Russian GP organizers determined to find a way around F1’s ‘grid girl’ ban. Another opponent of the grid girls ban is ousted former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

The promoter of the Russian Grand Prix has confirmed that he is determined to find a way around Formula 1’s new ‘grid girl’ ban. The news comes after Monaco has already announced that, notwithstanding Liberty Media’s decision, “beautiful women” will be on the grid next month – albeit not to hold the driver boards.

A similar approach is being taken by Russian organisers, who have misgivings about replacing ‘grid girls’ with ‘grid kids’, as confirmed by Sergey Vorobyov, acting deputy CEO at the OJSC Centre Omega, who is responsible for organising and conducting the Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix: “We do not want to give up girls – they are wonderful. “We foresee that when children are close to cars, this is fraught with difficulties relating to security and image. But if we find the right approach and how to make the children’s participation justified, we will of course do it. At the same time we are developing creative approaches that will allow the girls to remain next to the cars. It could be athletes, it could be representatives of the world of Russian art, but my task is to have our girls still going on the starting grid.” – Sergey Vorobyov explained, as reported by dragtimes.ru.

Another opponent of the grid girls ban is ousted former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who met with Sergey Vorobyov last weekend at the Bahrain Grand Prix: “We are still friends and we talked very well, sharing our memories of various good projects of the past.” – the Russian official concluded.

Next up on the calendar is the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend.