Monaco has flown in the face of Liberty Media and its ban on grid girls in Formula 1 for 2018. For one race only, the girls will be back.
But what do the drivers think?
Branded as an outdated practice, Formula 1 put an end to the use of grid girls during the offseason, but Monaco is a special case. An event steeped in history, Monaco is all about the glamour and night life. For at least some of the drivers, the Grand Prix itself is simply a distraction from the endless stream of parties.
“I don’t know,” said world champ Lewis Hamilton when asked how he felt about Monaco’s decision. “I think women are the most beautiful thing in the world. I mean, there’s races where we’ve had guys standing in front of the car and there’s been a mixture sometimes in races in the past. I think Monaco is a very elegant Grand Prix, and I don’t really know how women feel about it. I’ve not spoken to women how they feel about the whole situation.
“I can’t really comment. I don’t feel either way about it. When we pull up to the grid and there’s beautiful women on the grid, that’s the Monaco Grand Prix, that’s the lovely thing. But I definitely don’t think we should ever be pushing these women in general to feel uncomfortable, and if they are then we shouldn’t do it. But if they’re comfortable doing it …”
The stance taken by the reigning champion and current championship leader was echoed by Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who actually went further by saying that the issue surrounding grid girls has been blown way out of proportion.
“I think the whole thing has been blown up probably unnecessarily because I don’t think any of the grid girls in the past were forced to do it, so I think they enjoyed what they were doing,” said Vettel. “I agree with Lewis, I like women. I think they look beautiful, so if there were guys I’m just not interested. Nothing against those guys, I just didn’t care as much. But bottom line, I think it’s too much of a fuss now.
“All the women that took part as a grid girl in the past did it because they wanted to, so I’m sure you ask any grid girl on Sunday whether they’re happy to stand there, their answer will be yes. I don’t think there’s anyone that forces them to do it, so it speaks a little bit for our times that there’s a lot of noise for nothing.”
Monaco national, reigning Formula 2 champion and Sauber driver Charles Leclerc was in agreement with his peers, although he was quick to mention the grid kids scheme launched by Liberty Media -- his cousin being a beneficiary of the initiative for this round of the championship.
“Quite similar to Seb, but I think it was quite positive to have some girls on the grid to be honest,” said Leclerc. “Even though I have a girlfriend, so I should not say that maybe -- I will get in trouble -- but it’s also good to have some kids. My little cousin will be, Monaco is very small so they chose my little cousin, who will be on the grid with me and I’ve seen how happy he was to be chosen as one of the grid kids. And it’s great to see that. It’s a great idea to have kids on the grid also.”
http://autoweek.com/article/formula-one/monaco-gp-thumbs-nose-f1-liberty-media-grid-girls-are-back
But what do the drivers think?
Branded as an outdated practice, Formula 1 put an end to the use of grid girls during the offseason, but Monaco is a special case. An event steeped in history, Monaco is all about the glamour and night life. For at least some of the drivers, the Grand Prix itself is simply a distraction from the endless stream of parties.
“I don’t know,” said world champ Lewis Hamilton when asked how he felt about Monaco’s decision. “I think women are the most beautiful thing in the world. I mean, there’s races where we’ve had guys standing in front of the car and there’s been a mixture sometimes in races in the past. I think Monaco is a very elegant Grand Prix, and I don’t really know how women feel about it. I’ve not spoken to women how they feel about the whole situation.
“I can’t really comment. I don’t feel either way about it. When we pull up to the grid and there’s beautiful women on the grid, that’s the Monaco Grand Prix, that’s the lovely thing. But I definitely don’t think we should ever be pushing these women in general to feel uncomfortable, and if they are then we shouldn’t do it. But if they’re comfortable doing it …”
The stance taken by the reigning champion and current championship leader was echoed by Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who actually went further by saying that the issue surrounding grid girls has been blown way out of proportion.
“I think the whole thing has been blown up probably unnecessarily because I don’t think any of the grid girls in the past were forced to do it, so I think they enjoyed what they were doing,” said Vettel. “I agree with Lewis, I like women. I think they look beautiful, so if there were guys I’m just not interested. Nothing against those guys, I just didn’t care as much. But bottom line, I think it’s too much of a fuss now.
“All the women that took part as a grid girl in the past did it because they wanted to, so I’m sure you ask any grid girl on Sunday whether they’re happy to stand there, their answer will be yes. I don’t think there’s anyone that forces them to do it, so it speaks a little bit for our times that there’s a lot of noise for nothing.”
Monaco national, reigning Formula 2 champion and Sauber driver Charles Leclerc was in agreement with his peers, although he was quick to mention the grid kids scheme launched by Liberty Media -- his cousin being a beneficiary of the initiative for this round of the championship.
“Quite similar to Seb, but I think it was quite positive to have some girls on the grid to be honest,” said Leclerc. “Even though I have a girlfriend, so I should not say that maybe -- I will get in trouble -- but it’s also good to have some kids. My little cousin will be, Monaco is very small so they chose my little cousin, who will be on the grid with me and I’ve seen how happy he was to be chosen as one of the grid kids. And it’s great to see that. It’s a great idea to have kids on the grid also.”
http://autoweek.com/article/formula-one/monaco-gp-thumbs-nose-f1-liberty-media-grid-girls-are-back
