One star has had her scenes cut from the final F1 Movie - despite having reportedly filmed an 'entire storyline' for the film.
The movie, officially titled 'F1', stars Brad Pitt as veteran driver Sonny Hayes, who comes out of retirement to return to the sport.
It centres around Pitt's character and rookie team-mate Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) as their team, APXGP, battles to win the Formula 1 Constructors' Championship.
Advert
Every real-life driver from the 2023 season appears in the film, with Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and George Russell among those to have short cameos.
Hamilton is one of the producers of the film, with Idris confirming in a recent interview that part of the seven-time world champion's duties were to call 'BS on some of the sequences that wouldn't happen in real life'.
The movie's premiere took place in New York, with 15 of the 20 current F1 drivers travelling to take part.
Advert
But ahead of the final film, one actress had a significant part of her role cut.
Simone Ashley, who stars in Netflix shows Bridgerton and Sex Education, was cast as part of the film last year and was seen at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
She was also at last month's Monaco Grand Prix.
The 30-year-old told Deadline in March that she was 'so grateful' to be part of the film, and added: "It was amazing, the adrenaline.
Advert
"It was kind of like theater. It felt so live. You hear the crowd and the fireworks and the cars. Everything's just so fast-paced and noisy, and we're all together as a little unit. It was just one of the craziest things I think I've ever been part of."
In a new interview with People published on Monday, however, F1 director Joseph Kosinski described the actress as 'incredible' but explained why her role had been significantly reduced.
"It happens on every film, where you have to shoot more than you can use," he said.
Advert
"There were two or three storylines that ultimately didn't make into the final cut. But Simone, she's an incredible talent, incredible actress, incredible singer, and I would love to work with her again."
Ashley will still appear on-screen in several scenes, it is reported, but will not have any spoken dialogue - in a decision that has been largely criticised by fans.
Topics: Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton
Ryan Smart