Hamilton comments again on grid girls

Lewis Hamilton has added to comments he made about the return of grid girls to Formula 1 at the Monaco Grand Prix. Models have been absent in an organised role on F1 grids in 2018, but they will return for Sunday's race in Monte Carlo.

Automobile Club de Monaco president Michel Boeri has previously said the allure of the Monte Carlo showpiece would not be the same without glamourous models present.

Although the models will not be traditional 'grid girls' - holding drivers' number boards - they are expected to take photographs with the drivers. Some of the models will also be male.

READ MORE: First glance at F1 2018 gameplay
READ MORE: Vettel and Hamilton back grid girls return

"I think women are most beautiful thing in world," Hamilton told the pre-race press conference about the news. "Monaco is a very elegant grand prix and I don't know how women feel about it, I've not spoken to women how they feel about the situation, so I can't really comment."

However, a day later Hamilton was moved to further clarify his thoughts.

"I think what women are achieving today is incredibly inspiring," Hamilton wrote on Instagram.

"I love and support women around the world, I think they are the smartest species and equality for them is a key for the future of the world.

"Me saying I think they are beautiful is just stating a fact, what I find incredibly attractive is a beautiful intelligent and ambitious woman! #facts"

Speaking at Thursday's press conference, Red Bull boss Christian Horner spoke in defence of the models, who are employed by his team's major sponsor Tag Heuer.

"To be honest with you, I think the girls make a welcome return this weekend," he said.

"I think that it's something that should be open to all categories, so some races will choose to have grid kids, others will have mixed grids and I think that so long as it's done in an appropriate manner, then it's ultimately down to the promotor."