Formula 1 will no longer see grid girls in front of each car before every Grand Prix, following a decision to end the tradition on Wednesday.
Following in the footsteps of the WEC and other sports which have previously used models in similar roles, it was revealed last year that F1 bosses were reviewing the use of girls holding boards to signify each driver and it was later claimed the practice would be modernised.
Now, with movements such as #MeToo dominating headlines, commercial director Sean Bratches has confirmed it will be axed altogether to meet with changes in society.
“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 in a post on the official F1 website.
“While the practice of employing grid girls has been a staple of F1 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.”
This move comes as Liberty Media look to overhaul the spectator experience and last year, offered a glimpse with the pre-race events at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, though it was met with a mixed reaction.