As part of its aim to make the sport more inclusive, F1's new owners have this year done away with the age old practice of grid girls and instead introduced grid kids to the pre-race proceedings.

This weekend's race in Monaco however, where glitz and glamour has always ruled, is likely to see grid girl back in the spotlight as organisers opt for their traditional approach.

Asked for their views on the controversial topic, though blinded by the harsh lighting in the press conference room, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel were under no illusions as to where they stand.

"I think women are the most beautiful thing in the world," said the Briton. "There have been races where we've had guys standing at the front, by the car, there's been a mixture sometimes... in the past...

"I think Monaco is a very elegant Grand Prix and... I don't know how women feel about it, I've not really ever spoke to them about how they feel about the whole situation," the world champion continued.

"I can't particularly comment, I don't particularly feel any way about it... when we pull up at the grid and there's a beautiful woman on the grid, that's the Monaco Grand Prix, it's a lovely thing.

"But I definitely don't think we should ever be supporting anything that makes women in general feel uncomfortable, and if they are then we shouldn't do it. But if they're comfortable doing it..."

"I think the whole thing has been blown up, unnecessarily," added Vettel. "I don't think any of the grid girls in the past were forced to do it, I think they enjoyed what they were doing.

"I agree with Lewis," he continued, "I think they look beautiful.

"If there were guys I would just not be interested," he admitted, "nothing against those guys, but I just didn't care as much.

"Bottom line, I think there's too much of a fuss nowadays, I think all the women who did it in the past did it because they want to, and if we ask any grid girl on Sunday if they are happy to be there, I'm sure their answer will be 'yes'. I don't think anybody forces them to do it.

"I think it's a lot of noise for nothing."

Check out our Wednesday gallery from Monaco, here.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by mickl, 25/05/2018 3:00

"@Ro...naw isntead of grid girls, there should be fat balding middle aged men wearing their 'teams' shirts that are 4 sizes too small and all sat in armchairs pointing at their respective grid position's drivers saying they could have done better.

That's the universal fan isn't it for ANY sport....at least the fans will be 'engaged' then.

Seriously though, what TF is the matter with just having a self standing placard there with a number and name on it?"

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2. Posted by ESTM PRFT, 24/05/2018 3:43

"I want grid boys taking rides on Chase Carey's moustache! I guess Lewis approves of having the grid girls so that he won't have to compete for the Beib's affections."

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3. Posted by Ro, 23/05/2018 22:16

"Lets have some head shaven beer guzzlers with full body tatoo's at theBritish GP....All must be holding a pint of beer (in plastic re-cycleable mugs). Now that would be best for Media Liberty...."

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4. Posted by Schnauzers, 23/05/2018 17:43 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 23/05/2018 18:17)

"Our world is full of divergent influences. Read Fire & Fury, then The Art of the Deal, and you'll see two TOTALLY different Trumps.

Yes, Beautiful ladies are attractive to most men. And Handsome men are attractive to most women (and maybe to others). And surely any of them that are invited to be "on the grid" will be very happy to do it, nor will they have been forced.

"

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5. Posted by Chris Roper, 23/05/2018 16:59 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 23/05/2018 18:17)

"F1 "is about selling glamour and parties", so lets have Children in the Public eye rather than Glamorous Grid Girls.

The Parties are obviously childrens parties and Liberty will provide the Clowns.
"

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6. Posted by Uffen, 23/05/2018 16:15

"Their choice to use child labour instead is certainly questionable. "

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7. Posted by Mocha, 23/05/2018 16:01 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 23/05/2018 18:17)

"A friend of mine was a grid girl at the Gulf Air Bahrain GP a couple of years ago. She and the other 25 or so flight attendants were selected out of ~5000 that applied. She considered it an honor and said it was a very fun experience overall, even if the grid portion was a bit boring. I don't think the decision to end that had anything to do with the girls or their comfort. It was some marketing folks worrying about public perception in the aftermath of the "Me Too" movement. The media/entertainment industries, especially, are still dealing with the fallout. I wouldn't be surprised if grid girls make it back to F1 once the panic, witch hunts, and craziness dies down. "

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8. Posted by nonickname, 23/05/2018 15:46

"I watch the soccer teams run out holding the hands of boys.. CREEPY"

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Hamilton and Vettel happy to see grid girls in Monaco

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