As the debate over the decision to drop grid girls continues, FIA and F1 announce Grid Kids initiative.

According to the FIA, the joint initiative will involve the local Grand Prix promoter working alongside ASNs - the FIA-recognised national sporting authorities - who will provide a unique opportunity to youngsters and their families to be part of one of the most exclusive and exciting moments of the whole race weekend.

The youngsters will be chosen by their motorsport clubs on merit, or by lottery, and will already be competing in karting or junior formulae. The lucky few will then be able to accompany and stand alongside the 20 best drivers in the world on the grid as they prepare for the race.

"This will be an extraordinary moment for these youngsters," said Sean Bratches, F1 Managing Director of Commercial Operations, "imagine, standing beside their heroes, watch as they prepare to race, the elite of the elite in motorsport, to be there, alongside them in those precious few minutes just before the start. What an unforgettable experience, for them, and their families. An inspiration to keep driving, training and learning so that they can dream of one day being there themselves. What better way to inspire the next generation of Formula 1 heroes."

"Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motor sport," added Jean Todt, and the dream of every young racer competing the junior series that make up the FIA’s single-seater pyramid, from karting all the way to F1. We are therefore delighted to bring that dream a little closer by giving the future champions of our sport the opportunity to stand alongside their heroes on the grid in the build-up to the race start. For the wider FIA, this is an excellent initiative that provides additional support to our member ASNs in their efforts to grow motorsport worldwide through a unique reward they can make available to youngsters participating in their national series."

The Grid Kids will be chosen at every Formula 1 race, and where possible, also for the major feeder series like F2 and GP3. They will be accompanied by their immediate family who will have paddock access for race Sunday.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by ESTM PRFT, 11/02/2018 23:40

"Will they be prepubescent boys in short shorts looking for moustache rides, Mr. Carey? Current Kart and lower formula stars = pay 'riders'. Bernie is starting to sound better!"

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2. Posted by FQITW, 07/02/2018 10:22

"Surely this is discriminating against Senior Citizens?
Wouldn’t it have been better to give some of them a chance to get out more?
"

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3. Posted by Tweek, 07/02/2018 5:14

"I could totally see them trolling the public schools in Austin, probably not Monaco tho. >;)"

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4. Posted by Editor, 06/02/2018 16:45

"@ Tweek

These are not your average 'kids'.

The so-called 'Grid Kids' will be chosen from youngsters already involved in racing, i.e. karts or even junior formulae, so they are not going to be your average excitable youngster.

Mores the pity."

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5. Posted by Tweek, 06/02/2018 15:29

"Anybody remember when the grid girl passed out on a DTM car a few years ago ? What about the children !?!?!? (Please hear the sarcasm in that)
Also....let’s give kids 10foot poles and make them stand next to million dollar race cars and be very still for a 1/2 hour or so.... I see that going well !!!"

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6. Posted by Uffen, 06/02/2018 13:35

"Wait a moment. If they have grid kids they will surely still have grid girls, just younger ones. They will just add some boys to the mix. Equal opportunity debasement? After all, if it is debasing to older females surely it is even more so for younger ones.
"

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7. Posted by Amspeed, 06/02/2018 13:08

"So now we can have all the little kids standing next to those Heineken signs!"

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8. Posted by karel, 06/02/2018 11:26

"And yes Berni needed to be replaced. But look one season further suddenly the culture of F1 as we know it, is gone. And for what ? Some shouting not in racing interested people ? Well I got good news for me F1 is also done. "

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9. Posted by george, 06/02/2018 10:37

"Why do we even bother to give Liberty Media our time and comments. It's over with F1 unless Ferrari does start up that breakaway event with real V8's or V12's. Only a return to real racing, and that will involve 26 cars at the start line instead of 20 ( soon to become 18-16...), can save F1. Liberty does not " feel " the property they bought, their arrogance is even for a US company, mind blowing. I would say that over 50 % of hardcore fans of 1 are setting on the fence, wetter they will still switch on their tv, pay for the view, or go to the circuits. I just now and then check a result, accidentally see a start on tv, boring..boring... "

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10. Posted by imejl99, 06/02/2018 9:39

"Form over substance. There are drone racing events where real skills are competing for prize money. Maybe I`ll switch to that over glamorous hollow F1 biweekly processions."

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11. Posted by Editor, 06/02/2018 8:56

"It would appear that the scheme is only open to 'Kids' who are on the racing ladder, be it Karts or "Junior Formulae".

For the most part this will mean kids with financial backing in the form of parents or sponsors.

Therefore, why can't the 'kids' come from less privileged backgrounds, ordinary fans without the money who would normally get such an opportunity."

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12. Posted by Simon in Adelaide, 06/02/2018 6:29

"I watched the Bathurst 12HR on Sunday, except for the usual idiotic driving which happens in most categories, there was some good racing and the result was never predictable - I am more likely to spend my hard earned and watch this live next year than I am to go and watch F1."

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13. Posted by Uffen, 05/02/2018 20:54

"Liberty is trying to sell us not much of anything.
Participants will be chosen "by merit or by lottery." Hmmm. One extreme or the other.
"... exclusive and exciting.. of the whole race weekend..." Well, definitely exclusive but I recall the grid girls standing there being ignored by everyone bar a few photographers. Standing there while everyone else does stuff that could be called "exciting." At least you can tell a kid that he, or she, is doing something exciting. Maybe you'll be believed. "

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14. Posted by Ro, 05/02/2018 19:37

"Liberty has tried to be seen as "non-sexists" but have failed miserably. Now the anti-paedophile brigade will be after them. Change the regs to bring back RACING. Stop pissing about with new Logos, Grid girls. Who gives a rat's a**e about what youve changed ?"

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15. Posted by ClarkwasGod, 05/02/2018 18:21

"Now why couldn't Liberty have timed, or even combined their announcement of losing the girls with this? That would have negated much of the comments against the girls being dropped."

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Grid Kids to replace grid girls

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