Carey: F1 will still have 'pretty girls' at races

Formula 1 will "continue to have pretty girls at races" despite its decision to stop using 'grid girls' for the 2018 season, according to series CEO and chairman Chase Carey.

F1 announced last week it would no longer feature grid girls as part of its pre-race routine, instead introducing 'grid kids' that would be used to denote each driver's starting position before grands prix.

The decision divided opinion through the motorsport world, but Carey revealed to the Daily Telegraph that while he personally liked having grid girls ahead of races, the call was made with the fans in mind.

"I think the reaction has been what we expected. Unsurprisingly, many long-term fans view it as part of the sport they grew up with and I respect that," Carey said.

“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.

"I recognise that many of the grid girls were proud to do it and I think that’s great, and again, if you left it to me, I liked it.

"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 [they] found it exploitative or did not find it appropriate for the world we live in today."

F1's announcement only made mention of grid girls and not models used for other promotional activities in the paddock, with Carey confirming there would still be some kind of presence at races.

"We’re going to maintain glamour. We’re going to continue to have pretty girls at races," Carey said.

"I think it’s 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 or 12 years ago. I don’t think you can just be stubborn."