Formula One Management has announced it will no longer use grid girls at races, saying it believes the practice is not “appropriate or relevant”.

F1’s managing director of commercial operations Sean Bratches said grid girls exemplified a practice which needed to be ‘updated’.

“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,” he said.

“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”

Other forms of motor racing have already stopped using grid girls. The World Endurance Championship ended the practice in 2015.

Beyond motor racing other sports have also addressed the roles assigned to women. Britain’s darts championship recently announced it would no longer use walk-on girls.

2018 F1 season