Brad Pitt’s role in F1: The Movie has been a huge moment for the acclaimed actor, but there’s another major star whose work sadly didn’t make the final cut of Joseph Kosinski’s sports drama. F1 has been a mᴀssive box office success, with the movie centering around a retired driver who is convinced to come back to the sport years after suffering a near-fatal accident.

Much like Kosinski’s previous movie, Top Gun: Maverick, the new film focuses closely on a mentor-like relationship between Pitt’s protagonist and Damson Idris’ young up-and-comer, as the pair’s meeting sparks a healthy professional rivalry. Their dynamic is the crux of the story, but the director has recently explained that certain other characters had to take a backseat so Pitt and Idris’ characters could shine.

Simone Ashley’s Character In F1 & Why She Was Cut

Details About Ashley’s Proposed Character Still Haven’t Been Confirmed

When production was first underway for F1, Simone Ashley was quickly announced as one of the film’s major stars. The actress, who has gained worldwide attention for her role in Netflix’s Bridgerton, was spotted filming at Silverstone alongside the film’s other leading actors. Speaking with Elle in the months following F1‘s production, Ashley spoke about the “crazy” experience she’d had:

I have a very small part, but I’m grateful to be in that movie. I got to experience many Grands Prix. I don’t think I’ll ever do anything like that again.

However, in the final version of the film, Simone Ashley’s character doesn’t have any lines at all. The actress can be seen in the background of certain scenes, particularly those filmed during the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, but her character remains unnamed. There is still very little information made public regarding who exactly her character was supposed to be.

The reason for this major change has been explained by Joseph Kosinski in recent weeks. During the making of F1: The Movie, the director reportedly sH๏τ more footage than was necessary and realized that Ashley’s character was only going to distract from the real focus of the narrative. Speaking with People, Kosinski explained his decision and praised Ashley’s talent:

There were two or three storylines that ultimately didn’t make it into the final cut. But Simone, she’s an incredible talent, incredible actress, incredible singer, and I would love to work with her again.

Ultimately, the decision to cut Simone Ashley’s character from F1 may have been a necessary evil to keep Pitt and Idris’ leads in the spotlight, allowing Kosinski to develop their dynamic in a way that is crucial to the story. F1 is a story about mentorship and ambition, and Ashley’s character may have simply been detached from that key message.