Annually, Formula 1 delivers a plethora of unexpected turns and compelling narratives as two dozen of the planet’s top racers vie for dominance and the esteemed F1 World Drivers’ Championship. However, the 2025 season wasn’t exclusively filled with positive developments, also witnessing its share of poignant moments.
The year 2025 contained several deeply disappointing instances, ranging from Lewis Hamilton’s encounter with a groundhog in Canada, to Lando Norris’ early exit in Zandvoort which saw him stranded on a trackside embankment for the duration, and additionally Yuki Tsunoda’s dismal concluding F1 campaign.
Below, our contributors recount some of the most moving occurrences from the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Lewis Hamilton’s Struggle – Ben Vinel
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Mark Thompson / Getty Images
Following a challenging preceding trio of seasons with Mercedes alongside George Russell, Lewis Hamilton felt compelled to demonstrate his enduring capability at Ferrari, aiming to show he possessed further untapped potential.
Presently, such a prospect appears elusive.
Hamilton’s initial buoyant attitude upon embracing this fresh endeavour swiftly morphed into exasperation and anguish, finding it difficult to extract optimal performance from the complex SF-25. He seldom equaled his stablemate Charles Leclerc’s pace, and a single sprint victory in China barely compensated for his general suboptimal showings.
This represented the decorated seven-time world champion’s inaugural venture with an Italian racing squad across his quarter-century single-seater career, and perhaps he misjudged the magnitude of the undertaking. His interactions with race engineer Riccardo Adami frequently faltered to an unforeseen degree.
As the year concluded, Hamilton presented a disheartened image, unsure how to rectify the circumstances. He will likely not reflect positively on Formula 1’s ground-effect period, instead anticipating a resurgence in the upcoming new regulations; otherwise, this would signify a sorrowful conclusion to an illustrious career.
Eddie Jordan’s Demise – Jake Boxall-legge
Eddie Jordan, Jordan GP
Photo by: Sutton Images
It feels somewhat sentimental to pen these words, yet having been a devotee of the Jordan team during my formative years as a Formula 1 enthusiast, Eddie Jordan’s demise felt profoundly significant. EJ stood as one of F1’s most prominent figures; as a team principal, he contended with rivals possessing far greater financial backing, yet he guaranteed his namesake team endured for 14 seasons before the challenges grew insurmountable. Jordan made his impactful entry in 1991, followed by several challenging seasons, but the Irishman’s talent for securing funding and avoiding interference with the engineering personnel allowed the Silverstone-based outfit to consistently improve.
Consequently, Jordan ascended to third place in the 1999 championship, though Heinz-Harald Frentzen’s improbable quest for the title faltered with just two races remaining. The team’s performance subsequently worsened, entangled by surging manufacturer involvement and the inflated spending of its closest competitors. Following the sale to Alex Shnaider’s Midland entity in 2005, Jordan transitioned into a television commentator upon F1’s return to the BBC in 2009 – and his persistent knack for staying informed meant he was the one to first reveal Lewis Hamilton’s transfer to Mercedes.
In his later years, Jordan acted as Adrian Newey’s agent, orchestrating the designer’s transfer to Aston Martin (demonstrating a tendency to mislead the press through meticulously crafted deceptions). He had also been a member of the collective that acquired the London Irish rugby club prior to succumbing to cancer at the age of 76.
Isack Hadjar’s Dismal Debut – Owen Bellwood
Isack Hadjar, RB F1 Team crash
Photo by: Kym Illman / Getty Images
The 2025 Formula 1 season witnessed numerous instances of profound disappointment, largely concentrated at the Dutch Grand Prix, where Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc vividly embodied despair as they observed the event from the Zandvoort sand banks. Nevertheless, a particularly poignant moment surpassed these, namely Isack Hadjar’s dreadful commencement of his Formula 1 journey with Racing Bulls.
Hadjar commenced the Australian Grand Prix weekend robustly, securing an 11th place qualification for the main event and narrowly missing Q3 by merely 0.063 seconds. Yet, precipitation arrived on the Melbourne circuit prior to Sunday’s contest, rendering the track treacherous, and this additional peril overwhelmed the youthful Frenchman.
The Racing Bulls newcomer lost control on the reconnaissance lap before the grand prix commenced, prematurely concluding his race. This occurrence drew fierce disapproval from Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko upon the young pilot, who was subsequently observed weeping in the paddock while the competition proceeded without him.
Fortunately, the then-20-year-old was not abandoned during this difficult period; Lewis Hamilton’s father, Anthony Hamilton, offered comfort to Hadjar as he returned to the garage.
Subsequently, he revitalized his season following the tumultuous commencement, achieving his inaugural podium finish in Zandvoort and securing an upgrade to the primary Red Bull team. Evidently, Hadjar’s sorrow proved transient.
Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari Ordeal – Filip Cleeren
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Bryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty Images
My personal anticipation for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s performance in 2025 was modest; I didn’t foresee them igniting the racing world. Piloting a car for Ferrari fundamentally differs from campaigning for any other outfit on the roster. Furthermore, beyond the necessary adjustments, Hamilton evidently struggled to synchronize effectively with the current generation of vehicles entirely.
However, after the fleeting promise of his dominant sprint race victory from pole position in China, I did not anticipate his season would deteriorate so severely. He couldn’t rival the qualifying prowess of Charles Leclerc on Saturdays, which is by no means shameful, and on occasion, he appeared to be narrowing the gap. Yet, the concluding third of the campaign proved utterly merciless, highlighted by three consecutive Q1 eliminations that marked the end of his season.
One hopes Hamilton will achieve the post-season rejuvenation he evidently requires, returning with his customary competitive vigor. The 2026 season, offering a fresh start and novel car designs, will determine the ultimate success or failure of his transfer to Ferrari.
