The British Grand Prix, one of the most prestigious races on the Formula One calendar, takes place this Sunday at Silverstone. The event has long been a magnet for celebrities and glamorous models, who often steal the spotlight alongside F1 stars. From Hollywood icons to Page 3 legends, here are eight models who have made their mark at the iconic circuit.
Katie Price
Former glamour model Katie Price, known as 'Jordan' in the 1990s and 2000s, frequently attended Silverstone. She worked with ex-F1 team boss Eddie Jordan and posed with his cars. Speaking in 2017 about the use of models, Jordan said: "Commercially it was a huge thing at the time. I was involved with Benson & Hedges. The idea was it should be fun. Motor racing is a very serious business, very commercial and it needs to have a very respectable return on the investment."
Melinda Messenger
Television presenter and former glamour model Melinda Messenger also served as a grid girl. She said on Loose Women: "I'd just become famous as a model, I was doing some TV, and the Jordan [racing] team asked me if I’d be one of their grid girls."
Gemma Garrett
Gemma Garrett, a former Miss Great Britain and Miss Ulster titleholder, is the official face of the Formula One British Grand Prix at Silverstone. The Belfast-born star has been a regular presence at the event.
Cara Delevingne
Hollywood actor and model Cara Delevingne attended the British Grand Prix in 2023. She made headlines during a grid walk by turning down an interview with Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle.
Lucy Pinder and Michelle Marsh
British models Lucy Pinder and Michelle Marsh caused a stir at Silverstone in 2005. The duo posed alongside Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella while promoting the release of the PlayStation 2.
Keeley Hazell
Keeley Hazell, one of the biggest names from the late 1990s and early 2000s glamour modelling era, graced Silverstone in 2006. She was snapped alongside Tiago Monteiro and Christijan Albers.
Emma B
English model and television personality Emma B, who has appeared in Vogue and Elle, walked the grid in 2004. She has also worked for Chanel and Prada and presented for ITV2, the Disney Channel, and MTV.
Leilani Dowding
Leilani Dowding, an English former beauty pageant titleholder and glamour model, attended the British Grand Prix in 2001. She captivated attention in a figure-hugging Hot Wheels bodysuit.
Kelly Brook
Kelly Brook has called her role as an F1 grid girl the best job she ever had. Images of her at the 1998 British Grand Prix, in promo dresses wrapped in the Union Jack advertising Fosters beer, often resurface online. Grid girls were axed in 2018, and Brook slammed the decision: "It’s a well-paid job. It’s one of the best jobs I ever had. You dress glamorously and obviously it’s about being presentable but I never felt I was taken advantage of." She added: "It's probably not even occurred to these PC campaigners that the women might actually like the work."
