#(also... the brackley boys... is that's your thing)

[racingliners]

For the UK based moots! The Brawn GP documentary that was originally on Disney+ is going to be airing on the BBC Two for the next 4 Sundays (starting tonight), and is also on BBC iPlayer.

I have no idea how long it'll be on iPlayer for BUT it's a fantastic F1 documentary, and you can now watch it for free!

[obsessednothing]

When the time is right

George Russell x reader

Summary: everything needs its own timing to finally get it right.

Warning: maybe some curse words; slight implication of cheating but not really; fluff and love

Word count: 2.7k

A/N: this has been in my drafts since George’s win at Vegas and I really didn’t know how to end it, so it took some time. Also the timeline of this is a little tricky, but whatever. Enjoy it!

Please don’t use my writings without permission! Pictures found on Pinterest.

Las Vegas. The city of sin, gamble and this weekend also of F1 racing. Sitting at the luxurious table, all clad in green colour, expensive decorations and flowers, I looked at my name on the card, just like any other women sitting around me. Some of them were watching me like hawks, I tried my best to smile politely, but deep inside I was so pissed. My gaze turned to the entrance of the hall, buzz and squeals echoing from there, indicating that the hostess of this dinner just arrived. Girlfriend of George Russell. I really didn’t have the best relationship with her, but somehow she always tried to get closer with me, inviting me to the parties, events and even this dinner. But this time I felt furious, because she invited all sorts of women here, it was to celebrate women in motorsport, but most of them were just influencers, trying to get their fame by running through the paddock and making content for their socials.

Why that pisses me off so much? Some would say, that it’s because Carmen, George’s girlfriend, was using his fame and brand collaborations to her advantage, but that wasn’t the case, I really didn’t care about it, when there’s opportunity, she grasps it with everything she can. The thing was that I was the one to be responsible for the supplies of tools, tyres, all the stuff that makes it possible for mechanics to get to their work through tough times at the races. Hard work, same as getting my engineering degree. Then applications, internships, interviews, and voila. I’m working for Mercedes. That pisses me off. That I was working my ass off to get where I am now and some other woman can come, make a video about formula cars and boom, you’re THE woman who means something.

But whatever. My opinions weren’t meant to be shared tonight, I was about to get some good meal and champagne and then go back to the hotel, bickering to my friends over FaceTime to oblivion.

As the night approached, Carmen had an inspiring speech, yeah, she had it in herself, everybody loved her. Even me. Even though I had a crush on her boyfriend. Just like every other woman have. When I walked out of the photo booth, my phone just dinged with the message, which was strange.

“Enjoying the night?”

Looking at the screen of my phone, seeing who is texting me, well, my face was shocked.

“A little bit. You know my opinion on those events. Even if your girlfriend is the hostess.”

Like if I could hear his chuckle beside me at my reply. My relationship with George was casual, sometimes a little awkward, but after all we were good friends. It felt like I met him ages ago, but truth was I met him in his days in F2, when I was rocking through my internship at engineering. Always acting like a sweet boy, he also knew how to make me mad, and especially when he was racing for Williams. But as I moved to my position to Brackley, we haven’t seen each other that much. I also never really understood, what he must’ve said about me to Carmen, because she was always so chatty and smiley around me. Or maybe she’s just keeping her enemy so close. Whatever. I wasn’t the one to destroy peoples lives just because I want something for myself.

“When do you plan to leave?”

Moving to the secluded corner in the room, I smiled to the screen, typing fast.

“Any minute now. I don’t want to be eaten alive by those influ girls.”

“I’m still in garage, I had a debrief with Toto. You can come, if you want.”

Have my cheeks just reddened?

“I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”

Carefully, not to disturb the atmosphere of the women chatting around, I made my way out of the hall and out of the building, while I grabbed my coat on my way. Calling a cab, my feet were now walking through the empty paddock, towards the Mercedes garage. Weather was really chilly and my coat wasn’t doing much work to keep me warm, of course, because I didn’t expect to end here, with my heels clicking against the floor of the garage, taking in how George grinned at me, lifting his gaze from his car.

“Good evening, sir.” My voice came out shaky, trying to be funny, my teeth clanking as I tried to rub my arms to get some warmth. George noticed my discomfort immediately and he handed me one of his Merc jackets pulling it around my shoulders, standing near me.

“Better?” He smiled down at me.

I nodded with huge smile plastered across my face. “Much better, thank you.”

“You should get yourself a woollen coat, you know.”

“Or I should get right back to my hotel from the event and not go somewhere I shouldn’t.”

“You know that this is maybe the only chance to talk to you without being interrupted by gossip and Carmen?” His gaze was intense as always, his hands rubbing my arms gently to get me warm even through his jacket.

“You did this on purpose, didn’t you?”

“Maybe?”

I let out a soft chuckle, shaking my head in disbelief.

“I have some coffee, if you want.”

“You know that I can’t say no to that.”

We sat on the work bench, sipping coffee, content with the silence. My eyes were locked at his car, always amazed by the details and design.

George noticed how I’m staring, also looking to the direction of his car.

“You’re always in awe of cars.”

“I simply love the technology.”

“I adore how you’re a tech girl. You’re not like others, you’re not just pretty face.”

“So, you think I’m pretty, huh?”

His soft laugh rang through the garage. “You got me on that.”

My laugh turned into soft, maybe a little bitter smile. “I should get going, George.”

His hand grabbed mine gently, urging my gaze to lock with his, while I sighed and averted my gaze to the side.

“You’re doing that again.”

“What?”

“Avoiding me.”

“George.. I-“

“I’ll break up with her.”

Shock written over my face was quickly replaced with snort. “We both know that you won’t. You’re invested in yourselves too much to just end it now.”

“I mean it. Really.”

“George, please. You’ve said it for many times and you did nothing. Things are better this way. Me in Brackley and you out in the world together with Carmen.”

Words that cut me deep in my heart, but it was sad truth. We tried so many times to navigate our feelings around our lives, that being hurt was a our standard.

As I waited for his response, all he could do was just nod and look at the ground. And again, this was my time to leave. My hands gently took off his jacket from my shoulders and I placed it on the work bench as I got back on my feet.

“Thanks for coffee. I’ll be rooting for you through the weekend.”

With that I left without turning my head. It was already hard enough.

March 2025

Debriefing was held in the headquarters at Brackley. My lunch break was longer than usual, so I literally ran into the conference room, trying not to disturb Toto Wolff’s speech as I was late already. Last and only free seat was beside George in the first row. How cute. As the meeting was going my mind was filled with his cologne, numbing my senses again and again, which felt like home, but that pang in my chest was still present.

“I hope that we will see each other on the weekend at Silverstone, where we’re gonna crush Verstappen like we do from the start of this season.” Toto was so enthusiastic, drunken by the last victory George managed to get.

Everybody made their way out of the conference room, I was trying to pack my things, when strong arm stopped me.

“What about a dinner tonight?” George had his intense look again, giving me signals that “no” is not in his option list.

With a sigh I zipped my bag, looking at him. “I can’t. I need to get to London for the night.”

“Okay. I’ll go with you.”

“What? Nonsense.”

“I’m serious.”

“I have a business there.”

“Then you’ll get the business and after we’re gonna get dinner.”

“We can’t, George.”

“We can. And we will.”

And somehow I was now sitting at this fancy restaurant in London, after some shitty meeting I had with our main sponsor, watching George how he’s looking through the menu and trying not to steal any glance at me. There was one unspoken question, but I was dodging to ask.

“Just ask.” And he always knew.

Shifting uncomfortably in my seat I placed the menu at the table, giving him a serious look.

“What would Carmen say, that you’re here with me?”

His eyes lifted from the menu to give me kind of unbothered look. “Why would she have a say in this?”

My brows furrowed at that question while I let out a scoff. “Why? What about the fact that she’s your girlfriend?”

George ran a hand through his hair with a sigh, looking out of the restaurant window as if he was looking for some kind of peace. Then he looked back at me.

“I thought you knew.”

“What? What exactly?”

“That we broke up after the end of the last season.”

What the hell. How come that I don’t know that? Should I know that?

“That’s.. I’m sorry. I really didn’t know, George.”

My voice came out a little strangled, due to my surprise.

“No- that’s- I am sorry. How could you even know.. We made an agreement to not shout it to the world with Carmen. But I thought that you heard some rumours or something..”

“No, I- I really did not.”

Waitress came to collect our orders and then we looked at each other in silence. George placed his hand under his chin, his lips curling in smile, which made me smile too. But overall I didn’t know how to feel in the moment.

“So..”

“So?”

“I don’t know what to think now, George. I know that there’s no possible “us” in this moment, I don’t even know why you’re telling me about the break up. Somehow I know, but no, I don’t want to be hurt just by my fantasy or what ifs.”

George leaned forward to me across the table, gently taking my hand into his.

“I don’t want to rush things.. that’s the last thing I want now. Also I don’t want to hurt you more than I already did. Let’s take things easy and slow and we will see where it leads us.”

Giving me a reassuring smile, I felt the comfort I needed. I nodded, squeezing his hand gently.

“Yeah, leave it up to fate.”

But slow and easy wasn’t really our style…

December 2025

Trains at underground were so busy at this late hour that it was insane idea in my mind to think that I’ll be able to get to the Bond Street at ease. But I did it, once I was outside the station, the beautiful scene of the Christmas London evening was shining bright in front of my eyes. This city was my all time favourite, and it was the main reason why I moved here, leaving Brackley and everything that was linked with it. Throughout the race season I wondered about my job at the factory, yeah, it was amazing working for Formula One team, working for Mercedes, but I craved my own piece of work, that would be seen. Taking my money I saved for the years I was working hard, I started my own business with luxurious watches, and I was asked to collaborate with the company IWC Schaffhausen as a designer for season. And they gave me an opportunity to come with my own collection of watches, my own design being displayed everywhere for the Christmas. I always loved wearing multiple styles of watches, that was a hobby I shared with my father.

Now I was about to get to the event in one of the boutiques at Bond Street, revealing my collection to the business partners, influencers and public. The bell at the entrance door signalled my arrival, Harry, one of the associates of the boutique greeting me with a huge smile plastered on his face.

“Well, well, well, who do we have here, our rising star.”

“Ah, don’t flatter me that much, Harry. It might get to my head. Am I too early or…”

“No, no, everything’s perfect, actually we needed to get a guest list for today, because number of people who wanted to see the revelation of your collection wouldn’t certainly fit here in our shop. But someone arrived early to see it himself first.”

Harry was wearing his huge smile and sparkling expression in his eyes. My face twisted with little frown. He guided me to the room in the back, where they always showed the best sets and to my surprise, there stood the man. The man, who was staring at my work, admiring it, being mesmerised by it, the silver edges of the watches reflecting the blue colour of his eyes.

“Mr. Russell insisted to see it when we first released the info about the Christmas collection.” Harry spoke nonchalantly, but inside he was over himself to have a famous F1 driver in the room. Meanwhile I was just standing there, trying not to smile like crazy. George turned around, seeing my expression, his face softening with smile, which was all the same - beautiful.

“I want to buy the whole collection. Those first produced pieces you have here.”

Harry blinked for a few times, staring at him, then at me. “It’s up to her, she owns those. Fact is that those firsts are expensive, because they have a special engraving on the back. It was made just for the pieces you see here. There won’t be any for mass production.”

Yes, I insisted on making those watches special, because they were meant to be mine after the special deal of Christmas ends.

“That’s gonna be really, really expensive.” My lips were curled into amused smile, looking at George.

“Maybe Miss could show you the collection herself, before the other guests show up? And I’m gonna get you some champagne.” Harry giggled and disappeared to the front of the shop.

George landed his gaze on my figure. “What engravings do those watches have?”

Taking a few steps next to him, I carefully took one of them into my hands, the delicate silver stinging into my skin.

“Those are my favourite.” I turned them over to show the engraving on the back.

15.11.2025

There was also a silk white ribbon with text tied around the silver strap.

Your look is an essence of life for my soul.

George looked over the watches, his breath catching in his chest, I could also see the tears burning in his eyes.

“Those are absolutely enchanting.” He was almost breathless.

“I wanted something to match with this.” I raised my left hand to show the silver engagement ring with small almond shaped diamond at its centre. “This is my engagement gift for you, George. Because there are no possible words to describe how much I love you.”

“You did this for me? Whole collection?”

He was really on the verge of tears.

“I would do a thousand more just for you. I wanted for people to feel the little piece of our love through this.”

George put the watches back to its place, turning back at me, his hands cupping my cheeks.

“I knew that you’re the one from that day I met you. I just needed to understand that feeling over the years. And I’m glad that I finally got some sense. Because I so freaking love you.”

My heart nearly bursted out with all the excitement and joy I felt.

“Let’s celebrate our new collection at this special time of the year. Feel the warmth in every piece of our unique silver watches with our soon to be married couple - The Russells.”

[waratah-vroom]

Good Vibes (ms47)

Liked by yourusername, schumiangel and 485,208 others f1: Haas will not be renewing their contract with Mick Schumacher for the 2023 season. There is currently no word on the German driver's future on the grid for next year.

yourusername: 😇😇😇 ↳ ms47fangirl: gurl what does this mean???

haassucks: Glad to see Schumacher leaving that toxic work environment. Hopefully he finds somewhere better.

guentherhater: FINALLY! He deserves so much more than fucking Steiner.

f1wags: aw I'm going to miss yourusername's petty stories hating on Guenther

mercedesamgf1 and mickschumacher

Liked by georgerussell63, f1 and 1,482,405 others mercedesamgf1: signed ✍️ We are happy to announce our 2023 reserve driver, mickschumacher!

yourusername: Looking good in black baby 🖤 ↳ mickschumacher: 💕

lewishamilton: Welcome to the team, mate!

jackdoohan: Congrats brother 💪

gina_schumacher: We're all so proud Mick

Tagged: mickschumacher Liked by estebanocon, schumiangel and 17,482 others yourusername: Well deserved break with my boy ❄️

jackdoohan: I can't believe you chose snow over coming to the beach with me 😠 ↳ yourusername: we land in Australia next week!

gina_schumacher: Did he manage to get off the lift without faceplanting? ↳ yourusername: 🤐 ↳ mickschumacher: Stop giving her ideas, Hase! That happened once gina_schumacher and I was 12.

“You seem happy.”

Mick sighed contently, his head resting on your lap as the two of you stretched out in front of the fire. Snow was falling outside the large windows, but you were nice and toasty wrapped up in a blanket with your furnace of a boyfriend in your arms.

“I am happy. I’m with you. Alone in the mountains with no one to bother us.”

“Yeah,” you nodded, but that wasn’t what you meant. “I meant in general. You seem happier than you were last month. More relaxed.”

He rolled over so his blue eyes met yours, his lower lip between his teeth. “You mean since Haas fired me.”

“Baby,” you fought off the eye roll. “If they hadn’t fired you, you would have quit.”

“I wouldn’t have-”

“You should have. They treated you like shit.”

“At least I was on the grid.”

“But was it worth it?” He was silent. You’d been having a version of this conversation since 2021. “Was it really worth being blamed for their failure just so you could drive?”

He leant back into your hand that was scratching his head, almost cat-like as his eyes fluttered closed. “I guess not.”

“And if you hadn’t left, you wouldn’t have been given the opportunity that you have now at Mercedes.”

“I know, I just hate when you’re right.”

“I’m right all the time.”

“Yeah and I hate it,” he opened one eye, a grin spreading across his face.

“Fine, if you hate it so much I won’t show you the new things I bought from Agent Provocateur.”

“Wait, don’t they make lingerie?” You didn’t respond, picking your phone up from next to you and opening instagram. “Hase? They make lingerie, right?” You could see the desperation on his face from the corner of your eyes and couldn’t help the small smile edging its way on your lips. “Baby, I’m sorry, you know I was joking. Come on, you have to show me what you bought. Please? I’ll do anything.”

That piqued your interest. He rarely needed to beg you as you usually gave in straight away, so this was a nice change. “Anything?”

“Anything.”

Liked by ms47fangirl, schumiangel and 340,274 others mercedesamgf1: Mick's first visit to Brackley as our official reserve driver!

micklover: can't wait to see him do a test drive!

yourusername: I know I shouldn't be thirsting over my boyfriend in his workplace's insta comments but 🥵 ARMS ↳ f1wags: where's the lie tho

yourusername: p.s I'm so happy to have my smiley boy back 🥰 Liked by mercedesamgf1

Liked by gina_schumacher, carmenmmundt and 20,382 others yourusername: It's race week so here's your regularly scheduled wag content ✨ Also thanks Mercedes - this was the first race in a long time I didn't get heartburn!

mercedesamgf1: Glad we could give you a stress free weekend 👍 Liked by yourusername & mickschumacher

mickschumacher: 🐰 Liked by yourusername

schumiangel: it's giving merc girlie ↳ yourusername: nah I'm a mick girlie 💕 ↳ micklover: shut the fuck up that is the cutest answer

read more of my writing here.

Made to order for @alilstressyandlotdepressy for my perfume collection xx

ﾟ｡ ⋆ mags' radio: this one was short and sweet bc i didn't have much inspiration. I was originally intending for this to be a steiner hate piece but i've seen so many of those around that i couldn't think of anything that hadn't already been said. I have plans for a Mick x Wolff!reader miniseries and a Vettel!reader miniseries, as well as a cute little smutty prequel to Green Thumb. If you're interested in my future stuff join my taglist! ⋆｡ ﾟ☁︎｡ ⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡

taglist: @fulla02reads @flowerchild-96 @camillalarke @cool-ultra-nerd @azxulaa @booksobsess @formulakay3 @moonvr @chonkybonky @peachiicherries @toalltheboyswhowastedmytime @lilacsimps @love4lando @lunnnix @cinderellawithashoe @ferrariloverr @chasing-liberosis @mickslover @noncannonships

[lovelytsunoda]

holding out for a hero ( iii ) // platonic! mercedes amg

summary: a holiday party at marcus armstrong's house brings changes to y/n's life, in the form of both a british f2 driver she'd rather not show her face around ever again, and a very awkward milestone.

pairing: platonic!mercedes amg f1 x reader, brief olli caldwell x reader

warnings: first kisses, a slew of emotions i don't want to unpack, it's going to be cute and angsty all at the same time, self-deprecation, basically the same warnings as the rest of the series tbh, mentions of an alcohol allergy, paul being a little shit

author's note: this is lowkey based on the story of my first kiss from last december . . . i actually hated it all and we're back to the drawing board on that whole dating thing. i fear my standards may be too high.

this series would make such a good sitcom tbh

"marcus, for the last time, i don't do parties." y/n insisted, frowning at the face on her phone as she stride out of the mercedes building in brackley. "i don't care that i already know most of the people who are going to be there, or that the guys are bringing their girlfriends. the answer is no."

"come on!" marcus armstrong begged on the other end of the facetime call, laughing as the young intern clumsily zipped up her tommy hilfiger jacket, hiding the bottom half of her face under the collar as the wind whipped her face, flakes of snow beginning to fall from the winter sky. "it's not as bad as you're thinking it's going to be. it's literally just at my house, my younger sister is going to be there."

y/n snorted. "come on, armstrong. if you think telling me that your teenaged sister is going to be at the party is a drawing factor, you need to reevaluate things in your life. besides, liam is going to be there and it's going to be ultra painful to see him and his girlfriend being all loved up."

silverstone had been a huge knock to y/n y/l/n's self-confidence. it had taken a lot for her to allow herself to be that vulnerable. to dance in front of the rowdy group of boys, to let her guard down long enough to meet new people, to have a good time.

to tell liam lawson that she thought he was cute, just for liam to shatter her heart into a million peices without even meaning or trying to.

god, she wished she could stop being so sensitive sometimes.

she hadn't been to another race since. she also hadn't spoken directly to liam, occasionally being looped into things on the group chat. as far as she was aware, red bull were shipping him off to japan with cem bolukbasi to run a superformula test.

she was heading back to her car now, the cold air turning her fingers numb as she clutched her phone, digging in her pocket for her car keys.

"i'm not doing it, armstrong."

"and why the bloody hell not? you had a great time in sliverstone, and i'll have james keep liam away from you if that would make you feel better."

y/n had opened her mouth to say something when she felt a pair of hands clapping her on the shoulders.

"she's going." susie wolff insisted. "come on, y/n. you need to get out more. you deserve to let yourself have fun."

"but this party isn't going to be fun, susie."

susie grinned, hands in the deep front pockets of her trench coat. "you won't know unless you try it, kiddo." she turned to the phone. "marcus, she'll be there!"

____

y/n stood in front of her mirrored closet door, smoothing her fingers over her hair, drawn back into a tight half-up ponytail kind of style.

"you look great, kiddo!" angela cullen's voice faintly filtered through the phone speakers, a kelsy karter song playing softly from the turntable in the corner.

"ang, i'm going to make a fool out of myself out there." y/n groaned. "i hate parties!"

"but you know these guys, y/n. you know marcus, you know clem and you know fred. you'll be fine. with that being said, if you want to leave early, call one of us."

"oh, you'll definitley be getting some kind of call." she rolled her eyes, stopping the turntable and sliding the shiny black vinyl back into it's sleeve, fairy lights twinkling above her. "what if they don't like me, angela?"

"and what if they love you?"

after bidding the physiotherapist her goodbyes, y/n pocketed her phone and padded across the dusty apartment floor to her kitchen. the apartment felt too big for her to live in on her own, and technically she didn't, but it's not like her roommate was ever home. she sighed to herself, opening the fridge to stare at the almost empty shelf, making a mental note to order her groceries.

if there was anything that gave her anxiety, it was grocery shopping. there was a voice in her head that always seemed to tell her that the cashier ringing her groceries through was judging her, or that that mother with two kids in a stroller was frowning at the nutritional index of meals she hadn't even made yet.

she grabbed the plastic container with the kirkland signature logo, groaning to herself as she realized that the lettuce in her pre-made ceaser salad had gone off.

"fuck me." she muttered, throwing the entire thing in the trash before grabbing a ziploc container filled with sliced peppers, that way she had at least eaten something before she went to the party.

just in case her anxiety stamped out her appetite

her nimble fingers sailed across the keyboard as she texted clement, asking for a ride to marcus'. she had no idea where she was going, and she didn't want to be lost in london this close to the new year.

i'll be at the apartment in twenty, and i've got my girlfriend with me. she can't wait to meet you! you're going to have a great time at marcus'

she took a deep breath, reminding herself to calm down a little. it was just marcus armstrong's house. what could possibly go wrong? they're the same people she had such a great time with at silverstone, right?

_____

she regretted going to marcus' almost as soon as she walked through the doors to his massive penthouse. at the track, they could pretend that they were all the same. but not here, not out in the real world when y/n walked through the front doors of his doorman building with glass elevators, his penthouse that was bigger than even the townhouse she grew up in with her parents.

in the kitchen, marcus had stacked a sturdy tower of martini glasses. behind them, felipe drugovich was standing on a kitchen chair with a bottle of ferrari trento champagne in his arms.

"i've always wanted to do this!" the f2 champion shouted. "come on, guys. someone get this on tape!"

"dear lord, what are the twenty stooges doing now?" she groaned, leaning against the wall next to jehan daruvala.

jehan laughed. "making a champagne fountain because liam said he saw it in a movie once. felipe wanted to do the honors of puring it, and nobody wants to argue with the f2 champ, especially when he just found out he's not getting a race seat next year, but logan is."

"shit. i guess the feeder series system just isn't working like it used to."

a chorus of cheers from the kitchen island disrupted further conversation, the warm lights shining down on the last person that y/n wanted to see. god, motorsport was a small world, wasn't it?

liam lawson locked eyes with her from across the apartment, giving her a sad and sympathetic smile. she bit her lip to stop from grimacing, meekly waving back.

nobody else knew what had happened between her and liam, and she preferred to keep it that way.

"y/n!" marcus shouted, throwing his arms in the air and waving her over. "come join us!"

"have a drink." clement encouraged, trying to pass her a glass of champagne.

she shook her head. "give it to your girlfriend, novalak. i'm actually allergic to alcohol."

calan williams narrowed his eyes, skeptically sipping from his own glass. "that sounds fake."

y/n laughed, moving closer to the kitchen island. "its a genetic thing. i can't handle anything more than a cooler or a mixed drink. anything stronger will have me throwing up for hours."

"i think there's some smirnoff ice in the fridge." marcus suggested, pointing towards a large cabinet front. ayumu iwasa opened the cabinet, revealing the fridge behind it.

fucking rich people.

"what the hell, pass me one of the peach smirnoff coolers in the door."

"to felipe!" dennis hauger shouted, hefting his beer into the air, arm full of tattoos on display. "our 2022 champion!"

"and to logan, my old teammate!" liam lawson added, throwing his arm around logan sargeant's neck. liam looked drunkest of all, though it seemed like all of the drivers were a wreck. "williams racing's last hope."

she spent most of the night wandering around marcus' massive house, ducking in and out of conversations. she appreciated that the drivers were trying to help her feel at home, but there was still a small part of her that wanted to flee, to run away and sit at home with her emily henry book or watch a korean psychological thriller.

"so who's actually sticking around next year?" jack doohan asked, slumped across marcus' living room sofa. "aren't they cleaning house in f2?" his buzzcut was growing back in, his shaggy blonde hair fitting his face much better, although the look still seemed odd since the length was at that awkward stage.

"it's dennis, you, ayumu, jehan, enzo, theo, me, amaury, roy, ralph." fred vesti started counting off on his fingers, a drunken slur underneath his words if one listened carefully.

"and i'm not going anywhere any time soon!" ralph boomed. "i'm like fernando fucking alonso, motherfuckers! 2023 is going to be my year, just you wait and see!"

"yeah right! the championship is as much yours as it is clem's!" marcus shouted back with a laugh, an aperol spritz in hand as he messed with the stereo.

"oh, fuck you lot." clement laughed, curled up in an armchair with his girlfriend. "you didn't need to do me like that in front of ines, come on, have some class."

"am i forgetting about anyone?" fred hummed. "i skipped clem, but am i missing anyone else?"

"what about zane? he's coming back, yeah?" amaury suggested.

"dude, it's a miracle that you're coming back." dennis snorted. "i thought you were gone for sure after that speeding ticket fiasco. how long did you lose your license for?"

sitting on the couch in between jack and olli caldwell, she felt suffocated. she drew her arms in on herself, trying to create a bubble of space from the aussie on one side and the briton on the other. her palms felt sweaty, her chest heavy.

"are you okay?" olli asked her softly. "do you want to get out of here? we can go for a walk, take a breather?"

she nodded quickly, her voice soft. "please? i love you all, i really do, but this is a bit much."

"yeah, come on. let's grab your jacket." olli encouraged, taking her by the hand as they both slipped out of marcus' living room.

not that anybody noticed they were gone. or that they had left together.

once they were both outside, y/n felt better. the cool breeze on her face, the twinkling christmas lights that had been lit up glowing in the haze as snow began to fall gently.

"so where are you off to next year if it's not f2?" she asked, fingers still laced with olli's as they walked down the sidewalk.

"endurance, i think. alpine are still sponsoring me as a driver, so laurent has been a hige help in trying to find me something else. it's something different, and i'm looking forward to it. what about you?"

"i have no idea." she answered truthfully, dropping olli's hand. "my internship runs out before the season starts in bahrain. then it will be back to the real world, the world where i'm on my own with my five friends and my roommate. i'm hoping that toto will keep me on next year, but i also realize that he might not have that control. it would be a shame to leave, though. i feel like i've finally found my place in this world."

they stopped walking, y/n leaning against the brickwork exterior of marcus' condo complex. olli stood in front of her, hands in his jeans pockets, his breath turning into mist in the air.

"i'm sure it will all work out. and even if mercedes don't take you on, there are so many other motorsports in europe that you can try. and you'll always have us, y/n. any time you want them, i've got wec tickets for you."

"thanks, olli. really."

they drifted into a silence, somewhat easy, somewhat not. olli's hands came up to press against the wall, his face just milimeters from hers. her heart started pounding, anticipation building in her bones.

is this it? is it really happening? is olli caldwell going to kiss me?

and then he leaned in, his lips pressed against hers.

y/n y/l/n had just had her first kiss.

_____

"so let me get this straight, you finally got your first kiss, a boy actually wanted to go out with you, and you're turning him down?"

"well, when you put it like that!" y/n groaned, face in her hands as she slumped back in her desk chair.

it was the week after marcus armstrong's party, the group sitting in the legal department at the mercedes f1 factory in brackley. she had already told the full story, and her face was pinker than a crush cream soda.

"i just don't understand what your train of thought is here, if i'm being honest." george chuckled. "so caldwell kissed you. what's the big deal?"

"because it was my first kiss, george! i've been thinking it over all weekend, and i felt sick to my stomach when olli texted me the morning after." she groaned, running her hands over her face. "you're going to laugh at me when i tell you why."

"i promise you, we aren't going to laugh, y/n." lewis said gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. "all of what you're feeling is normal."

she sighed. "it didn't feel the way that the books said it was supposed to feel."

"that's your big reasoning? really?" nyck's tinny voice rang through the speaker on mick shumacher's phone. in abu dhabi, the reserve driver had officially been traded to scuderia alphatauri, and by extension, not allowed into brackley to be privy to this conversation. so, naturally, he was facetimed and looped in anyways.

"mick, can you please mute the traitor." y/n groaned, reaching for the german boy's phone before mick laughed and pulled it out of her reach to mute the call himself.

on screen, nyck was still talking.

"i know it sounds stupid, but i've felt sick about it all weekend. what am i supposed to do, guys?"

"i think that your feeling are vaild, first of all." mick began, "and that maybe olli came on too strong."

mick's finger slipped, unmuting the call enough for nyck to shout. "did i not just say that? were you not listening?"

"you have so much time, y/n." lewis said with a small smile. "but i hope you've learned something about yourself from this, yeah? maybe this was the boost of self confidence that you needed?"

she had thought about the kiss all weekend, hoping that she could make it make sense, and that she wasn't overreacting. and it's not like olli had done anything wrong, although french kissing was a little much for the first date, even when it wasn't even a date, and she was trying to convince herself that telling olli she just wanted to be friends was the best call.

and then, digging deeper, she had to ask herself if she was even ready for a relationship. because when the idea was finally breathing down her neck, the idea of olli, and going on a date, and sharing so much of herself with someone else, it scared the shit out of her.

"he put his tongue in my mouth, lewis!" she whined. "god, i sound like a child."

"he what?" a muffled voice called from the other side of her desk, followed up by a thump and frantic whispering.

"what the fuck?" y/n mumbled, getting out of her desk chair and leaning over the glass cubicle wall. "paul?"

with a shit eating grin on his face, paul aron slipped out from underneath the table, kimi antonelli just behind him. while paul didn't look the least bit apologetic, kimi looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him whole.

"i am so sorry, miss. we shouldn't have been listening." the italian boy bowed his head. "but blame paul, it was his idea."

"what, i wanted the office gossip." the estonian boy shrugged. "he french kissed you, and you friendzoned him? that's a little sad."

"paul get out!" y/n snapped. "or i'll call toto and bono!"

the threat of toto wolff was enough to get kimi and paul to dart out of the room faster than the freca cars that they drove. toto didn't know about the kiss, mainly because she knew that he had otmar and laurent on speed dial and would find a way to put the fear of god into oliver caldwell for hurting his intern.

the bond that she had formed with the wolff family wasn't something she would have traded for the world. she found herself calling or texting toto's daughter rosa more often, with the two being of a similar age.

she just hoped that toto liked her enough to keep her around for another season.

"there are plenty of fish in the sea, kiddo." susie wolff added, striding into the office. "and don't worry, i'm not going to tell toto. although, paul and kimi might. take this as a learning experience. and don't take any advice from this lot." she added, whacking george in the back of the head with a file folder.

"why did i feel like that was directed at me?" the man from king's lynn groaned.

"the right boy will come when the time is right. god knows i met toto later in life. and look at us now." susie continued, pulling y/n in for a hug. "come on, we have an investor meeting with monster, and toto wants you there."

"me? he wants me in a meeting with our biggest sponsor?"

lewis laughed. "you need to start giving yourself more credit. you are so loved here, y/n. you have a future in motorsport law, a future here."

mick, lewis and george all exchanged a look, bright smiles on their faces.

"what are you not telling me? is toto keeping me on for next year?"

"we aren't allowed to say anything just yet." george started. "but, i think toto has a soft spot for you."

"put it this way: you'll know before bahrain, and you might want to pack some summer clothes." susie smiled.

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