In the days following International Women in Engineering Day, Formula One has been on people’s mouthes, but for both good and bad reasons. Despite celebrating women in F1 on their day of recognition, fans and women in the industry still criticise the racing world for the misogyny embedded within it. This was brought most prominently to light after the backlash to Brad Pitt’s new F1: The Movie.
Female F1 engineers had their say after the release of the film
@skysportsf1 to mark this week’s International Women in Engineering Day, Bernie Collins meets just some of the female engineers, mechanics and technicians working in F1
#f1 #f1tiktok #berniecollins #womeninf1
Bernie Collins, F1 strategy analyst for Sky Sports, took to the Austrian Grand Prix grid to interview the female engineers, mechanics, and technicians working in F1. The grid walk section of the race is an iconic part of the F1 world, where drivers, celebrities, and other team personnel are interviewed ahead of the race. However, this is one of the first times that the grid walk has exclusively featured women working in the sport.
Fans expressed their joy at seeing the hard working women in F1 being recognised for their talents, and took to social media to share their praise.
@bernie_collins1 is such a joy to listen to. Celebrating International Women’s Day in Engineering. This is how it’s done. The F1 movie should have taken notes from her. Discussing routes into Engineering.
@SkySportsF1 pic.twitter.com/8UkSq4AVzV
— Brigitte Krause (@TheBrigitteEdit) June 29, 2025
But many viewers related these interviews to the recently released F1: The Movie, commenting: “Love how this segment also gives two fingers to how women were poorly represented in the F1 film too”. Another believed that this interview “put the F1 movie in its place”. So, it seems people aren’t happy with the new film. But why?
Here’s an explainer of the controversy
@gridgirlglam I mean there’s a thousand criticisms of the film but this is beyond disappointing. #f1 #formula1 #f1tiktok #f1girls #f1girlies #f1sexism #f1movie #womeninmotorsport #womeninmotorsports #f1feminism
The F1: The Movie controversy started after the film was released in cinemas internationally on June 25th 2025, two days after International Women in Engineering Day. It immediately shot to the box office’s top spot by the end of its opening weekend. Dividing fans and reviewers alike, it has received overwhelmingly mixed reviews online.
While some have commented that it captures “racing in all of its gorgeous, peculiar glory”, others feel it is “one-dimensional”. This criticism is primarily applied to the female characters.
Motorsport reviewed the film, claiming it “fumbles the ball on female representation”, adding how female characters are “sidelined”. Females in Motorsport also released a “collective sigh of disappointment” at the portrayal of female characters in their review. It recognised that women such as Bernie Collins and Ruth Buscombe, F1 strategists, were consultants on the film. However, they feel that the film’s female characters do not live up to people’s hopes.
Drivers or damsels in distress?
@annie.michelef1 it’s honestly so sad that some people might see this movie and think this is how every woman got into motorsport #anniemichelef1 #f1 #formula1 #fyp #motorsport #womeninmotorsport #f1contentcreators #f1movie #lauramueller #femalesinmotorsport
A much anticipated character was Kate McKenna, the first female technical director in F1 history, who was played by Kerry Condon. This character mirrors our real world, with Laura Mueller becoming the first female full time race engineer in Formula 1 history. Female viewers were excited to see what Kate’s storyline would be, as the only prominent female character in the film.
However, they were disappointed when her story arc ultimately ended in her becoming Sonny (Brad Pitt)’s love interest. To add fuel to the fire, Kate is shown to be struggling to build a capable race car, until Sonny steps in and fixes it overnight. Because women can’t mend cars, right?
This disappointing storyline is only made worse when the sole woman in the pit crew team is the only member to make mistakes, appearing unable to “fathom what a tyre is”. Fans felt this was an insult to all female engineers, mechanics and technicians, equally as competent as their male colleagues. Some claimed that female characters needed “men to thrive and survive”, and only became successful after “sleeping their way to the top”.
Does F1: The Movie have a diversity problem?
@itsjustttjoy Damson Idris explains why Simone Ashley was cut from F1: The Movie. Follow for more celebrity news #f1themoviecarpet #foryou #fp #foryoupage #simoneashley #simoneashleyf1themovie #celebrity #viral #formulaone #f1 #damsonidris #celebritynews #simoneashleyf1 #formula1fan #formula1tok #formula1tiktok #formulaone
♬ Lose My Mind (feat. Doja Cat) [From F1® The Movie] – Don Toliver
The public also issued complaints that Simone Ashley was cut from the final edit. Simone was set to play a prominent love interest in the film, and appeared at many promotional events. While Simone has confirmed there’s no bad blood and she is “grateful’”to have experienced being a part of the film, some social media users have shared disappointment in the director’s choice. Many believe this is merely the impersonal nature of film, as sacrifices have to be made for the final cut.
Other fans expressed disappointment that the cast of female characters lacked diversity. The only woman of colour present on screen is one of the driver’s mothers, played by Sarah Niles. Sarah’s character is predominantly seen looking after her son, cooking, and cleaning during the film.
It seems that the film did not achieve the representation viewers were hoping for.
People also had stuff to say about the film crew
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The F1 movie controversy extended to the crew working on it too. Lewis Hamilton, a producer on the film and record-breaking F1 driver, has often advocated for diversity within his beloved sport. The driver has spoken up about the importance of including more black people and women in racing, introducing the Hamilton Commission, which aims to improve the representation of black people in UK motorsport.
Viewers were therefore left confused at the lack of representation in the F1 film, as he has done extensive work for black and minority groups, and has had several women on his team over his career.
The extent of Lewis’ influence on the film is not clear and so viewers have defended him, reminding others of the positive initiatives he has launched and influenced.
Jerry Bruckheimer, co-producer of F1 the Movie, has also come under fire for an ill-considered joke. At a press conference, Jerry commented that men will be “dragging their girlfriends to the cinema,” isolating every female fan of F1, who make up 40 per cent of the F1 fanbase. A pretty big demographic to ignore!
Female F1 enthusiasts commented online that they “were not the target audience, so it makes sense that there is terrible female representation.” In light of this, the film “leaves a bitter taste when the laughter stops”, as a female fan was also mockingly presented in one scene as fan girling over the looks of the drivers.
The real women of F1
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All in all, there are numerous talented, inspirational women within F1. Hannah Schmitz is the principal strategist for Red Bull; Chloe Bricknell is both a model maker at Williams and an experienced driver; Susie Wolff is the managing director of the female only racing championship; and Monisha Kaltenborn was the first female team principal in F1.
This doesn’t even include the countless female engineers, mechanics, strategists, technicians, and analysts, without whom the F1 world would not be what it is today.
The women and female fans of F1 report facing misogynistic hate on a daily basis, and so some hoped this film would highlight the role women play in F1, and consolidate their presence within the sport. Instead, comments suggest that it reduced women to one-dimensional characters reliant on men, or just cut them out of the story.
Featured image via YouTube and Instagram @simoneashley
Apple TV+ has been contacted for comment.
