Former F1 grid girl Leilani Dowding has criticised Formula 1's decision to ban grid girls, saying she was disappointed that Lewis Hamilton deleted a social media post supporting their return.
Dowding, who worked at Grands Prix before the practice was discontinued in 2018, shared her views in an interview with OLBG, reflecting on her experience in the sport.
“I was disappointed that Lewis Hamilton deleted his tweet but I think there's somehow all this weird pressure,” Dowding said.
Dowding questions decision to ban grid girls
Formula 1 announced in January 2018 that it would no longer use grid girls from the start of that season, saying the tradition did not align with its brand values or modern societal norms. The decision attracted mixed reactions, including from some who had worked on the grid.
Dowding said she was living in Los Angeles when she first read about the ban and struggled to understand the reasoning behind it.
“It was always really welcoming. The only people who would say stupid things, such as that we were being objectified, were people who weren't involved and had never spoken to us. They were looking in from the outside.
“Anybody involved in F1 was very welcoming. The people who were there on the grids were welcoming, and the people watching F1 were welcoming. It's not as though you saw the grid girls all that much on television.
“I have absolutely no idea why people made such a fuss about it. They really did, didn't they? There were petitions and all sorts of campaigns about banning grid girls.
“To this day, I still cannot understand why.”
Former grid girl defends women's choice
The former model also argued that the decision overlooked the choices of the women who worked at races, adding that the role provided an opportunity to earn money.
“It was completely patronising, as though we had no control or agency over what we were doing ourselves.
“It was our choice to do it. We enjoyed it and loved it. There were a lot of girls I knew who did it, and it paid really well and meant we could do things we wanted.
“I was saving up to put a deposit on a flat. Friends of mine were saving up to pay for university.”
