angstyoni

[angstyoni]

The First Meeting

heeseung x fem reader

Summary: F1 decides they want to announce they're coming to South Korea in a unique way. So they decide to get a group of female drivers from F1 Academy to perform K-Pop songs to announce it at the season opener. A season opener that those groups end up attending. What happens when the newest driver on the scene catches the eye of a member of a certain group?

Part One. Part Two.

“Told you you’d nail it.” Lia says excitedly as we rush back stage to change into our formal outfits for the remainder of the event.

“It was like you became another person up there. It was incredible.” Tina agrees as she joins us.

Up until the music had started, I’d been nervous as hell. But once it had kicked in, it was like no one else was there. I’d blocked out the hundreds of people watching us even though I could feel their eyes on me. Watching me and every move I made. Only once did my mask slip. And it had nearly made me falter. During our last song I had to lean on one of the tables of one of the K-Pop groups and sing my part. And when I had, I’d locked eyes with one of the members. I had meant to scan the whole table while doing it, but my eyes had instantly locked with his and I couldn’t move. I’d surprised Id managed to get my line out and move away.

I’d known who he was instantly. I’d watched the choreography videos with him in it countless times over the last few months due to me being assigned his part of their song for our performance. Lee Heeseung. Even before they’d assigned me his part, I’d been drawn to him in the videos. There was just something about him that drew me in compared to the others. And I couldn’t quite put my finger on why.

”It’s not different to us racing. We slip on a mask when we do that.” I point out with a shrug before ducking into one of the changing areas.

I slip off my performance outfit and pull on the black dress I had picked out for the event. The other girls had told me it was too plain and simple for my first official event as an actual driver, but I liked it. I wasn’t use to this kind of life. To me it still felt surreal to be where I was. Like at any moment I’d wake up and it was all a dream.

When I return both Lia and Tina are waiting for me, both looking eager to head back out there. As soon as we break out into the main floor they rush off to their teams who cheer as they come out. My team was on the other side of the stage to where we had exited, so I quickly walked pass them, nodding to other teams and drivers who said hello or congratulated me on our performance.

I barely round the front of the stage before Lando rushes over to me and pulls me into his side, guiding me over to the McLaren table. A table that happened to be right next to Red Bull’s. Fantastic. As he rushes me over, I can’t help but feel like I’m being watched. But I don’t get a chance to look before my team starts cheering and stand up to embrace me. All of them tell me how awesome it was, and asked how I’d hidden it for so long. It all felt like a blur. And just as I sit down, a familiar face walks over to me. One of the staff from the K-Pop companies.

”Sorry, I know you just sat down. But the groups really want to meet you all if that’s ok.” The girl asks with a soft smile, clearly not wanting to interrupt me finally getting a moment to myself.

”That’s fine.” I tell her as I push away from the table and follow her back the way I came.

It’s then I realise it was here I’d felt like I was being watched as Lando had dragged me over to our team. And again the same feeling washes over me. But now all of them are looking at me and the few girls they’ve managed to find. But as I scan the three groups in front of us, I know why I feel like I’m being watched. All the other boys are just glancing at us. Everyone but him. Heeseung. His eyes fully focused on me. Normally I’d shy away from someone looking at me like that. But I hold his eye, and can’t help but smile at him before my attention is pulled to the group closest to me.

Heeseung

“That was so cool.” Jake says excitedly from next to me, practically bouncing up and down in his seat as the staff come and take the cameras away.

All the other members nod in agreement, but I still feel like I’m locked in some trance. My eyes still wandering to where she’d stood at the end before being escorted back stage again. I couldn’t focus on anything else. And I know I’ve been caught out when Jay waves a hand in front of my face from my other side.

”Huh?” I ask, looking around the table as they all snicker at me.

”You ok there hyung?” He teases with a knowing smirk.

”Pretty sure that girl still has him under her spell.” Jake teases before Jungwon gives him a look which has him snapping his mouth shut.

But he was right. I didn’t even know the girl. Had only seen her for ten minutes up on that stage, but that was enough. Enough to have me staring at where she was like love sick puppy. Something I hadn’t done in years. Not since before I was a trainee. My attention had been caught here and there, but nothing like this. Usually my job, being an idol squashed any sort of interest I peaked quickly. So why had this girl who hadn’t even spoken a word to me got me acting like this?

And as if fate wanted to tease me with her more. There she was again. Now the outfit she’d worn from the performance was gone, replaced by a black dress that most would say was dull or boring compared to how the other women were dressed. But she was stunning. She slowly starts to turn our way before someone rushes over to her causing her to divert her attention before she’s pulled into a hug and dragged to the other side of the stage where I can’t see her.

”Earth to Heeseung.” Jay mocks as he waves his hand in front of my face again which I lightly bat away.

”I am not under a spell.” I bite back.

He just rolls his eyes and shakes his head, opening his mouth to no doubt say something sarcastic back, but the arrival of one of the staff has him snapping his mouth shut. Thank goodness. I don’t think I could deny it much longer. They all knew me too well. Knew I was lying through my teeth. But I couldn’t show any interest towards her. I would never see her again after this weekend. And I wasn’t risking some media gossip about this.

”How would you guys like to meet the girls?” The staff member asks almost too happily as she scans the table.

”Oh we’d love to. Especially Heeseung here.” Jake says as he playfully puts an arm around my shoulders which I try and shove off causing a snicker from Ni-Ki who tries to cover it as a cough.

”Great. We’ll go grab them for you.” She says quickly as she rushes off before I can try object.

Not that I want to object. That voice in the back of my head is screaming at me for being an idiot of even denying or trying to say no to seeing her again. Maybe that’s all I need. To see her again. Just say something to her to get her off my mind. That’s all it is. And then after that everything will be back to normal.

Or so I thought. Movement at the corner of the stage has my attention snapping over there instantly as if my brain knew she was there. Because there she is. And I can’t look away. Not even when her eyes meet mine after scanning the two other groups before landing on ours. The other groups her gaze had skimmed over. But when she’d gotten to ours, her eyes had locked right onto me. And before she’s ushered to the first group she smiles. And I swear my heart fucking stops.

”What was that about not being under her spell?” Ni-Ki teases.

”Oh shut up.” I mutter as the others snicker at me again.

Reader.

The first two groups are so lovely. Commenting on how great we did, and how well we had pulled it off despite not being performers. They seemed genuinely impressed, and the girls I’d been grouped up with for meeting them seem to gain a little confidence from it. We’ll never do it again, but I feel like from this if it ever did, they’d be more than willing to give it a go.

I’m mid conversation with Felix and Bang Chan, both of who are also from Australia, when I feel a soft tap on my arm. Turning to find one of the staff members for Enhypen. “Sorry to interrupt, but I’ve been asked to bring you over if you don’t mind. They’re very excited to meet you apparently.”

”And understandably so. Lovely to meet you Y/N. Hopefully we’ll see you over the weekend.” Bang Chan says with a big smile as they both bow their heads.

I give them a quick smile before turning towards the last table and group. All of them are already talking to some of the girls, Tina and Lia being part of the group. So none of them see me approaching with their staff member as they continue to converse. But I can tell its a bit strained. Not many of the members of these groups know fluent English, and I’d been one of the few to attempt learning Korean over the last few months.

”Here you are Jay, found her as per your request.” The staff member says to him before guiding me forward as the girls, minus Tina and Lia move on.

As I turn to face them I can’t help but notice half of them smiling knowingly at Heeseung who seems to be almost glaring at Jay who is smiling at me, completely oblivious or choosing to ignore how the older member is looking at him.

“Sorry for dragging you away. I’m Jay, nice to meet you.” He says as he holds a hand out to me.

The other groups has just bowed their heads in greeting, so the way he holds his hand out to me throws me off. But I quickly take it and shake it. “I’m Y/N.”

They all step forward one by one, all shaking my hand in greeting. All except Heeseung who is forced forward by Jake who practically shoves him at me before he mumbles his name and just bows his head before stepping back into his spot as I lower my hand in the least awkward way I can. I don’t even know him, not personally but I can’t help but feel a little sad after the way I’d felt his eyes on me.

”So are you racing this weekend?” Jake asks excitedly. The way he smiles and bounces with energy almost reminds me of a golden retriever.

”We’re not racing. But Y/N here is being part of a practice session on Friday. Lucky girl. Teams don’t usually use their mandatory swap out for the first race of the season.” Lia gushes to them.

”It’s not that big of a deal.” I try tell them all with a shrug.

”Don’t listen to her. It’s a big deal. It's her from track. No one from our racing series has gotten to do take part in a FP1 session. And a female hasn’t done it since 2014.” Tina adds.

”Definitely a big deal then.” Jay says as they all nod in agreement.

”So what team are we looking out for on Friday then?” Jake asks, somehow bouncing more with excitement than before.

”McLaren is the team you should be looking out for.” Lia says before I can get a word out.

”What colours are they?”

All the members heads snap towards the source of the question. Heeseung. Who is right back to looking at me like he did before. I honestly didn’t know if he spoke English, hence why he’d gone silent on me when I’d actually gotten close. But the words fall to easily from his mouth for him to not understand. He’s clearly comfortable with the language to an extent.

”Papaya. Well that’s what we call it anyway. But it’s essentially orange. But you didn’t hear that from me.” I say to him with a soft smile, which he returns and I swear my heart skips a beat.

”Yeah they might hunt you down if they hear you say orange instead of Papaya.” Tina adds as she chuckles.

The boys look confused by the comment but all nod eventually.

”Orange. Sorry, Pa-papaya it is for us on Friday then.” Jungwon says happily as he smiles at us.

”Sorry to barge in. Again. But we’re going to do a group photo with everyone if thats ok?” The staff member who grabbed me before asks as she eases her way into the group.

We all nod before making out way over to the area in front of the stage as we wait for them to gather the other groups and girls.

”You were really good up there.” Someone says from next to me.

I turn to see Heeseung looking down at me. Up close he’s much taller than I realised. Unlike the other girls I’d gone without heels for tonight, and I only come up to his chin. His eyes are a soft brown, warm and inviting. And the way the corner of his mouth turns up with a smirk has my heart skipping a beat again.

”Ah, thank you. I was pretty nervous. Never done that kind of performance before.” I say with a shrug.

”You don’t need to be nervous. You did really well. Do you do other performing?” He asks, seeming curious.

I nod. “Yeah I’m in a band. I sing and sometimes play bass guitar.” I tell him.

His eyes seem to light up at that detail. “That’s really cool. What kind of music do you guys play?”

”We use to do rock or alternative covers of songs mixed in with some originals. But we don’t get to play much anymore now I do this. I miss it though.” I admit to him. Something I haven’t admitted to anyone since I’d been swept up into the world of Formula One.

”Maybe you should try make some time. It looked like you missed it after you finished performing. You’re good at it.” He tells me before giving me another smirk before we’re both called over to take our spots.

Yet again my heart skips a beat. God damn. What is that boy doing to me? I don’t even know him, and my body is reacting as if I’ve got the biggest high school crush on him. Even from my spot in the middle of the group I can feel his eyes on me. And I so badly want to turn and meet his gaze. But I don’t. All I have to do is get through this weekend. Get through this weekend and I’d never see him again. It’s just cause he’s attractive. That’s all it is. Right?

[angstyoni]

The Performance.

Summary: F1 decides they want to announce they're coming to South Korea in a unique way. So they decide to get a group of female drivers from F1 Academy to perform K-Pop songs to announce it at the season opener. A season opener that those groups end up attending. What happens when the newest driver on the scene catches the eye of a certain group? A/N: If anyone wants to be tagged in future posts, please let me know. Also debating if to continue with the individual parts of just post one big fic. Let me know if you have a preference!

Part One.

All three tables were buzzing with excitement despite how well they were hiding it. None of the groups had been to Formula One before, and they were all excited to experience it for the first time together. Around them the room was buzzing with excitement for the season opener event. Something all three groups had been invited to watch. Around them were tables for various sponsors and the teams themselves. The boys able to pick out a few drivers they’d seen here and there at other events around the world.

”Do the staff seem a bit distracted?” Sunoo asks as he leans towards the other members of the group, brow furrowed as he looks at the table behind theirs.

The other members turn to look at the staff seated one table over from them, a lot of them on their phones and looking around the room, some of them even looking like they’re getting ready to film something. All the boys turn around and nod in agreement.

”They do. It’s like they’re waiting for something to happen.” Sunghoon points out, clearly noting the way the phones were being set up for filming.

”I agree. But we’re not doing anything tonight, right?” Ni-Ki asks as he looks over his shoulder at the table of staff members again.

Jungwon the leader of the group shakes his head. “Not that I’m aware of. And they usually try to not surprise us with anything after a few of our reactions previously.”

Before they can continue the conversation, the music changes and a person starts walking down the stage. Clearly the event was about to start. The boys weren’t expecting anything major. From what they’d been told this was mainly a dinner and social event for the start of the season for all the sponsors and teams to get together. But it’s clear with the shift of energy in the room as the announcer says they’re revealing something for the upcoming season, that something big is about to happen.

As soon as the announcer finishes their spiel, the room is plunged into darkness. The room so silent you could hear a pin drop. The boys all share nervous looks, unsure what’s about to happen. Smoke starts drifting across the stage, casting an eerie feeling over the room mixed with the darkness. Suddenly the room is plunged into light, the room cast in a red glow from the stage lights and screens along the back of the stage. In the middle of the stage that divides most of the room, a person slowly appears, clearly being raised up on a platform. The screens at the back of the stage shift to video of the person so everyone can see. As the platform stops the music starts. The group next to them all gasping in shock as the intro to one of their solo songs starts playing. Quickly the staff members for the groups rush forward and place phones on the table, clearly to film their reactions to whatever is about to happen.

The camera angle shifts as the person starts walking to the back of the stage, the figure clearly being noted as female as they walk, their long hair swinging back and forth as they walk down the stage. They moved with a certain confidence and grace that only came from someone use to being on stage. Then they raise their arm, a microphone clutched in their hand. And instead of the familiar voice of Bang Chan echoing around the room, a female voice takes it’s place. All the groups look between each other shocked. A few of them having pushed their chairs back as if going to stand up. But it’s not long before all of them turn their attention back to the stage and watch the girl.

It becomes clear she’s made the choreography her own instead of copying the usual choreography. She moves around the stage with such confidence, as if she’s not even aware the room is there. Not even glancing at the cameras that film and capture her performance. Not until the end when she lunges forward, grabbing one of them with her hand as she looks right down the middle with an intense look. The rest of the crowd gasps as if realising who she is. The announcer had said something about drivers. So she had to be someone they all knew by how they react to seeing her properly for the first time. She throws the camera to the side, clearly a rehearsed manoeuvre before moving down the stage to another camera on a boom arm. She grasps it, looking down the camera with such softness you’d think she was looking at a lover. She guides it down the stage with her, singing to the camera in such a way it makes everyone feel like she’s looking just at them. She stops at the end of the stage, perfectly placed in front of all three groups. All of them unable to tear their gaze away from her. As the last lyrics leave her lips, she flicks the camera with her hand, the angle changing to a camera clearly hidden in the roof as she falls backwards into an opening in the floor that has the whole room gasping in shock as were plunged into darkness again.

Jake excitedly turns to the others to say something, but the entire groups attention shifts back to the stage as the opening of one of their songs starts up. All of them stare up at the stage, mouths open wide in shock. Now instead of a singular girl, there’s a whole group of them. All of them dressed in similar outfits, with variations in colours for different parts of the outfits. But as his eyes search the stage for the girl he’d just watched captivate his attention for the last three minutes, he can’t find her. His eyes desperately searching for any hint of her. But as the chorus is about to kick in, she’s launched into the air through the floor of the stage, landing with ease before launching into the song and choreography with the rest of the group. And no matter what he does, he can’t keep his eyes off her.

No matter where she moves on the stage, he follows her. Her all black outfit making her stand out in the various colours the others wear. And if she moves where he can’t see her, his eyes immediately go to the screens at the back of the stage. Each girl being filmed individually in the fan cam style they were use to at their recordings. His eyes do occasionally stray to the others to take in the whole performance, but there’s just something about her that he can’t stay away from. At first he thinks it’s because she’s clearly been assigned his parts in the song. But as the song shifts to the other group, he still can’t keep his eyes off her. It’s clear she’s performed before. He can see the mask she’s slipped on to keep focused. Something he’s all to familiar with. The others look a little too nervous and unsure of themselves next to her.

With each song, the group gets closer and closer to the end of the stage, and then she’s there. Right in front of him. He can see her fully with his own eyes. And now, up close and not tinged in the red lights of the first song, he really can’t take his eyes off her. She’s so different to the girls he normally see’s back home. Tattoos decorating her arms, piercings all through her ears and a few in her face. So different to the beauty standards he’s use to. But he loves it. Loves how different she is to what he’s use to. And he strangely finds himself sad when the song moves into a slower part and she disappears from the stage. He hears Jake chuckle from next to him at his reaction, his head darting back and forth as he looks for her. But it doesn’t last long, as the song picks back up into a rap pre chorus and she’s there. She’s right there on the other side of the table. Moving around their table with a few others who had disappeared with her as they perform their parts. And he nearly has a heart attack when she stops at the front of their table, places a hand on it and leans in as she sings one of her parts and locks eyes with him. He swears time slows down as she looks at him, offers him a quick smirk before pushing off the table and effortlessly moving into a dance sequence. He hears the snickers of the others around him as he just sits their wide eyed. His heart beating loudly in his chest as he just watches her.

Their performance comes to an end, the room exploding with applause and cheers as the girls hug and embrace each other. The rest of the group falls back as the girl he’d been watching steps forward, microphone grasped tightly in her hands as she waits for the applause to die down. Once the room settles, she raises the microphone. And instead of the English he excepts to come from her mouth, it’s Korean. And instead of addressing the whole room, she turns towards the three tables of the groups in front of her.

”Thank you for being here, and thank you for letting us use your songs this evening. I hope we performed them well.” She says with ease. Which surprises him. She’d sung the Korean parts in the songs, but he hadn’t expected her to actually be able to speak Korean. “I hope you enjoy your time here at formula one this weekend.”

With a smile she turns her attention back to the rest of the room, the English falling from her mouth as easily as the Korean had. “It is with great pleasure, that myself and the F1 Academy grid get to announce, that as of 2026 Formula One will be racing in South Korea!”

The room erupts into applause and cheers at the news, a huge smile spreading over her face as the groups embraces her again. It’s then he see’s the mask shift. See’s how nervous she actually is as she starts blushing and hiding her face. Clearly this was something new for her. But she looked so proud she had done it. And it was then, he knew he had to hunt her down before they left this weekend.

The songs:

Railway Bite Me Bouncy S-Class

[angstyoni]

Season Opener.

Summary: F1 decides they want to announce they're coming to South Korea in a unique way. So they decide to get a group of female drivers from F1 Academy to perform K-Pop songs to announce it at the season opener. A season opener that those groups end up attending. What happens when the newest driver on the scene catches the eye of a certain group?

A/N: I'm a bit newer to K-Pop, and more specifically Enhypen, but I couldn't get this idea out of my head. I usually write for a very different genre, so I apologise if this isn't like the usual K-Pop fics on here. But I just needed to write this down. Also torn if I should write this as Heeseung x Reader or Jay x Reader. Let me know!

If you had asked me a year ago if I’d ever listen to kpop, the answer would have been a solid maybe. If you asked me if I would ever be performing covers of the songs, the answer would have been a solid no.

But here I was, backstage at the season launch event in Australia, a few hours away from performing K-Pop songs in front of all my work colleagues. Oh, and the K-Pop groups we were performing the songs of. No pressure at all. Not in the slightest. Especially when I’d accidentally started singing to one of the songs during one of the rehearsal periods with the companies of the respective groups, and now not only were we dancing, we were also singing. Well for those of us that could, we would be. Which wasn’t many. Out of a grid of twenty drivers taking part in this in some way, only eight of us would be dancing the entire thing, and only four of us would be singing.

”Why are you so nervous?” Tina asks as she falls into the make up chair next to me. “Aren’t you in a band? You should be use to this.”

I roll my eyes at her and lightly shake my head so I don’t mess up the make up the girl is trying to do on me. “Yes but I’m either playing my bass guitar or I’m just singing. I’ve never done choreography and singing like this.” I tell her.

”She’s not wrong. It’s like my first F1 Academy race. Yeah I’ve raced before, but I was still nervous as hell for my first race.” Lia adds from the other side of me.

This was my first year in F1 Academy, but I’d quickly fallen into a friendship with these two. Which I was very glad for. A lot of the girls didn’t like me. Mainly because I hadn’t come from a racing background. I was a former twitch streamer, who’d fallen into simulator racing and had caught the eye of Red Bull along the way. They’d been quick to sign me for their e-sport team, and for simulator testing. During that time they thought it would be interesting to throw me into a car and see what I could do with the real thing on a test day. And I’d somehow taken to it better than any of them could have expected.

Over time they’d thrown me into more testing, more sessions. But when I’d asked for a chance to do more, they’d said no. Said I was just a gamer who’d gotten lucky. That I didn’t have the experience to actually race. But during that testing time I’d caught the attention of another team due to one of their drivers. McLaren and Lando Norris. He’d seen my streams and had managed to catch some of the test drives I’d done on some race weekends. So he’d approached Zak. And before I knew it I’d been asked to meet with him before the start of last season. And even though I’d been signed with Red Bull, I was a McLaren fan from the start. No one in their wildest dreams would turn down a meeting with the CEO of their favourite team.

And I didn’t have a single regret. I’d walked in expecting just to meet with Zak, but had walked into Zak, Lando, Oscar and Oscar’s manager Mark. All of them smiling at me as I’d entered the meeting room in a hotel we’d agreed to meet at so we wouldn’t draw any unwanted attention. There they’d laid out wanting me to be apart of their simulation and performance program, with the high potential to be a driver from them in one of the racing series if all went well. The next day I signed my contract with McLaren racing and with Mark as my manager. It was a dream come to. And a lifeline I’d very much needed with Red Bull calling me in the next day to say they weren’t renewing my contract for the year. Claiming I wasn’t performing well. Even though I’d won the e-sports league for the team with very little help from the other two drivers. I still remembered the confused looks on their faces when I’d smiled and said ok before walking out of the building like they’d given me the best news ever. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall to see their reactions the next day when McLaren announced me as driver for them. And within the first few months they’d offered me a contract for a spot on their F1 Academy team. Most teams only sponsored one driver, but McLaren wanted to be the first to have two drivers on the grid. And I’d happily accepted. Which is what led me to nearly eight months of preparing for this launch.

I could have said no to it. But there was some part of me that was excited to try something new. And with how my new racing career had taken off, I’d missed getting the chance to perform. Only getting to do it here and there. And despite the fact I’d never done professional dancing in my life, I’d enjoyed it. Enjoyed learning the moves, dancing to the music, putting my own twist on the moves and making it my own. At first I’d been scared it wouldn’t go ahead. They’d flown us all to Korea to meet with the companies that had shown interest in the idea put forward by Formula 1. They’d wanted to meet us all in person, see how we moved, and see if it was something we could pull off. And by some miracle, by the end of the week they had agreed it could be done. And here we were, about to perform the performance we’d put together.

”And you two don’t have the added stress of doing a bloody solo in front of everyone.” I mutter before wincing as the hair stylist starts pulling on my hair.

”You’re going to nail it.” Tina says with an excited smile.

”Yeah, you’ve been killing it in rehersals. You’re going to do fine.” Lia adds with a nod.

”Performing in a room with like twenty people is far different to a room full of hundreds of people. And now the groups we’ve been learning the songs of.” I point out.

At first the groups weren’t going to be here. The companies not sure what the schedules would be like. But by some miracle they’d all been free. And some of the members and groups even having invites from brands they worked with. So now the three groups were going to be sitting front and centre to watch us more than likely butcher their work.

”Stop worrying. Once you’re in your outfit, hair and makeup all done and on that stage, you’ll be fine. They’re going to love us.” Lia says confidently.

I go to retort, but clamp my mouth shut as the hair stylist starts yanking my hair into the braid needed to add the hair piece they had gotten made for me. But Lia was right. As I looked in the mirror make up done, outfit on and hair on the way, I could already feel myself slipping into my familiar performing mindset. I could do this. Just keep my in-ears in, block everything out and just focus on the music and dance moves. I could do this.

Beneath the stage the noise was deafening. I could hear the music pumping for the intro of the showcase. The season opener. A new thing they’d decided to do this year. I don’t know why they hadn’t combined this with the livery launch, but I wasn’t going to question it. Above me I can hear the crowd cheering as footsteps each overhead. As they pass, the floor of the stage is lowered for me. I step onto the plate before taking my chrome red microphone from the stage tech who was helping me for the first two songs.

”Welcome to the start of the 2025 Formula 1 season, and thank you for joining us for the season opener here in Melbourne Australia.” The presenter announces as the crowd claps and cheers. ”And what better way to start the season than with a little announcement for the 2026 season.”

Instantly the crowd hums with curiosity. Even from here I can hear the hushed whispers that pick up around the room at his words. Next year was already a big year with regulation and car changes. So for another thing to be dropped, everyone was curious. Not even the team principles and CEO’s had any idea of what was coming.

”But instead of me telling you what the news is, we have a little performance some of the drivers have been working on for quite some time. So I’ll let them show you.”

Instantly the room above me goes dark. The hiss of the smoke machine going off as smoke floats across the stage. The stage tech gives me a thumbs up, signalling it’s my turn. I give them a nod before putting my last in-ear in and standing up on the platform as the music starts, the stage flooded with red lights as the platform rises.