The 2025 Formula 1 season was a rollercoaster of emotions, with its fair share of surprises, great storylines, and, of course, heartbreaking moments. From Lewis Hamilton's collision with a groundhog in Canada to Lando Norris' retirement in Zandvoort, and even Yuki Tsunoda's awful final season in F1, the season had it all. But it's not just the drivers who experienced heartache; teams and fans also had their fair share of emotional highs and lows. In this article, we take a look back at some of the most emotional scenes from the 2025 F1 campaign, as shared by our writers.
The Downfall of Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton, who had something to prove at Ferrari after a tricky last three seasons at Mercedes, quickly found himself in a frustrating and distressing situation. He struggled to wring the most out of the SF-25, rarely matching team-mate Charles Leclerc, and his overall lack of performance was hard to ignore. This was the seven-time world champion's first foray into an Italian racing team, and maybe he underestimated the challenge. His communication with race engineer Riccardo Adami often stuttered to a surprising extent, and by the end of the year, Hamilton cut a downbeat figure, at a loss as to how to fix the situation. This was a heartbreaking end to such a glittering career, and Hamilton will hope to bounce back in next year's new era.
The Passing of Eddie Jordan
Eddie Jordan, the iconic team owner, passed away in 2025, leaving a void in the F1 world. Jordan burst onto the scene in 1991, and despite a handful of seasons defined by struggle, his ability to bring money into the team and resist meddling in the affairs of the technical staff ensured that the Silverstone squad could keep climbing the ladder. Jordan rose to third in the championship in 1999, but the team subsequently declined, caught in the maelstrom of manufacturer interest and the swollen budgets of its nearest rivals. After selling up to Alex Shnaider's Midland concern in 2005, Jordan later became a TV pundit, and his unremitting ear-to-the-ground disposition ensured he was able to break the news of Lewis Hamilton's move to Mercedes. His passing was a big loss to the F1 community.
Isack Hadjar's Awful Start
Isack Hadjar's start to his Formula 1 career with Racing Bulls was a heartbreaking moment for the young Frenchman. He had a strong start to the Australian Grand Prix weekend, qualifying in 11th for the race and missing out on Q3 by just 0.063 seconds. However, rain fell on the Melbourne track before the Sunday race, leaving the circuit slippery, and this extra hazard proved too much for Hadjar. The Racing Bulls rookie spun on the formation lap ahead of the grand prix start, bringing his race to an end before it had even begun. The incident brought the wrath of Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko down on the young driver, and he was seen in tears in the paddock as the race roared on without him. Thankfully, Hadjar wasn't left alone in this tough moment, and Lewis Hamilton's father Anthony Hamilton was on hand to console him as he made his way back to the pits. Hadjar turned around his season after the shocking start, scoring a debut podium in Zandvoort and earning promotion to the senior Red Bull team.
Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari Nightmare
Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari was highly anticipated, but it quickly turned into a nightmare. Driving for Ferrari is a very different beast to representing any other team on the grid, and Hamilton clearly hasn't been able to gel that well with the outgoing era of cars as a whole. Following the false dawn of his pole-to-flag sprint race win in China, his season took a turn for the worse. He was no match for qualifying phenom Charles Leclerc on Saturday, and the final third of the season was brutal, accentuated by three successive Q1 exits to see out the season. Hopefully, Hamilton gets the off-season reset he clearly needs, and comes back swinging like he always does. The 2026 season, with a clean slate and new cars, will make or break his Ferrari move.
These are just a few of the heartbreaking moments from the 2025 F1 season, and we want to hear from you! Let us know what you would like to see from us in the future. Take our survey.
