmet.....but it's not uncommon for the camera to creepily pan across the grid girls. There's an example near the start of this race.



It's not every race, but every so often, there's one that makes me feel uncomfortable....like when, as the camera is zooming out, you realize you've been looking through some woman's thigh gap.

With all that in mind though, to me, the solution isn't to remove the grid girls. My solution would be to cuff the camera operator across the back of the head, replace them, and instruct the new one to not be a creep with the darn thing. I dunno, maybe that's too radical or something.

 

[SestoScudo]

Lol are people actually butthurt about their grid girls getting the boot.

Cars are the stars if I want girls i would get a girlfriend, get married or go to a strip club.

 

[LennyB]

Meh, I'd rather look at hairy man butts, hopefully we'll see that happening soon.

 

[Tak[TEC]]

If the models really enjoy their work involved in F1 and it helps give them exposure I don't agree with banning them, but at the same time I don't care if they're there or not regardless. Personally I would have liked the idea of alternating grid girls and grid guys to help both sides of the modelling industry and helping the vocal minorities with their equality demands

 

[Johnnypenso]

Lol are people actually butthurt about their half naked sluts getting the boot.

Cars are the stars if I want girls i would get a girlfriend, get married or go to a stip club.

So they're sluts because they're attractive and wear flattering clothing? For realz bro'?

 

[twitcher]

Lol are people actually butthurt about their half naked sluts getting the boot.

Cars are the stars if I want girls i would get a girlfriend, get married or go to a stip club.

So what you're saying is....you're single?

Who'da thunk it.

 

[LennyB]

So they're sluts because they're attractive and wear flattering clothing? For realz bro'?

It's the only way it makes sense, those talented girls with bright futures don't know how bad they are making the common housewife look, quick call them names.

 

[SestoScudo]

Girls are better off being engineers rather than being models.

They should have a part in a team and contribute rather than showing their bodies.

By the way grid girls are useless. When I watch motorsport I watch it for the cars and the racing. I dont care about the garbage glamour that comes with it

 

[LennyB]

Girls are better off being engineers rather than being models.

They should have a part in a team and contribute rather than showing their bodies.

By the way grid girls are useless. When I watch motorsport I watch it for the cars and the racing. I dont care about the garbage glamour that comes with it

Do they have a right to choose for themselves or should they call someone for permission?

 

[Johnnypenso]

Do they have a right to choose for themselves or should they call someone for permission?

Sounds like they have to call him for permission. Or at least to find out what's best for them as he apparently knows what's best for women. Assuming it's a he of course.

 

[SestoScudo]

F1 cars today sound like crap today that is more important.

There is more important issues in F1 rather than muh grid girls.

Bring back the v8s and the v10s.

 

[LennyB]

F1 cars today sound like crap today that is more important.

There is more important issues in F1 rather than muh grid girls.

Bring back the v8s and the v10s.

I'm not sure sounds are so important to the sport, grid girls are not an issue by your own admission yet you seem hell bent on seeing them gone.
Bring back the old school engines and speeds and dangers by all means, I miss all of that.

 

[twitcher]

The one and only Leena Gade dropping some knowledge bombs

 

[AerodyManiac]

You mean like Formula 1 choosing not to use grid girls as part of their event? Just because they offered that job once doesn't mean they can be forced to do so in perpetuity.

I’m not saying that Formula 1 are obliged to retain grid girls. Sure, they have every right to dispose of grid girls in their events. What I’m saying is that it’s not a good move. I’m terrible at drawing parallels, but it’s a bit like hotels refraining from employing bellboys. Nobody’s right is taken away, and they probably won’t suffer from a decrease in revenue, but a lot of their customers will have to put up with more trouble they get when using its services. In Formula 1’s case, the viewers just won’t have the same enjoyment as they used to do.

 

[Belifant]

many people seem not to understand how the"grid girl" business works. They are sourced through a local model agency at each race just for those few days the race is there and are paid by the organiser of the event. Not by F1 or the teams directly. The week after they are modelling for a different event. They are not out of work because of this change.

Now that does not mean that the model don't like being a grid girl. I'm sure many of them like being a grid girl, it is probably way more fun than standing in a shopping mall presenting products. So of course you find plenty of grid girls on twitter who are upset about this decision.

But this decision has nothing to do with feminism or political correctness, as some are suggesting ("PC sucks because if I say something rude or offensive, people will attack me").

It's a marketing and branding decision, pure and simple.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Lol are people actually butthurt about their half naked sluts getting the boot.

I recommend counselling, it can really help with mummy-issues.

Just tryin' to help

 

[TheCracker]

I’m not saying that Formula 1 are obliged to retain grid girls. Sure, they have every right to dispose of grid girls in their events. What I’m saying is that it’s not a good move. I’m terrible at drawing parallels, but it’s a bit like hotels refraining from employing bellboys. Nobody’s right is taken away, and they probably won’t suffer from a decrease in revenue, but a lot of their customers will have to put up with more trouble they get when using its services. In Formula 1’s case, the viewers just won’t have the same enjoyment as they used to do.

But bellboys actually serve a purpose other than 'eye-candy' for half the potential audience. How much enjoyment do grid girls actually add to the sport?

Had F1 just quietly dropped using grid girls without all the publicity surrounding the decision, we'd have all got half way through the season before anyone had noticed they'd gone.

 

[SestoScudo]

I recommend counselling, it can really help with mummy-issues.

Just tryin' to help

Honestly you believe im a female. Im a male for goodness sake.

 

[Furinkazen]

Honestly you believe im a female. Im a male for goodness sake.

Doesn't change the fact you sound like a 5 year old who's dropped all his toys in a tantrum.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Honestly you believe im a female. Im a male for goodness sake.

No, I got from your attitude to women that you are a guy.

 

[Robin]

many people seem not to understand how the"grid girl" business works. They are sourced through a local model agency at each race just for those few days the race is there and are paid by the organiser of the event.

Not in all cases, there are full time employed grid girls which stay with the one team or brand. For example Monster Energy girls stay constant for however long their contract is and are so ingrained in the brand they represent they are known by name and even gain fans of their own.

 

[2clicks]

Not in all cases, there are full time employed grid girls which stay with the one team or brand. For example Monster Energy girls stay constant for however long their contract is and are so ingrained in the brand they represent they are known by name and even gain fans of their own.

Same with the Super GT race queens. They sign and are bound to contracts just like any other team employee.

 

[TheCracker]

Not in all cases, there are full time employed grid girls which stay with the one team or brand. For example Monster Energy girls stay constant for however long their contract is and are so ingrained in the brand they represent they are known by name and even gain fans of their own.

But they're brand ambassadors or representatives, it's just the official event grid girls that they're getting rid of. As far as i'm aware.

Like the grid girls at BTCC events, a girl will represent a driver or team and wear their sponsors outfit at every round, sometimes for several seasons. But that's not all they'll do. They'll still have other modelling or promotions work.