Since its release in cinemas, F1: The Movie has raced to the top of the U.K. and Ireland box office, grossing $144 million globally.
The film has all the makings of a blockbuster; riding on the wave of motorsports’ growing popularity and with Hollywood’s leading man, Brad Pitt, returning to the big screen alongside stars Javier Bardem and Damson Idris.
The plot is familiar but satisfying: a little-known driver comes out of retirement for his big comeback, and it’s gripping – naturally. However, despite its adrenaline and glamour, it fell short in portraying women in F1, relying on tired and overused Hollywood tropes. And they deserved so much better.
Kerry Condon plays Kate McKenna, the fictional APXGP team's race director and the first female technical director in F1. She’s a brilliant engineer who not only designs a winning car but also brings together Sonny Hayes and Joshua Pearce into winning mindsets.
While Condon drives the plot forward, her character is quickly undermined by a sex scene with Pitt’s character. As the film continues, Sonny Haynes gets to enjoy the limelight, but the woman who got him there fades into the background.
Condon initially appears as forthcoming and quick-witted – someone who has broken boundaries in her industry. But the film quickly shifts her role, sidelining her achievements and reducing her to a supporting role.
It's disappointing to see the film fall for the typical Hollywood trope, where women are cast solely as romantic plot devices for the leading man. It’s not just lazy, it's harmful, especially in a film about a sport where sexism is rife.
Looking more closely at the rise of F1 in mainstream popularity, women make up 41% of the F1 fanbase, with the 16–24 age group as the fastest growing group. Brands have been quick to recognise this opportunity, like Charlotte Tilbury, who became an official partner of F1 ACADEMY 2024. It was the first beauty brand and the first female-founded brand to become a sponsor of F1 ACADEMY.
Historically, in the sport itself, women drivers have rarely appeared in F1 tournaments. Maria Teresa de Filippis became the first woman to enter a F1 race in 1958. Even more than 70 years later, only four other female drivers have entered at least one Grand Prix, although only two have qualified and started a race.
Scottish former professional racing driver and current managing director of F1 Academy, Susie Wolff MBE, has spoken out about her sexist experiences. Speaking at the Formula E Berlin E-Prix, she said: “Throughout my whole racing career, I was always asked about being a woman in a man's world.”
Ex-F1 driver, David Coulthard, co-founded ‘More Than Equal’, an organisation aiming to reduce the barriers women face reaching F1. In a 2023 study, Coulthard revealed that only 10% end up participating in motorsport because of such negative perceptions. When young girls don’t see people who look like them in a sport, they’re less likely to see it as something for them.
While no single film can transform the culture of a sport, they certainly shape how it’s perceived. Bend it like Beckham helped challenge the assumption that football was only for men and encouraged a whole generation of female footballers. Alex Greenwood, who was part of the winning Euro 2022 team, mentioned in an interview that the film inspired her to play.
There’s also an elephant in the room: Why was Simone Ashley cut out of the film? The Bridgerton star was announced as a cast member in July 2024, and it was set to be her breakout Hollywood role. Yet, to her fans' disappointment, her storyline was abruptly cut out, and she only appears for a few seconds.
Ashley’s previous leading role in Bridgerton broke boundaries in the British South Asian community. Her presence in an F1 blockbuster could have had the same impact, but on a bigger, global stage.
Women already face barriers in Hollywood, but these hurdles are even higher for women of colour. Ashley’s role would have sent the message that women of colour are worthy of being seen and valued in Hollywood; a message that has been long overdue.
Pitt and his team pulled out all the stops to portray the world of F1 authentically, featuring real racing cars and actual F1 stars during tournaments. The film may define a cinematic era for the sport, but its portrayal of women was a glaring missed opportunity.
For a film celebrating F1’s thrilling rise, it’s a shame it sidelined the women who helped fuel it.
With a growing female fanbase and rising female talent, we can only hope that F1 itself picks up on this missed opportunity and gives women the recognition and screen time they deserve.
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