In a box office performance that could rival any Grand Prix finish, F1 has sped past expectations. As of now, the film has grossed $109.5 million in the United States and Canada, with an additional $184.1 million from international markets, pushing its worldwide total to $293.6 million. Audiences may have flocked to theatres, but not all fans are fully satisfied with the casting choices made under the hood.

After spotting actress Rebecca Ferguson alongside her husband at the Silverstone Grand Prix, fans found themselves deep in casting “what-ifs.” The actress looked every bit the part of a motorsport movie icon, effortlessly blending elegance with grit. Social media quickly revved up with opinions suggesting that if Ferguson had been cast in F1, the film might have crossed emotional lines even the fastest lap times could not reach.

When the F1 trailer first dropped, many fans did a double take. Several mistook actress Kerry Condon for Rebecca Ferguson, leading to a brief but intense flurry of excitement across social media. The resemblance, polished, composed, and quietly magnetic, was strong enough to spark genuine belief that Ferguson had joined the project. As it turns out, she had not, and for some fans, that realization still stings more than a last-lap overtake.

Seeing Rebecca Ferguson once again at the sacred grounds of Formula One has reignited memories for fans still mourning what could have been.

Fans want Rebecca Ferguson on the F1 grid, not the sidelines

Fans have taken to social media to sing praises for Rebecca Ferguson, declaring her the female lead F1 never knew it needed. With her commanding presence and poised charisma, many say she could have elevated the emotional stakes without ever touching the accelerator. Comment threads are full of hypothetical scenes, dream edits, and impassioned pleas. Apparently, no matter how fast F1 went, it could not outrun the image of Ferguson in racing gear.

Others took their casting dreams a few laps further, just like they did by fan casting Tom Holland for the F1 sequel, suggesting that if actor Tom Cruise had joined the film alongside Rebecca Ferguson, it would have been nothing short of a cinematic Grand Prix. The nostalgia of their Mission: Impossible chemistry has proven difficult to pit stop.

While F1 raced ahead at the box office, it has left behind a cloud of beautifully delusional what-ifs. Rebecca Ferguson may never have stepped into the pit lane, but in the minds of devoted fans, she already owns the winner’s circle. Whether these debates lead to anything more than a few fancams and clever hashtags remains to be seen. But when the imagination is in drive, reality barely gets a parking space.

Do you the makers should have cast Rebecca Ferguson in F1? Let us know in the comments down below!