F1 to stop using grid girls from 2018 season

Formula 1 has announced it will stop using grid girls in the build-up to the start of races from the beginning of the 2018 season.

The usage of grid girls has been a focus point within motorsport in recent years, with the FIA World Endurance Championship ditching the tradition back in 2015.

F1 bosses confirmed last year they would review the practice, and announced on Wednesday that grid girls would no longer be used at races.

"Formula 1 will end the long-standing practice of using walk-on grid girls, commencing with the start of the 2018 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season. These changes also apply to our other motorsports series that take place during the Grands Prix weekends," a statement from F1 reads.

"Formula 1 considers the time spent by teams and drivers on the grid before a race as one of celebration, where guests and various performers can add to the glamour and spectacle of the Grand Prix, enabling promoters and partners to showcase their countries and products."

“Over the last year we have looked at a number of areas which we felt needed updating so as to be more in tune with our vision for this great sport," added F1 commercial chief Sean Bratches.

"While the practice of employing grid girls has been a staple of Formula 1 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 1 and its fans, old and new, across the world."