Carey: F1 will still have 'pretty girls'

Formula One chief executive Chase Carey has responded to the widespread criticism of Liberty Media's decision to scrap the use of grid girls during Grand Prix races, but assuring fans that there will still be 'pretty girls' and glamour at the events.

Last week, Liberty Media and the FIA announced the tradition of grid girls would no longer be used, with kids going to be utilised instead to escort drivers out on to the paddock.

Carey admits that the negative response to the decision was expected, but insists that it was made with the fans in mind.

“I think the reaction [to the scrapping of grid girls] has been what we expected,” Carey told reporters.

“We’ve had some people who have been positive about it and others who were concerned. Unsurprisingly, many long-term fans view it as part of the sport they grew up with and I respect that.

“Actually if you just left it up to me, personally, I like the grid girls. But it’s not a decision for me, it’s a decision for fans.

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"And I think what we found is that a number of people anecdotally raised the issue, and as I went around what I found was there was a meaningful segment that found it … I don’t know whether offensive is too strong – but found it exploitative or did not find it appropriate for the world we live in today.

“I’d say on those who were OK with it, I got a lot more ‘I’m OK with it’ rather than ‘It’s important to me’."

The chief executive of Formula One went on to claim that there would still be glamour at events, including the presence of 'pretty girls'.

“We’re going to maintain glamour,” he said. “We’re going to continue to have pretty girls at races. I think it’s a part of life, and it’s a part of what makes our sport special. It is a sport of glamour and of mystique. But I think you have to continue to evolve.

"In today’s world there are obviously different sensitivities to 10-12 years ago. I don’t think you can just be stubborn.

“There are things that made sense in the past that don’t going forward."