Chase CareyGETTY IMAGES
Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey said that there will continue to be "pretty girls at races" under his leadership, adding that the sport will still be one of "glamour and mystique," according to Tom Cary of the London TELEGRAPH. His comments "are likely to raise eyebrows" given F1’s attempts to "project a new image of itself by shelving grid girls." Carey admitted that he personally would have kept the practice as he "liked it." However, he said that he had "taken account of the views of other stakeholders and fans" and had to "respect" their wishes. Carey: "I think the reaction [to the scrapping of grid girls] has been what we expected. We’ve had some people who have been positive about it and others who were concerned. Unsurprisingly, many long-term fans view it as part of the sport they grew up with and I respect that. Actually if you just left it up to me, personally, I like the grid girls. But it’s not a decision for me." Carey added that "of those who professed to be for or against grid girls, those who were against felt far more strongly about it" (TELEGRAPH, 2/9).
WAR OF WORDS: GMM reported Carey is "not taking attacks" from Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag "too seriously." Agag said recently that he thinks the all-electric series will "take over" from F1 within "a decade or two." Carey said, "I'm glad he has a crystal ball. Formula E is not our competitor. It represents something that matters to all of us -- the environment -- but I see it as more of a street party than a sports event" (GMM, 2/9).
