The third season of the F1 Co-Op championship delivered another thrilling campaign filled with intense rivalries, unexpected twists, and significant team shake-ups. Aston Martin and Mercedes once again emerged as the dominant forces, but behind them, the battle for the midfield remained as competitive as ever. With major driver moves on the horizon, let’s break down the key storylines of the season.
Kruimel’s Hat-Trick: A Third Consecutive Title
Entering the season as a two-time world champion, Kruimel was the clear favorite to defend his title. However, an early challenge from The Captain in race one cast doubt over his dominance. The Captain took an impressive victory, momentarily leading the championship standings.
Kruimel responded in emphatic fashion, securing victories in 8 of the 16 races and outscoring The Captain in 12 of those. However, his season was not without its difficulties. Mechanical failures plagued Aston Martin early on, and Kruimel himself suffered a DNF in Austria. A rare personal mistake in Imola further complicated his campaign. Despite these setbacks, his consistency and ability to capitalize on others’ misfortunes proved decisive. A masterclass performance in Las Vegas sealed his third title, especially after The Captain’s engine failure ended his slim hopes of a championship upset.
Despite his success, cracks in Kruimel’s relationship with Aston Martin became increasingly evident. His apparent loyalty to The Captain over teammate Fernando Alonso created internal tension. The fallout from last season’s controversial Mexico race, where Kruimel held up Alonso to aid The Captain, carried over into this year. In a dramatic turn of events, Alonso and Aston Martin seemed to retaliate in this year’s Mexican GP, leading to one of Kruimel’s most frustrating races of the season. While he has secured his third title, the future at Aston Martin looks uncertain, and a potential switch to another team might be on the cards.
Aston Martin’s Internal Struggles Despite Success
Aston Martin entered the season as back-to-back constructors’ champions, aiming to secure a third consecutive title. The FIA closely monitored their car developments, forcing the team to revert multiple updates. While no formal sanctions were imposed, suspicions of rule-bending persisted.
Mechanical reliability proved to be a weak point, particularly for Alonso, whose early-season woes put him at a disadvantage in the internal team battle. The defining moment of the season for Aston Martin came in the mid-season stretch when Alonso began outperforming Kruimel. In Spain, Austria, Britain, and Hungary, Alonso delivered better results, shifting the team’s preference in his favor.
With Alonso increasingly seen as the team’s priority, Kruimel’s future at Aston Martin remains in doubt. If he departs, the team will need a replacement capable of continuing their championship aspirations alongside Alonso.
The Captain’s Frustration with Mercedes
After an impressive rookie season with Williams, The Captain had high hopes for his second year at Mercedes. His primary goal: challenge Kruimel for the championship. A victory in race one seemed to set the stage for an epic title fight, but from race two onward, Kruimel consistently held the upper hand.
The Captain’s frustration grew as Mercedes failed to deliver the necessary performance upgrades. His outspoken criticism of the team’s development approach, contrasting with Lewis Hamilton’s more measured stance, created internal discord. Despite consistently outperforming Hamilton—finishing ahead in 10 out of 13 races they both completed—The Captain was left wanting more.
His Dutch GP heartbreak, where he led most of the race only to be overtaken by Kruimel in the final lap, encapsulated his season. The Captain has already expressed his desire to leave Mercedes for a team that can match Aston Martin’s performance, but where he lands remains uncertain.
Mercedes: A Missed Opportunity
Mercedes aimed to close the gap to Aston Martin this season but ultimately fell short. A promising start saw them lead the constructors’ standings briefly, but a lack of significant performance upgrades prevented them from sustaining their challenge.
While Hamilton appeared content with the team’s direction, The Captain grew increasingly vocal about their shortcomings. His eventual departure forces Mercedes into a tough position—finding a suitable replacement to support Hamilton and maintain their competitive standing.
McLaren’s Steady Progress
After finishing fifth last season, McLaren set their sights on third place in the constructors’ standings, targeting Red Bull and Ferrari as their main competitors. Their steady development throughout the season paid off, with George Russell securing the team’s first podium in Imola. McLaren eventually stood on the podium three times, an impressive feat given the dominance of Aston Martin and Mercedes.
With both Russell and Sergio Perez performing consistently, McLaren comfortably secured third place, finishing 61 points ahead of Red Bull. Their strong season suggests they may be ready to challenge the top teams next year.
Red Bull’s Disappointing Campaign
After finishing third last season, Red Bull aimed to close the gap to the leaders. However, a flawed car concept and early reliability issues left them struggling in the opening races.
Max Verstappen spearheaded their resurgence, securing multiple podiums, but Lando Norris’ dramatic loss of form after Canada severely hampered their overall progress. With Norris failing to score significant points in the latter half of the season, Red Bull slipped to fourth in the standings.
Given Norris’ struggles, rumors suggest Red Bull may be looking for a replacement. With both Kruimel and The Captain available, an all-Dutch lineup with Verstappen could become a reality.
Ferrari’s Crisis Deepens
Once the most dominant team in F1, Ferrari now finds itself in a dire situation. Hopes of challenging Aston Martin quickly evaporated as their season unfolded.
Charles Leclerc remained a consistent performer, but Carlos Sainz’s struggles were a major concern. Scoring only 19 points across the season, Sainz failed to contribute meaningfully. With Ferrari falling behind McLaren and Red Bull, their management came under fire.
Sainz’s departure appears inevitable, opening the door for a high-profile replacement. Could Ferrari lure either Kruimel or The Captain to Maranello?
The Midfield Battle: Racing Bulls, Williams, and More
Racing Bulls aimed to climb the grid and set a goal of sixth place. Yuki Tsunoda’s consistent performances, including eight points finishes, played a key role in achieving this target. Daniel Ricciardo, however, struggled in comparison, managing only four points finishes. Despite this, Racing Bulls secured sixth place in the constructors’ standings, staying just ahead of Williams.
Williams endured another tough season but showed signs of improvement in the latter stages. After a slow start, Alex Albon and Oscar Piastri benefited from key upgrades in the second half of the season, allowing them to close the gap to Racing Bulls. Though they ultimately finished seventh, experts believe their late-season form suggests a promising trajectory for next year.
Alpine, expected to be a solid midfield contender, struggled with an underperforming car and inconsistent results. Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly combined for 11 points finishes, but the team fell short of their sixth-place target. With questions surrounding their driver lineup and car development, Alpine faces an uncertain future.
Haas, meanwhile, showed brief flashes of competitiveness but largely remained on the back foot. A strong opening race saw them exceed their previous season’s points tally, yet they managed only one further points finish all season. With driver changes likely, Haas will need a major step forward to avoid another year in the lower midfield.
Kick Sauber’s goal was simple—score points after last season’s disastrous zero-point campaign. A strong early showing saw Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas challenge for the top ten, with Zhou securing the team’s first point in Imola. Bottas later added two more points finishes, bringing their total to three. Though they remained last in the standings, Kick Sauber took small but meaningful steps forward in their rebuild.
Looking Ahead: A Massive Silly Season?
With Kruimel and The Captain both eyeing new opportunities, a seismic shift in the F1 grid seems imminent. Will Kruimel leave Aston Martin? Where will The Captain land? And who will Ferrari and Red Bull turn to in their quest for redemption?
The third season of the F1 Co-Op championship has set the stage for one of the most intriguing off-seasons in recent memory. Buckle up—change is coming.
