Overview

• Joseph Kosinski said Ashley’s storyline was one of several removed from F1’s final cut for pacing reasons and praised her as “an incredible talent” he’d like to work with again.
• Simone Ashley filmed supporting scenes at Grand Prix events in Silverstone and Monaco but now appears only in a brief, non-dialogue cameo.
• Observers have compared her reduction to past instances where actors of color featured heavily in marketing were sidelined in the final edit.
• Advance-screening attendees described her part as a “blink-and-miss” cameo, driving renewed concerns over representation in Hollywood.
• Ashley has not publicly commented on the cut and F1 starring Brad Pitt is set to open in theaters on June 27, 2025.