By ANIKA SINGH and ROMINA PALOMEQUE

“I have the seat full of water, like full of water.” “Must be the water.” This particular radio exchange between Scuderia Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and his race engineer Bryan Bozzi is a prime example to show us why the 2025 season has been nothing short of bizarre. From seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton saying he’s “useless”,  Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen losing their home races and drivers being dropped from the team mid-season, there is a lot to process. 

Palash Mamtaney’28, a passionate F1 fan who has been following the sport for the majority of his life, described the season to be “disheartening, soul-crushing and absolutely ass.” The whiplash fans have experienced this season from the lack of consistency of any other team but Mclaren must be documented. And so it has. F1 Twitter is not a pretty place to be. 

Fernando Alonso, two time world champion and the oldest driver on the grid, has had a very rocky season with Aston Martin this year. The poorly handled team decisions and strategies have frustrated Alonso, which is very evident from his radio messages.

Another major event that sent shocks through the F1 community was the most renowned team principal, Christian Horner, being fired from RedBull, a team that he has been with since it was established.This decision faced mixed reactions, with some fans rejoicing at this move and some claiming it wasn’t a good decision. What most fans have found ironic is that the fate that befell Horner was the same fate he, as team principal, put many of the past RedBull drivers through.

Despite the DNF that Charles Leclerc had in the Dutch Grand Prix, the overtake with George Russell was one of the best moves made by a driver over the years. This goes to show that despite the talent of the 27 year old Monegasque, he might not be able to get a World Championship simply because of the team that he drives for.

Ferrari cars underperforming in races is not a new reality in the F1 universe. What is, however, would be the dominance Mclaren has demonstrated throughout the season. While they have a talented line-up with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris as their drivers, the Papayas have never been the favorite for the Constructors Title. To say that the way they have risen from last in 2023, to now leaders of the Championship by well over three-hundred points has dumbfounded everyone, would be an understatement. 

The reaction to this new dominance has ranged from utmost happiness for Norris and Piastri fans, to creative, imaginative thoughts such as Palash Mamtaney’s:“I want to blow the Mclaren office. I want to kidnap the team principal…and his wife, and I don’t want them to be seen again. Especially the Australian, Oscar Piastri.” 

Suffice to say, this season has not been easy on the teams, the drivers and of course, the fans. The only fans of Formula 1 who have been saved from the mental torment of this season are the fans of Lance Stroll, the 26 year old Canadian Aston Martin driver. Why, you might ask? Because, they don’t exist.

Featured image: F1