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.

Warners Bros

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.

Warners Bros