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FIA president Jean Todt (left).
- One of the most powerful figures in motorsports says he has "more important matters in life" than to discuss the grid girl controversy.
- Grid girls have been driven out of Formula 1 as the sport looks to catch up with modern-day societal norms.
- But Jean Todt, the president of FIA, says grid girls were "not a problem" and the organisation will look to develop the presence of women in racing in the future.
The controversy surrounding Formula 1's decision to drive grid girls out of the sport is "stupid," according to one of the most powerful men in the trade.
Jean Todt, the president of FIA - the governing body for motorsports like F1, blasted the debate as "bulls---" in an interview with the Daily Mail. He also said he is "frustrated" as there are not "enough women in racing."
Grid girls conducted promotional tasks on behalf of blue chip sponsors. They wore clothing bearing the name of the sponsors, interacted with the crowd, and carried driver name boards on the grid.
However, grid girls have been fired and, from the 2018 F1 season onwards, replaced with grid kids as F1 strives to catch-up with "modern day societal norms."
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A Formula 1 grid girl.
Grid girls protested on Twitter while the debate to ban promotional models in other sports, like boxing, raged on.
But Todt says the presence of grid girls is "not a problem." Todt said: "It's stupid… I have more important matters in my life to discuss than grid girls. I'm sorry that there's been so much talk about this kind of bulls***."
Todt proclaimed F1 as "the biggest motor-racing show" on the planet and is "in favour of women in racing." He said: "It's something we will develop.
"I'm frustrated not to see enough women in motorsport but I will not be in favour of a championship exclusively for women."