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<p>When <a target="_blank" href="https://www.motorsport.com/driver/lewis-hamilton/1278/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lewis Hamilton</a> agreed to co-produce <em>F1: The Movie</em>, many felt a sense of reassurance. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/hamilton-praised-for-ensuring-brad-pitts-f1-film-is-legit/10680599/" target="_self" rel="noopener">seven-time world champion would ensure the film's authenticity</a>, focusing on both racing intricacies and the experience of drivers, with hopes of promoting diversity.</p>
<p>Hamilton has long advocated for a more inclusive motorsport environment. Therefore, the revelation of a fictional APX GP team featuring a female technical director and a diverse cast held great promise. However, the film ultimately fell short in this area.</p>
<p>The storyline revolves around Brad Pitt’s character, Sonny Hayes, a washed-up former F1 driver making a comeback after 30 years. He is brought back into the sport by an old friend, portrayed by Javier Bardem, and teams up with rookie driver Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris.</p>
<p>Leading the APX GP team is technical director Kate, portrayed by Oscar-nominated Kerry Condon, marked as the first woman to occupy such a high-ranking technical role in F1. Despite her intelligence and spunky nature, her car design is ridiculed as a “s**tbox,” and the team has yet to score any points in almost three seasons.</p>
<p>Hayes, a “gambling addict living in his van,” suggests a complete redesign of her car for “combat.” Astonishingly, the vehicle immediately starts competing at the front once he gets involved, despite his lengthy absence from the sport.</p>
<p>Even worse, Kate becomes Hayes’ romantic interest, despite claiming she avoids relationships with drivers. She quickly finds herself in his hotel room the night before a race, and they don't even end up together, further questioning why a capable woman in a powerful role is portrayed as incompetent.</p>
<p>In addition to Kate, the only other female character worth mentioning is a pit crew member, playfully dubbed ‘wheel gun girl’—she appears clumsy and makes mistakes during pit stops. Although she shows improvement, the bar for her competence is set low.</p>
<p>This pattern is not new for director Joe Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. In their previous hit, <em>Top Gun: Maverick</em>, the character played by Monica Barbaro didn’t face challenges based solely on gender, making the current film’s portrayal of women frustratingly stereotypical.</p>
<p>As anticipated, the film fails the Bechdel Test, with the few female characters primarily there to support the male leads. For instance, Joshua Pearce’s mother only appears to fawn over Pitt’s character, while the film suggests that women enjoy watching F1 only because of the drivers’ looks.</p>
<p>Interestingly, the film’s funniest moment may belong to a woman who meets Pearce in a nightclub and inquires about getting introduced to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.motorsport.com/driver/carlos-sainz/15916/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Carlos Sainz</a>. Notably, ‘Bridgerton’ actress Simone Ashley, who initially played a significant role, was entirely cut from the final edit, despite being featured in promotional materials.</p>
<p>During a recent press conference, filmmakers made it clear that the F1 media was not the intended audience. While the movie may appeal to those unfamiliar with F1, it's important to recognize that many women also fall into that demographic.</p>
<p>When Bruckheimer jokingly stated that many men would be “dragging their girlfriends to the cinema,” it felt like an acknowledgement of the film’s broader marketing strategy. While there are enjoyable aspects to the movie, competent and multidimensional female characters are sadly lacking.</p>
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