Ross Brawn, F1 managing director of motorsports, said the use of female promotional models is a “delicate topic” which is “under strong review”.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/42346331

R5:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09l8vw0

I think a better options would be a pool of grid girls and guys, of whatever sex, and a random selection from that pool for manning the grid.

That would allow all those people that want to follow that ‘career’ and exploit their ‘beauty’ (as they may not also have been blessed with ‘smarts’ as well) to keep doing that job, which is my problem with banning them.

Could do the same in cycling, etc.

Its the end of an era… but I don’t expect we’ll see scenes similar to Miner’s Strike

Sod the grid boys/girls anything. If it’s raining get a team person to hold the umbrella. But if you want some extra people in the grid for photos/publicity get some kids in to inspire them. Same with cycling. Podiums should be kids from the local club given the chance to meet their heros. Top level sport has to inspire, not show gratuitous tit/legs/arse etc.

Thats a great idea ^

I find the whole thing very outdated, grid/ring/podium girls etc Im watching for the sport not the 2 seconds of pretty lady footage, there is plenty of that kind of stuff available on the internet… so im told

*shrugs*

Maybe the teams could do a lottery amongst their own fans

I agree it all looks a bit 70s to be honest!

Same with cycling

Golf needs to clean up its act too

If you say so….

Top level sport has to inspire, not show gratuitous tit/legs/arse etc.

When I was a kid it was the tit/legs/arse that inspired me to watch my sporting heroes 😛

it was the tit/legs/arse that inspired me to watch my sporting heroes

Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks?

I can see why grid girls are out of step with the times and may put potential viewers off.

It doesn’t chime well when pit lane interviewers talk to a growing band of female technical and team managerial staff, I am hopeful that someday very soon we’ll see a female F1 driver competing in actual races again.

I am hopeful that someday very soon we’ll see a female F1 driver competing in actual races again.

Don’t hold your breath!

But if you want some extra people in the grid for photos/publicity get some kids in to inspire them

IoM TT is well ahead of the game. They’ve had cub scouts up on the podium since ever.

Back when F1 used to be at Brands Hatch, they used to have deals with all the local scout and youth groups. I got a few full weekend passes with grandstand / press enclosure access, and free entry to the pit walk in exchange for about 3 hours worth of voluntary work. Couple of F1, and more truck races than I can remember.

I’m sure the various circuits must still have contacts.

They’ve had cub scouts up on the podium since ever.

Sexist. Where are the Brownies?!

Brownies are knitting. 😉
Girls who like motorsport are already in Cubs

If you say so….

I’d love it if it looked like that!! 🙂

Michelle Mouton was runner up in the 1982 wrc driver table but it was driving a zzzzzzzzz Audi
Still good achievement and can’t see many women getting as far as that again in the near future

Don’t hold your breath!

Particularly with Carmen Jorda working with the FIA. She’s helped unite female racing drivers AGAINST her as she says women aren’t good enough to compete with men. What she means is SHE isn’t good enough. 11 years of racing, no wins, no pole positions, no fastest laps and in 3 seasons of GP3 never even scored a top 10 finish. If I was cynical I’d have said they hired her because of her image, not motorsports credentials.

Another member of the council is Michelle Mouton, someone with actual credentials so it’s a surprise the FIA chose Jorda.

From Jalopnik – International Motorsports Council Picks Worst Woman Possible To Represent Women

Quote from Pippa Mann

If the news I am hearing is correct, and you have appointed a racer with no notable results, who does not believe we compete as equals in this sport, to represent women in racing, I am incredibly disappointed.
Sincerely -an #Indy500 qualifier, #IndyLights race winner.

she says women aren’t good enough to compete with men.

is there not a physical challange in a F1 car environment that might limit how close they can get ?

Perhaps. But a driver who has not even earned the tag “mediocre” is hardly best placed to work that out. There are sufficient women in racing with real credentials to indicate that perhaps opportunity is the problem as opposed to ability. You’ll never know unless people try, though. Getting a woman through the lower categories with manufacturer support would be a start. Red Bull and Renault have been looking, that’s for sure.

Michelle Mouton was runner up in the 1982 wrc driver table but it was driving a zzzzzzzzz Audi

She beat all the other Audi drivers including Hannu and Stig!

No more than there is in a fighter jet, and it’s been noted that biologically, a woman’s physiology makes them superior to men in high G situations.

Grid girls, yes or no? is a question for grid girls, is it not? Do the people who currently do it, want to keep doing it? Do other models also want to do it? Do they feel it demeans or exploites then whilst doing it? Is it an opportunity for them to showcase their talents on national TV? So long as the answer to those questions is favourable and it’s done tastefully, what’s the issue?

I have to confess, I can’t even remember the last time I noticed grid girls…

is there not a physical challange in a F1 car environment that might limit how close they can get ?

Tits in the way innit

Grid girls, yes or no? is a question for grid girls, is it not?

NO its a question for us all just like prostitution or hit men or well any job really
You will find someone willing to do anything for money and just because they choose does not mean we have to allow it.

So long as the answer to those questions is favourable and it’s done tastefully, what’s the issue?

Honestly you dont see what the issue is ?I find that hard to believe. I can see that you may not agree but not see it , I am not buying that.

13 pages of the same argument here

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/podium-girls

That would allow all those people that want to follow that ‘career’ and exploit their ‘beauty’ (as they may not also have been blessed with ‘smarts’ as well) to keep doing that job, which is my problem with banning them.

Not saying you intended it and I might have taken it the wrong way but that reads a bit like you saying they’re all stupid.

I work in motorsport and have spent a bit of time around the BTCC grid and pitlane and some of the girls are petrol heads and love motorsport, some of them have other careers and pretty decent jobs, others are studying and do it for a bit of extra money, I bet some of them earn more from their normal careers than I do and are probably a lot more intelligent too 😆

It’s not like any of them are being forced into doing it, I’m probably a bit biased but I don’t see who it’s harming. To the people that think it should be banned what would you or anyone else actually gain from that?

Well? Post some up and we’ll review ’em!

winkysmileyfacephwoarrrr

Women dont have an inherent G advantage over men, short people do and on average women are shorter. Still plenty of tall fast jet drivers though, because the ability to pull sustained G isn’t that relevant as it bleeds energy.

F1 cars pull a different type of g anyway, lateral side to side loads… not the kind that pulls blood in your brain or legs.

to be honest I think there are worse objectifications of the female form…

Miss World anyone?

Tom_W1987 – Member
Women dont have an inherent G advantage over men, short people do and on average women are shorter. Still plenty of tall fast jet drivers though, because the ability to pull sustained G isn’t that relevant as it bleeds energy.

F1 cars pull a different type of g anyway, lateral side to side loads… not the kind that pulls blood in your brain or legs.

Well, apart from the 5g when you brake. Only short duration though.

Not saying you intended it and I might have taken it the wrong way but that reads a bit like you saying they’re all stupid.

yep, the wrong way.

If you were born with beauty but not with smarts why should you not be allowed to exploit that as much as possible to earn a living – after all those without beauty but with smarts are allowed to exploit their smarts to gain an advantage over you.

If you have beauty and smarts then the world is your oyster…

Yes, I was thinking of the constantly being smashed about in an F1 car, having inherently a better and stronger musclature would surely help here.

No saying that women can’t drive better than men as there are several examples where that is very true, just saying the physically traumatic environment might be an issue for out-and-out competition between men and women.

There’s obviously going to be some women who can compete on those grounds as there’s alway a distribution, but not as many women surely.

Miss World anyone?

if you insist…

True but we dont allow speeding because drunk driving is worse.

To the people that think it should be banned what would you or anyone else actually gain from that?

A better world with less sexual exploitation. Why did you need to ask?

I do find it weird that anyone on either side of the argument does not know what the other side think

to be honest I think there are worse objectifications of the female form…

to me it seems worse if someone has to wear a ‘uniform’, that seems to be the degrading bit.

Put it this way, if a woman is up to the physical demands of flying a Eurofighter Typhoon or similar agile fighter jet, then I’ve no doubt that they can cope with driving an F1 car.

A better world with less sexual exploitation. Why did you need to ask?

but who is exploiting who here ?

If someone has beauty then here is an avenue where they can go and exploit the stupidness of the men that find pit girls desirable, and make some money out of it, and maybe pay for their education with it, etc.

I saw a documentary where there were many highly educated women in the US porn industry that had funded their education from making movies and were now producers, so it was they who were exploiting the stupid men that bought that stuff.

I don’t like the pit or podium girl stuff and find it a bit cringeworthy myself.

then I’ve no doubt that they can cope with driving an F1 car.

Pit stops will be a nightmare ,what with having to Facebook all her friends how the race is going before she can head back out onto the circuit.