F1 former driver and world champion and current Mercedes-AMG non-executive chairman Niki Lauda has been critical about F1’s owners, Liberty Media, decision to ban grid girls, and asks them to revert the decision.
Two days ago, Liberty Media made a surprising announcement, saying that they had made the decision to ban grid girls on the sport, considering that their ‘use’ is a traditional concept that no longer fitted with the new brand image they want to give to the sport.
It has been a controversial decision, which have caused reactions from everyone in the paddock: Fans, drivers, journalists, etc. Opinions are divided and, while some praise it because of how outdated the concept was; others consider that it is unfair to ban women from doing a job they wanted to for their own will.
The last one who has spoke about that is three-time F1 World Champion and current Mercedes-AMG F1 Team non-executive chairman Niki Lauda, who has been very critical about the decision and expects that Liberty Media might re-consider it and revert it.
“This is a decision against women,” Lauda told. “Men have made the decision over the heads of women. This is not doing any favours to F1 and especially not for women. How stupid can they be? Are they nuts?”
“I hope there is a way to reverse the decision.” He added. “I wouldn’t mind seeing grid boys next to grid girls. Why not? Grid girls have always belonged in F1, and they should continue to belong in F1.”
“Women are stepping up , and they are doing it very well, it is moving in the right direction. But one does not exclude the other. I don’t want to hold back women, I want to encourage them. If you continue on this path, there will be no cheerleaders left in America.”
