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Former F1 grid girl wants Sydney Sweeney to bring the models back to the track ahead of Las Vegas Grand Prix
Leilani Dowding, an English model who worked as an F1 grid girl, is calling for models to return to the starting grid. She says their removal before the 2018 season was misguided and argues that their presence could fit Formula 1’s more entertainment-focused approach.
Dowding suggested actress Sydney Sweeney could appear as a grid girl at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, saying she would attract attention and controversy. The article gives no indication that Sweeney plans to take part; Dowding’s suggestion is her own proposal, and the return of grid girls remains uncertain.
In short
- Leilani Dowding wants grid girls back in Formula 1.
- She suggested Sydney Sweeney for the Las Vegas race.
- There is no indication Sweeney will take part.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters could argue that adult models who choose the role add visual spectacle and a sense of occasion to a sport that increasingly presents itself as entertainment. They may see the ban as an unnecessary restriction on personal choice and believe a carefully defined, voluntary role could coexist with modern standards.
The case against
Those who favour keeping grid girls off the track could argue that the tradition placed women’s appearance at the centre of a sporting event and risked treating them as decoration. Formula 1 can pursue a more entertaining image through drivers, performers and other forms of spectacle without reviving a role that many regard as outdated.
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