Let’s be honest we don’t watch the F1 Secret Santa for the actual gifts. We watch it to see which driver spent five minutes on Amazon and which driver spent the whole season plotting a psychological attack on their rival.
The 2025 edition just dropped, and I’ve got thoughts. After a season of high-intensity racing and a championship battle that went down to the wire, seeing the grid act like a group of chaotic siblings is the holiday serotonin boost I needed.
The “I Can’t Believe He Did That” Award: Charles Leclerc
If there was any doubt that Charles is becoming the king of subtle shade, his gift to George Russell settled it. Gifting a rival a framed photo of you overtaking them? That is a level of pettiness I can only aspire to.
My Perspective: It’s hilarious because it’s George. Anyone else might have laughed it off, but you could see George calculating the aero-efficiency of the frame while dying a little inside. 10/10 for the drama.
The Most Wholesome Interaction: The Williams Transition
Seeing Franco Colapinto give Carlos Sainz a handmade clay car was the “New Era” content I’m here for. With Carlos moving to Williams, it felt like a genuine “passing of the torch” (even if Franco is just getting started). It’s a reminder that behind the “Smooth Operator” persona, Carlos is basically the big brother of the grid.
The “Old Guard” Still Has It
Nico Hülkenberg gifting Fernando Alonso a walking stick is exactly the kind of “Unc” energy the grid needs. At 44, Alonso is still out-driving half the field, so seeing him lean into the “pensioner” jokes with a smirk reminds us why he’s the ultimate main character of F1.
F1 Stats Last Updated: March 29, 2026 | All statistics, lap times, and driver comparisons on this page reflect the most current data available from the official F1 sources. And updated till the last race which happened in 29th March 2026