Happy new year! It’s been a while. I needed a few weeks (not to process — the title fight was underwhelming) to really soak up some Ferrari-less weekends before this sport comes back to annoy and thrill me next season.
And now, the end is near, and so I face the final breaking zone. My friends, I’ll say it clear — I’ll state my case of which I’m certain … and oh, much more than this, I did it my way (almost).
What an end to the season. The championship came down to two points between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. And the papaya driver prevailed. Norris is the 2025 champion of the world!
Verstappen lost this championship in Spain by lashing out with unnecessary anger and borderline violence. Championships are won over a season, and a season is a collection of moments and decisions. Verstappen’s decision to drive dangerously ultimately cost him despite his rather impressive comeback.
He probably would not agree with me, but he lost five points in that incident and only lost the championship by two. I’m no Einstein, but I’m sure my arithmetic is up to scratch.
Oscar Piastri really lost the championship in Monza, but I still held out hope until the McLaren disaster-class in Qatar. “Delulu is the solulu,” or whatever the kids are saying these days. And hey, he did make that fantastic overtake on Norris during the Grand Prix that made me feel like he could still fight, so maybe I’m not totally delusional.
Ultimately, Norris did what he had to do. There’s no reason to act like he’s the “perfect champion,” but there’s no such thing (although Verstappen in 2023 and Lewis Hamilton in 2018 come close). He’s, however, consistent-ish. And that’s what mattered. Combining his talent, hard work and the rocketship of a car, it was inevitable that he’d win a championship at some point. I’m happy for him, because many, including me at one point, didn’t think he had it. I wish he was able to celebrate with his trophy at the race track.
I’m sure it’s a logistical thing, but let’s be real — for a sport all about spectacle, making the champion wait to raise their trophy at some gala no one watches instead of at a race track with fireworks going off is kind of silly.
This race itself was decent. Hamiton made 16 overtakes — count them on your fingers and toes. But the one on Carlos Sainz Jr. was my overtake of the season (partially because I can’t really remember the others I was impressed by). It was in an unusual part of the circuit and was pure driving. My goat is not washed up.
Ferrari had good pace during the race, and both drivers used it well. Hopefully Ferrari can get its act together so the horse will prance again. A winless (Grand Prix) season must not repeat itself, and another podium-less season for Hamilton is just not on.
This was Yuki Tsunoda’s last race in Formula 1, for now. It shouldn’t have been. He should have been allowed to move to another team. But for now, we (rather unceremoniously) say “sayonara” to Yuki-San, the highest scoring Japanese driver in F1 history. I wish him nothing but the best going forward.
Isack Hadjar is moving to the senior RedBull team. Sidebar: Should any team have a senior and junior team competing in the same sport? There’s something interesting about how that organization operates, but I digress. I’m sad for Hadjar, because it’s a double-edged sword. It’s great for his career on paper to be promoted so quickly after his fantastic rookie season, but the second RedBull seat has been the demise of talent since Verstappen was promoted.
Arvid Lindblad will be the sole rookie next season, taking Hadjar’s seat at Visa Cash App Racing Bulls (remember when this team was just called Toro Rosso?). I hope it goes well.
Looking to the future, the regulations are changing … again. The Drag Reduction System, or DRS, is gone — the cars won’t rely on the ground effect anymore, and they look a little more like the 2008 era car. I could totally be wrong, but that’s the vibe I’m getting from the renderings. Also, Andrea Kimi Antonelli was the last driver to press the DRS button. I hope the racing gets more lively with these regulations and that Hamilton is able to compete at the top again. He has the flare we’ve been missing with the celebrations.
My driver of the season is George Russell. Mr. Consistent raced every single lap bar two in the dreadful Monaco race, where he was lapped twice. He stepped up and used the Mercedes package to the fullest. Plus, I enjoy how he handles being the representative of the Grand Prix Driver’s Association . I hope he wins a championship at some point in the future (after Lewis Hamilton’s 8th, 9th and 10th).
Though this was not the thrilling season I was promised, there were some lovely moments: the sprint in China, Hulkenberg podium, rookie podiums, Verstappen’s Brazil drive, Piastri leading the championship and so on.
This sport is nerve-wracking and frustrating. But I love it, and I will be back for the first few races of next season.
Thank you all for reading, and to my wonderful editors for, well … editing.
Lap 1444/1444, that’s the chequered flag!
