Ecclestone wants 'glamorous ladies' on grid

A letter to Cyril Abiteboul has revealed the grid strategy of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

A photo of the signed document emerged on social media on Wednesday, dating back to 2013, when Frenchman Abiteboul was boss of Caterham.

It reads: "Dear Cyril.

"Please be reminded that where possible, grid access passes should be used for celebrities or people of note or as always, really glamorous ladies.

"This is not so much a sporting matter," Ecclestone added, "but a part of the show business of formula one."

The Daily Mail said Ecclestone's office declined to comment.

But the matter of exclusive paddock passes hit the headlines last week, when Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene mingled with spectators in the Barcelona grandstand.

He admitted it was a protest against the latest rumours.

"I heard that in Australia there will be further restrictions in terms of passes for the paddock and so I thought we might as well get used to going to the grandstands!" said the Italian.

"These restrictions do not seem acceptable. Having an 'exclusive' atmosphere doesn't mean having an empty paddock," Arrivabene added.

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Leopold

Leopold Pleijsier founded F1-Fansite.com in 2001 and has followed Formula 1 since the early 1980s. He writes about daily F1 news, race weekends, drivers and the sport’s history.

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