F1: The Movie- Does the Cinematic Experience Outweigh the Film's Poor Representation of Women in the Sport?

F1: The Movie hit theatres on June 27th and was an international hit immediately. Cinema fans, sports fans, and even fans of artists like Tate McRae, Rosé, and Don Toliver all flocked to their local theatre to get an up-close look at one of the most spectacular sports. Formula 1 fans all over the world were anxiously awaiting the film’s release and to see their favorite drivers on the big screen.

As a huge F1 fan, I knew I had to leave my technical brain at home, and I’m glad I did. Some aspects of the movie were largely Hollywood, but that’s to be expected. From director Joseph Kosinski, best known for Top Gun: Maverick, the F1 Movie is a visual masterpiece. The racing sequences were done with a lot of care, which is to be expected when none other than Lewis Hamilton is producing the film.

Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) is a retired Formula 1 racer and now spends his time participating in other series, as the film picks up during the 24 Hours of Daytona race. Hayes gets a call to come back to F1, and while hesitant at first, he agrees to follow his old friend and Team Principal of the fictional APX GP, Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem). At APX GP F1 Team, he meets young hotshot teammate Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). Pearce is a rookie with a fearless mindset, determined to prove himself over Hayes. The pair have a rocky relationship, to say the least, but eventually hash things out after a crash in Imola leaves Pearce in the hospital.

The film has two female characters—one being the supporting actress (Kerry Condon)—and this is where things start to get a little rocky. Condon’s character, Kate McKenna, is a great representation for women in motorsports. For young women aspiring to work in the F1 world, watching this film and seeing a woman in one of the highest positions within a team (technical director) is not only inspiring but refreshing. McKenna is an aerodynamicist with a headstrong personality and an eagerness to prove herself in Formula 1, where women are rarely in leadership roles. That being said, her arc takes a turn when she starts to pursue a romantic relationship with Hayes. While there is nothing wrong with that, it left me a little confused as to why her character wasn’t enough, and she had to fall into stereotypes. It seemed that everything she worked for would never be realistically thrown away for a one-night stand with Hayes. However, I really enjoyed her character, and Condon did an amazing job bringing her to life.

Photo: F1: The Movie - Warner Bros.



That brings us to the second female character, played by Callie Cooke. Cooke plays an engineer named Jodie, and she is quickly known for fumbling pit stops. The portrayal suggests a lack of competence that feels exaggerated and unconvincing—to the point where it’s difficult to understand why she holds a position of such vital importance. She eventually improves by the end of the movie, but it just felt super unnecessary, and it definitely wasn’t helping many female fans’ goal of showing that F1 isn’t just a man’s world.

Putting the film’s representation of women aside, I really enjoyed watching F1: The Movie, and it was so cool to see F1 expanded to a wider audience, as I believe it’s one of the most exciting sports out there—especially when my favorite driver is winning.

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