The opening race of the 2025 season in Melbourne was anything but predictable, as changing weather conditions kept it tricky for teams and drivers. Cool temperatures, strong winds, and rain created a challenge at Albert Park, with the track drying in time for the start before a late downpour added yet another layer of drama.

While the race itself was filled with tense moments, one of the most talked-about incidents wasn’t about overtakes or strategy—it was a lighthearted radio exchange between Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and his race engineer Bryan Bozzi.

As Leclerc navigated the slippery conditions, he reported an unusual issue over the team radio: “I have the seat full of water.” Bozzi, perhaps caught off guard, simply responded, “Must be the water.” The brief but bizarre exchange ended with Leclerc’s dry humor shining through as he quipped, “Let's add that to the words of wisdom.”

While fans and some in the paddock found the moment amusing, not everyone shared the same sentiment. Former F1 driver Christian Danner was notably unimpressed, calling the interaction “disgraceful” and arguing that Leclerc deserved a clearer, more informative response, especially given the challenging track conditions.

Leclerc later explained the context behind the radio message, revealing it was part of an inside joke with his engineer. Speaking ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, the Monegasque clarified that the issue stemmed from a broken drinks system, leaving him not only wet but also without any fluids for the race.

"It was an inside joke," he said, quoted by RacingNews365. "But obviously nobody could understand it from the outside. It is something with my engineer.

"We understood where it was coming from. It was coming from the drinks. So obviously I had zero drink and I was wet, but that's fine."

While the moment itself didn’t impact his performance significantly, Leclerc had bigger frustrations with Ferrari’s race strategy, which saw him stay out too long in the worsening conditions. Ultimately, he finished eighth, while his teammate Lewis Hamilton, making his Ferrari debut, crossed the line in tenth.

Despite finishing ahead of Hamilton, Leclerc dismissed any notion that it was a positive takeaway from an otherwise disappointing weekend. “It is definitely not a consolation,” he stated.

"We wanted to be fighting for the podium or the win. I don’t feel any happier in this situation—I just want to win. That is all that matters.”

Ferrari’s race weekend was further scrutinised due to tense radio communications, not just with Leclerc but also between Hamilton and his new race engineer, Riccardo Adami. While Hamilton later praised Adami’s efforts, the exchanges highlighted early issues as the seven-time champion settles into his new team.