>>23496756
I believe there were some studio interference from Executives. They demanded Season 2 be more like a "traditional" Gundam with less Geo-politics, more Gundam tropes, and more action. Like having a masked man, a "Titans" organizations, and no female pilots on the Gundam side.
They also told the Director to simplify the Gundam designs to make the gunpla easier to build, and make it cheaper to animate the battles. Apparently Season 1 cost more than they would have liked since the Gundams were more complicated looking.