“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,” Sean Bratches, F1 managing director, said in a statement.

“While the practice of employing grid girls has been a staple of Formula 1 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.”

Grid girls will also stop appearing at other motorsport series which takes place during the F1 weekend.

The new F1 season starts with Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 25.

In South Australia, the State Government has stopped funding grid girls at the Adelaide 500 motorsport event and has also done away with ‘podium models’ at the Tour Down Under cycling race.

– DPA