#if i really start thinking about how mclaren developed this year

[foul-milk]

No but the way that Lando started way back from George and is ahead of him. Ouch. Not looking good.

[formulatrash]

from following you on twitter im absolutely certain you have (far more informed than mine) thoughts on whatever the fuck williams is doing. very interested in hearing them, if you’d care to share?

so like, from the off: I have always been a Logan Sargeant defender. people who didn't follow his junior career just saw an American, assumed he was a pay driver and didn't check any further. the guy had a better karting career than Oscar, was competitive with him the whole time they were in the same series - they were the George and Alex of their day.

sometimes those drivers fall off. Jack Aitken was, in fact, George's main rival up to F2 and then got mechachromed (or technically hewlanded) out of the running for more than a guest spot. but Logan didn't - he just ran out of money. that year in a Charouz (a backmarking F3 team struggling to score points) was when he really proved himself, especially on being solid at development and leading a team.

that was what convinced Carlin (at the time, not putting in the best showing in F2) he was worth it. and his time at Carlin was what convinced Williams. not money. Logan never had sponsors pulling the strings for him. he knew he might well not get to F1 so had already started experimenting with prototype racing, which he was good in. man was being pragmatic about how to have a career in Europe if things didn't all shake out right.

but they did (sort of) and he got the Williams seat. he was probably one of the least-prepared drivers for quite a long time, with close to zero F1 testing prior to, err, F1 preseason testing. the Williams driver academy, at the time he was in it, amounted to pretty much a gym membership. a pass for the factory canteen and some branded sweaters to wear rather than some structured programme and he'd only had one year in F2.

we know the Williams is not like, the best car. the team has had Some Issues and despite the investment from Dorilton, is still rebuilding pretty heavily. I mean remember it was (in 2023) five seasons previous that they turned up to testing like whoops, no car. our bad.

then in 2022 they had Jost Capito and FX Demaison living in a weird student flatshare while they tried to work out what the hell was going on in the team, only to both leave prior to 2023. at which point James Vowles turns up and goes my god you're running this whole team via a spreadsheet. truly, we (a team whose history includes the owner's wife, who was actually the owner, locking up the factory and telling the bailiffs to fuck off every other week for years) were so fucking back.

(if you want to read a really, really, really good book about F1 then Williams: A different kind of life is exceptional)

so yeah it's a bit of a Charouz of a seat but then Logan's flourished in that circumstance before. except you're going up against a guy whose only second-fiddle circumstance was against Max fucking Verstappen. you're an underprepared rookie and you're against someone who did at times hold his own against Max Verstappen, even as an underprepared rookie himself and he's been in the team for a year already, leading all the direction and development. fucking yikes. that's not a low-pressure seat where you're both just hoping things might work out.

saying all that because: I think Logan was given an incredibly tough gig. that doesn't mean he shouldn't or couldn't have risen to it. but that Williams seat wasn't an easy ride in his first year, where he showed he could improve when he gained momentum and confidence, something that's massively important. when things turn against you and keep turning against you, it's incredibly hard to reverse that in motorsport - just look at Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren.

and yes I know there's a lot of mad conspiracy theories that for some reason the team would want to lose points in the constructors' for the express reason of humiliating a driver they were paying an obscene amount but please let's be realistic: McL really badly wanted that one to work out. and Williams seemed to, too, in Logan's first year. they weren't babying him and he had clear targets and goals but there was a desire to see that work out for both of them.

this year that, uh. hasn't seemed to be there. I know, I absolutely know, why James Vowles felt taking Logan's car and giving it to Alex in Australia was the right thing to do. Alex had scored a point there the previous year, although it's historically not been a great track for him. that point could be the difference between 9th and 10th in the constructors - millions of dollars.

but if you want to absolutely implode your driver's brain and publicly announce you have no confidence in him then that's certainly a good way to go about it. and the thing is Australia is one race whereas Logan was supposed to be in that car for the rest of the season.

it's hard to underestimate just how much F1 teams are swayed by the media. Nyck de Vries is an incredible recent example: yes, he scored points in that Williams weekend but in the same year he was driving like absolute shit in Formula E. probably because he was so focussed on F1 but any FE journalist could have told you the guy was not, in fact, the second coming of Senna - extremely likeable, weird, idiosyncratic and actually fun to watch but far from performing at his own best let alone anyone else's.

so when he was hyped to high heaven as about to wipe the floor with Yuki there was widespread eyebrow-raising from a paddock no one in F1 cares to look at. but teams bought into it, fought over him. in a matter of races the media turned on him, shredded him and Red Bull shrugged, said they never liked him in the first place and binned him off after, realistically, exactly the performances you could have expected him to put in.

the media has never been very kind to Logan. he is a little shy, he is quite softly spoken, he doesn't go for bragadaccio and he's not particularly goofy. he doesn't insist on pointing out he's there on merit. he's quite careful with what he says, guarded. he does not like things to get weird and with the motorsport media, things so often do.

trepidation about his F2 record from people who barely tune into the races being broadcast in the media centre they're in raised questions before he was in F1. Williams' re-signing of him was deemed a bit controversial, perhaps proof the team was soft. yeeting him from his car was proof they were hard enough, in fact, that rending confidence from your driver like flesh torn off a bone is somehow a useful function of the sport, from people who a mildly critical comment would send into a 5-day spiral.

(I would know)

Logan has not performed poorly this year. he hasn't performed as well as Alex but Alex has been throwing together Lando-grade drives, as you'd probably expect given the pair of them have (close to) equal experience in F1 or at least the same number of years chewing through the gristle of it.

(why am I using so many visceral meat metaphors? perhaps 3am is not the time to write anything)

all things considered, the fact that Logan did not dissolve into a puddle of goo after Australia is commendable. he has also outqualified a fucking Red Bull multiple times. he has crashed a bit, yes, because that's what driving on the edge with an air of desperation starts to look like - when Charles did it (really a lot more) in 2020 no one thought it was because he had run out of talent.

Logan has not been driving the same car as Alex. Alex himself has confirmed this. that's, uhm, fucking dire if you're trying to fix things in the simulator because that will be correlated to the upgraded car, which is what the team is interested in. even if they load yours back in, the correlation will be steadily migrating away and they won't be too interested in what it's telling them because it's the old car.

to say that Williams lost interest in Logan early this season would be an understatement. they spent a huge amount of effort and got back a bunch of world champions to film an hour-long feature with Logan's sponsor and him. it got mentioned, like, twice? because it came out the same week Alex got re-signed.

I'm not saying re-signing Alex Albon isn't exciting. hell, I'd be very excited. but that was probably the moment I knew this was going to get horrendously messy.

James Vowles is a charming man who has lots of likeable qualities. he is first and foremost an engineer and looks for engineering solutions, something he was very able to translate to strategy. he is, however, not used to being a figurehead for an organisation.

do I think the public way JV conducted the search for Logan's replacement was fair on the team, any of the drivers involved or, especially, Logan? absolutely fucking not. made all of them look like they were taking turns in a fake taxi that instead turning into a sexy thing was a clown car with JV dressed as the Joker.

I don't honestly know how Logan kept turning up and driving through that. it's one thing to believe you can do something, anything, to prove yourself and another to know you just: can't. there's nothing left you can do. there are no other seats on the grid. time to start talking to teams in other series except if you do that someone will hear about it and then you'll be even more undermined.

I think that, when he looks back, James will realise he fucked this very badly. he obviously wants to do what's best for the team and is overruling quite a lot of sensible interpersonal stuff to do that and particularly how he should act with the media which, again, not something he's had such exposure to despite his long F1 career.

Logan Sargeant has, like his car last weekend, burned in a pyrrhic symbol of what Williams want to exorcise from their team. they want to stop losing.

but like James was saying at the start of the season, before the rush of chasing new drivers caught him up, the main problem is they need to fix the car. Franco Colapinto will not do that. he is a perfectly good stopgap replacement for someone who, yes, has probably now reached a mindset where it is perhaps kinder to not expect him to drive an F1 car.

but it will probably be more telling when Carlos Sainz Jnr is also just a driver, unless the team pulls miracles over the winter.

[nyoomfruits]

‘shush’ maxoscar or lestappen!

[ shush ] for a kiss to silence the other party

“The lease on my apartment is ending,” Oscar says, drops it in the middle of Max’s weirdly fond rant about the cats having developed the ability to open doors and using it mostly for evil. They’re sitting on the couch in Max’s apartment, Max’s toes tucked under Oscar’s thigh, Oscar’s feet resting on the little pouf in front of the couch. They’re both holding a half-eaten plate of stir fry, one of the few dishes Max can make without making Oscar wince repeatedly, half-watching an old episode of Friends on the TV.

“Oh,” Max says, frowns. “The Monaco one, you mean?”

Oscar nods. He got it last year, when he was in his second year of F1 still, and even though he’d just signed a multi-year contract with McLaren, it had felt presumptions, to assume this was going to be his home for a long time. And so he’d rented an apartment, just for the year, and see how he felt after.

And then Max had happened, right after the Hungary Grand Prix. Oscar had bumped into him at the party, mixed feelings about his own win, Max angry about his race, and they’d collided in something that was really only meant to blow off steam, on both sides really.

But then it had happened again. And again. And again. And then Oscar had started sleeping over at Max’s place more and more. They started spending time between races together, they started spending all of their time between races together. Oscar has a key now, to Max’s place, right next to the keys to his own apartment. One he hasn’t really been to in the past three months or so.

One of which the lease is ending soon.

“Yeah,” Oscar says. And he’s not asking any questions, because he’s bad at asking these questions, but Max has always been exceptional at reading him, so.

“Well, we will have sell most of the furniture, I think,” Max says, placing his fork down, because he still refuses to try and eat noodles with chopsticks. “Unless you want to keep some of it. But I hope not. That couch is quite ugly.”

“Thanks, Max,” Oscar says, but he can’t help but smile behind his own bite of noodle. It is a bit of an ugly couch, truth to be told. He hadn’t put that much thought into styling his apartment, just let the stylist at the store decide what he needed.

“You’re welcome,” Max says, smiling. “Anyway, do you think we would need a truck? Your clothes are mostly here already, we’ll have to take some of the decorations and stuff, the trophy’s obviously. Do you still have those plates from the one time I actually came over to your place for lunch? I quite liked those, maybe bring those. Maybe a truck is a bit much, I can ask Lando, he has this ridiculously large Range Rover for some reason, he might let me borrow it, we can shove all the stuff in the back. It’s not that far from your apartment to here, so it’s shouldn’t take us that long-“

And that’s, belatedly, when it hits Oscar. What Max is talking about. Why he’s so concerned about Oscar’s furniture and how he’s going to move it all and what he’s going to keep. Because to Max, the only really logical explanation is that he moves here. All Oscar had wanted was to open the conversation, talk about their future maybe. But to Max, their future has always been crystal clear.

It’s them. It’s here. It’s forever.

Oscar purposely puts his plate aside, leans forward, slow deliberate, takes Max’s plate away from him as well, and then, right in the middle of Max’s rant about Oscar’s decorative bed pillows, kisses him full on the mouth.

“Hey,” Max says, when he pulls away, looking slightly confused. “What was that for?”

“I love you,” Oscar says, because he doesn’t really know how else to say ‘I want that too’ and ‘thank you for everything you are’ and ‘you are my favorite person in the whole world’.

Max smiles, slow and soft and fond, and presses another kiss to Oscar’s lips. “I love you too,” he says, and then, just because he’s Max, adds, “Roomie.”

Oscar laughs, one that releases all the tension he’d been feeling about bringing this up, let’s his head fall forward against Max’s chest, takes in the familiar scent of laundry detergent and Max. “Don’t,” he warns.

Max laughs too, rubs his hand over Oscar’s back as Oscar picks his head off of Max’s chest and leans in for another slow, long kiss.

Roomies. Oscar will take it, if that means he gets to have this.

[dizzyduck44]

Good in a Crisis or just in Crisis?

Right, this may be the hardest of the post I wanted to write post-Monza. In fact I've been trying to think for two weeks how to word this without getting cancelled. I think though by using the events of the last two weekends I can give examples that can support my thoughts.

I'm going to start by being clear, if from my previous posts you think this is going to be an Oscar take down, it's not. Fair warning.

So really this starts with a story Nicole Piastri told in the Red Flag podcast. How when out with Oscar on a bike ride she ended up going over the handle bars of the bike. According to her, Oscar calmly and almost emotionlessly asked if she was ok? They get back home and find that the heart monitor he was wearing registered his heart rate through the roof and he had clearly been worried and panicing. But that was not what came across.

And there was the first lightbulb, Oscar doesn't seem to know how to convey his emotions or react in the way you would expect. There also seemed to be an obliviousness of anything beyond him and his immediate surroundings. (I’m not developing that any further, drawn your own conclusions).

Suddenly the myth of his mental strength, Kimi-esque cool doesn't read the same way. And as my brain can literally make me the foreshadowing, pessimistic prophet of doom at a kids birthday party, my gut feeling was, this won't end well.

Little did I know, I'd have to wait less than two weeks to be proven right.

McLaren arrived in Zandvoort with a Lando determined to make it clear he was going for the World Championship. We know what happened next. Lando takes pole and the win. Oscar finishes 4th. Fast forwarded to a Lando the media fell over itself for and a clearly unhappy Oscar in the media pen.

Thing is, this has been a regular situation this year. Lando has taken 4 poles and stood on the podium 10 out of 16 races. Oscar has been up there 5 times and his maiden win was questionable at best.

And then something seemingly insignificant to McLaren happened. Williams ditches Logan due to poor results. The team seemingly deciding he wasn't good enough and ended his F1 career.

Last weekend in Italy, we discovered how much all this is weighing on Oscar’s mind.

At the end of qualifying, Lando once again is on pole and as Oscar walked to the podium for personal effects he threw his gloves down. Lando had to go to him, he didn't go to congratulate Lando. Oscar was annoyed at missing pole again in his interview. You could see the frustration was simmering.

And then Sunday. Anyone who knows anything about racing knows what was in the best interest of McLaren. Finish lap 1 leading the field, build a gap, control the pace, use DRS to race each other.

No. Lando fully trusting Oscar to do the team thing and made no defence into turn 3 thinking he wouldn’t need to. Oscar, by his own later admission believed it was "his only way to win the race" and went for the lunge.

Was it a brilliant overtake? Yes though there was no defence put up.

Was it necessary? I think the only person who thought so was Oscar.

Did McLaren finish lap 1 first and second and go on to control the race? Nope.

Oscar had not reacted in the way anyone expected him to.

After the race the team and Lando called the move "aggressive", "risky" and "unexpected". Zak even had to concede it nearly resulted in Lando spinning. Oscar meanwhile didn’t seem to see anything wrong with what he had done.

They should have left Monza leading the Constructors Championship. Instead they still trail Red Bull by 8 points.

Ultimately with Max so far down the field it didn't really matter what order they finished 1-2. What mattered was finishing 1-2.

Post-race Oscar seemed annoyed and frustrated he hadn't made this win stick. He has risked so much and come away with slim pickings. The press afterwards didn’t get any better, taking swipes at Lance and refusing to address the question of team orders.

Ultimately we now know from the tyre data Oscar was never going to be able to make a 1 stop work, but Lando might have. The only person who was a safe bet was Lewis, but Mercedes were having their own WTF problems further down the pitlane. However from lap 1, Charles was chasing Oscar and Lando was having to keep up with them trying to salvage McLaren’s strategy.

The root of the problem was created on a sunny day in July, just outside of Budapest. By gifting Oscar the win in Hungary, McLaren have created a double headed monster.

You have Oscar who on reflection sees that having a teammate slow down for you (because you admit you can't catch them up) is a poor way to win a race when a championship isn't on the line. He wants to banish that hanging over his head as quickly as possible. Team orders are not going to help that. Chances are they will result in no real possibility of another win till 2025!

However, on that day your team promised you and they would help Lando to win a championship in exchange for said win.

And where does that leave Oscar. Frustrated. Unhappy and pegged as "mentally strong". What Oscar really needs right now is a Lando/Charles/Max esque rant and brutal critic of himself. You can see its all beginning to get to him.

In Hungary he took himself off the track a couple of times unprovoked. In Spa he went long in his pitbox. In Monza destroying the tyres to try and build a lead and then being too aggressive into the pitbox again. Because he doesn't let emotions out, they are beginning to effect what he could potentially achieve.

So how do we go forward. Firstly, for his sake, lets drop the mentally strong tag. Lando is mentally strong. He went through lockdown alone. He has driven through grief, tonsilitis, and a broken rib (yes really) on top of the nerves he freely admits. If he has a rant in the cockpit or berates himself after the race so be it. It’s better than carrying it round with you like luggage from race to race.

That's what I hope Oscar learns. Emotion in this sport is a good thing. The team is not going to dump you for admitting you fear being labelled as a contested one race winner. He may find they turn round and say we are sorry, in hindsight that wasn't fair for us to do to you. Tell them you want the qualifying stats to be more equal, they will help you improve. Apologise to the team that your actions in turn 3 were selfish, you thought they would work but you admit they cost the team. They will have more respect for you.

Secondly as fans, lets stop bigging up Oscar to a level he isn't at yet. Is he doing brilliantly for a second year driver? Yes, but his inexperience and immaturity is beginning to show. Lets embrace that as perfectly normal.

Oscar is very active on social media. He will have seen all the posts claiming he is better than Lando, he will win a championship before Lando. Yet the stats don't reflect that and I don't think Oscar feels that way right now. But he feels the pressure to be what the fans preach.

Oscar needs at least another year to be fully ready. It may take even more. There is no doubt he is a future world champion, but he’s still developing the arsenal of things he will need to do that. He just wants it’s all now, last week, last August was probably later than he wanted, but how he learns to emote and react to the highs and lows of F1 is going to be crucial.

After-all, his mechanics have only got so many toes between them.

[danieldrivesfast]

Would love to hear your take on why Maxiel was the most popular f1 ship for years, and why Lestappen now seems to have taken over.

The first bit of this is easy.

As far as Maxiel falling off specifically, Daniel is "old" in the minds of the young, new fans. Look at how the hate towards him usually mentions his age and his hairline (which has always been like that, but I digress). It's the same thing as when old folk like me loved Nick and Brian, but then grew up and realized Kevin and AJ were the hot ones the whole time.

This is going to tie into my literacy rant, but these new fans like to claim Daniel is a racist, misogynist, whatever because of his age and their inability to contextualize things he says or does in relation to the topic, situation, or time period. So, of course, they don't want someone they perceive as "bad" in their ship. They're completely deluded, but... That's a different post.

A lot of these new, younger fans also started following the sport very recently. They missed the Maxiel teammate era, the scorned lovers era, the reconciliation era, and are only seeing the comfortable era. (I just made those up.) They didn't watch that actual relationship grow and mature over the last ~8 years.

It's the same with Dando. Now I'm realizing I need to talk about why Daniel Ricciardo is your favorite driver's favorite driver. Anyway.

Maxiel was compelling early on because you had hotshot, cocky, popular Daniel Ricciardo on a team with an ultra-talented young kid in Max Verstappen, a menace who was gunning for his hard-earned #1 spot. (These young fans also don't realize that the RBR cars at that time were not good. What Daniel and Max were able to do with them is insane.) Max was the serious son of a nasty man, DR was, well, DR. The way Max came out of his shell and would always look to Daniel for approval when he made a joke or tried to be funny was endearing, and still is.

At first it was a typical teammates ship, but when Daniel said he was leaving for Renault, it added a whole lot of angst very quickly, and it kept blooming from there. Watching them mature and realize how much they cared about each other through the Renault/McLaren years was something. Very much a "distance makes the heart grow fonder" situation. It was actual growth between two people, and it was very easy to translate that into a ship/fanfiction setting.

I feel like if you don't know that backstory and didn't see it unfold, it's easier to jump on a popular ship of the moment for new fans. It's also the difference between just wanting two cute boys to kiss versus being drawn to two men who've been through it together and have developed a deep bond and rock-solid relationship over years of personal and professional growth. So... maturity.

There are a few asks about Lestappen that I really think tie in with the second part of this ask and my last point, so I'm going to put them together in a different post.

[ef-1]

I’ve just recently got into f1 and I keep seeing people saying that George and other drivers on the grid were protective of Daniel during the 2022 season, what it be possible to get some context ti that?

hiiiiiii welcome (+ I'm sorry you got into f1)

yeah drivers rallied around Daniel in 2022 when he lost his seat but it really was predominantly George and Seb who were supportive/protective/defensive beyond anything I've seen in f1.

off the top of my head (and I'll probably miss alot), but some notable occurrences were

when rumours around Daniel losing his seat first started circulating, there was intially the sense that mclaren wanted to replace Daniel with Herta, who's an American indycar driver. That very same weekend they basically asked George about those rumours, f1 media was talking non-stop about the now real possibility of an American driver on the grid. Specifically, an American outlet asked George if he was excited for that prospect, to which he was brutal to the point of rudeness, IIRC at some point they tried to get a fun answer out of him so they asked:" what drives you mad about American drivers/ what do you like about American drivers" and he deadass replied something like"nothing, I don't think I know any of them anyway" and then for the next couple of weeks he would not stop talking about how no American deserves that seat lol

Famously the weekend Daniel lost his seat he was v withdrawn and that awful photo of him sitting alone before the drivers parade took social media by storm in literally a couple of hours.

And around 3 hours later, before the race start, George saw Daniel sitting alone again and just glued himself next to him, followed by Alex and Mick

The following week George entred the paddock on a race weekend wearing Daniel's merch. Hasn't really stopped since then, he wears Daniel's merch to Merc parties and 2 weeks ago to dinner with his parents lol

The latter part of '22 saw George attach himself to Daniel during parades and in the media pen and also off the track, a really cute connection had clearly developed between them

As for Seb, where do I start. when he iconically, scathingly said in reply to being asked about daniel losing that: Daniel's struggles were a failure on McLaren and constituted their own inability to extract Daniel's talent. It was honestly so shocking when he just attacked them like that

Whatever Seb did for Daniel that year, Daniel still has trouble talking about it. For 2 years now, whenever daniel is asked who he considers a friend he'll say seb. Who stood by him? Seb. And, most tellingly, everytime Daniel speaks about the support Seb has shown him, he makes sure to point out that Seb somehow did infinitely more for him in private than he did in public.

[imaginaryf1shots]

My Girls (VII) | Max Verstappen

Words count: 3.4K

Driver!oc X Max Verstappen

Platonic!Driver!oc X the grid

Summery: Cecilia Hansson daughter of a Swedish billionaire, a race car driver, with a dream of making it big in Formula 1. However she has a few secrets that may hurt her as women are disliked in the sport.

Series Warnings: google translated french, dutch, cursing, child abandment, absent father, drinking, car accidents, Jos Verstappen, misogyny, Christian horner (tell me if i missed anything)

This is a secondary blog so I won't be able to respond but I'm adding you all to the taglist.

Masterlist

Series Masterlist

Max Masterlist

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Families 

2021 

Cecilia has left Mclaren and is now with Mercedes, Daniel Ricciardo taking her place in Mclaren, saying goodbye to her team and to Lando was hard, she cried alot on her last day racing with them and her last day with the team. Her and Lando exchanged helmets, once the cameras were off she was in tears hugging her teammate. It’s not like they won’t see each other but they’re each other’s first teammate, they came into the sport and helped each other adapt and develop as drivers and grew incredibly close.

Cecilia feared Max’s reaction when she told him she agreed to Mercedes’ offer, but her boyfriend surprisingly encouraged her, this is her best move. 

The day Cecilia went in to talk to Toto about her contract before she signed it, she knew she had to tell him about her relationship with Max. Admittedly she should’ve told him very early on, but she wasn’t as confident as she is now.

Knocking on the team principal's door, he called for her to come in, the female opened the door and saw Toto behind his desk, he took off his glasses and sat them on the table. Cecilia closed the door behind her and greeted the Austrian man. She really admires Toto so much. 

“I hope you aren’t reconsidering.” Toto said once they sat down, Cecilia across from him.

“No, no I haven’t but you may change your mind.” Cecilia said pushing back her hair, a habit she developed when she’s nervous. 

“What’s wrong?” Toto frowned and leaned forward a little. 

“I should’ve told you this when you first came to be, but I was a bit hesitant and admittedly scared.” Cecilia started out, she looked at Toto, she wasn’t ashamed or embarrassed, and she’d understand if he changed his mind. “So, uh, what would you say if I told you I’m in a relationship with another driver.”

Toto leaned back in his chair, it isn’t as bad as he thought, everyone already knows about Nathalie, Mclaren did a good job handling the media in that aspect, but if Cecilia and the other driver came out to the public then it’ll be something Mercedes and the other team will have to deal with.

“Who is it?” Toto asked, and tried to think of who the female has been spending a lot of time with, however her group of friends is big, she’s the only female, there’s a lot of males, but he was leaning towards Charles. The two are a fan favourite, and they spend a lot of time together.

“Max.” Cecilia didn’t take her eyes off Toto, she tried to read him but he was giving him nothing.

“Verstappen?” He had to be sure.

“Yes.”

“How long?”

“Start of lockdown, so just a little under a year.”

“Huh.” He wasn’t expecting this, RedBull is Mercedes’ biggest rival, but regardless he never saw that one coming, they let nothing on. Nothing different from other drivers that is. 

“It hasn’t affected my driving, me and him on track we’re rivals, I’ve done so much better last year than the year before it, and we’ve never shared anything about our teams, so secrecy is something you don’t have to scared of, I - I’ve always wanted to drive for Mercedes and I’ll never do anything to sabotage that.” Cecilia may have word vomited but she wanted to get her words out before Toto made his decision. 

“I can see that, this hasn’t changed my opinion, but to be sure, we’ll have an NDA written up for you as well.” Toto said and Cecilia nodded, fair is fair. 

“Yeah, whatever you want.” Cecilia breathed a sigh of relief, they talked a little more before she went to leave.

“Cecilia.” Toto called the driver. “I trust you, welcome to the team.”

“Thank you.”

She called Max once she was out of the building.

“What did he say?” Was the first thing that came out of Max’s mouth when he picked up. 

“He said I’m in the team, it doesn't change anything, but i’ll have to sign an NDA.” Cecilia was smiling like crazy. “What about you? When are you telling Christian?”

“Uh, I don’t know, I don’t know if I should tell him first or dad first.” Max has been debating this for a while, his mum and sister already met you, but his dad is in the dark about this.

“Who will make the bigger deal about it?” She already knew, but she isn’t going to say it.

“My- my dad probably.” He hated how he knew his dad would react, he won’t be happy.

“Then tell Christian, that way you have backup.” Cecilia knows how intense Jos can be, Max loves him but he’s done some questionable things and Cecilia just doesn’t want Max to face him alone, she doesn’t know how much of a help she can be. “We can invite him over, he can meet my parents.”

“No, no he’ll want me to tell him first.” Cecilia hummed.

“Let’s talk more when I’m back.” Cecilia said they were currently in the UK, Christian invited Max and Perez to his house, and Cecilia had her meetings and things with Mercedes to wrap up before the beginning of the season.

The day before the dinner Christian was hosting at his estate, Max met him one on one. Max went to his house for more privacy, the men sat in Christian’s office alone so they could talk.

“What’s on your mind?” Christian knew Max since he was young, and he likes to believes he knows him very well, he could tell his driver wanted to tell him something but was hesitant.

“What would you say if I was dating someone that works for another team?” Max asked, wanting to see his reaction to that question before dropping the big bomb.

“As long as there’s no secrets shared, then I don’t see anything wrong with it.” Christian answered growing curious, his mind tried to run over all the people he saw Max with from other teams, but he came blank, he only saw Max with other drivers, they’re the only people he interacted with from other teams. “What team?”

“Would it matter?” Max asked his face not showing any emotion, he had his walls up at that moment. 

“Not really, but I would like to know.” 

“Mcl-Mercedes.” It clicked in Christain’s mind who Max was talking about, Mclaren to Mercedes, Cecilia.

“You both have to know that when it comes out, and it will at one point, that Cecilia will be getting a lot of hate.” Christian warned, the female in his eyes has been causing a bit of a stir since she came into the sport. She is talented, he has to admit, but she’s a PR nightmare in his opinion. Mercedes definitely have their hands full with her now. He doesn’t really want her to distract Max either, but for Max to come tell him he must be serious about it.

“We’ve talked about it, we know the risk.” Max clenched his jaw.

“She has a daughter.”

“I know.” 

“How long have you been together?”

“Start of lockdown.” this was kind of a repeat of what Cecilia had to go through, but it was expected, both team principals wanted the best for their teams and drivers, both are doing well and they want them to do better, any distraction could coast them points and championship.

“Okay, bring her with you tomorrow, I want to meet her officially.” Christian had to see them together to make a decision, upsetting Max won’t get him anywhere. He never really spoke with Cecilia, he’s of course spoken about her in the media and has seen her around the paddock and what not but he doesn’t think they spoke a word to each other, maybe a polite hello in passing.

Christian is happy he asked Max to bring Cecilia, it’s his first time seeing Max let go and laugh and just have fun like he was at that moment, his arm was around Cecilia. They looked happily in love, always making sure the other was close. 

A few drivers were also present, Daniel, Pierre, Alex and Checo. And they all knew, no doubt about it. No one batted an eyelash at the couple, to be honest the drivers were used to the couple in private they were always stuck at the hip. You wouldn’t know it though if you saw them in any place that had cameras and phones that didn’t belong to any of their friends and people they trusted. They’re so good at hiding their relationship. 

“This is why women shouldn’t be in sports.” Helmut muttered under his breath his distaste to the female clear as he glared her down, Christian sighed, having caught his words. 

“Try to not let Max hear you.” Christian advised, Max is a protective person by nature, he loves his friends and family, his close circle he holds close to him and doesn’t like anyone to come near them and that includes Cecilia now.

“Well, he needs to wake up.” Helmut didn’t let it go, taking a swing from his drink.

“That’s the thing, he is.” Christian pats his shoulder and walks away, leaving the old man on his own sulking.

Christian knew then that any thought about breaking them up would cause more trouble than it’s worth, that only brought on one question, how the hell are they supposed to tell Jos? 

Max was at the RedBull factory to run some simulator work, and Jos had made it there. He stood back watching Max as he ran through the tests, his eyes like a hawk taking in every little mistake. 

Christian just made it in the room, seeing Jos’s imposing aura. Let’s just say that a lot of the RB mechanics like to stay away from the Dutchman. Christian makes his way over to Jos, they greet each other before they watch Max finish up. 

Max and Christian share a look before Christian leads the father son duo to his office for privacy. It’s now or never, Jos will be mad that he’s not the first to know, but as the season starts and progresses Christian has an inkling that more people will know.

“What’s going on?” Jos asks, seeing the look on both their faces.

“Nothing, I just wanted to tell you something?” Max said his eyes met his dad’s. “I am seeing Cecilia… Hansson.”

“What? Seeing her? Seeing her as in-” The frown on his face and the distaste in his voice is very telling about what he was feeling. 

“Dating, we’ve been dating for almost a year now.” Max confirms and he holds his dad’s gaze, Jos’s face got red his frown looked like it got stuck.

“Jos this may have come as a shock but-” Christian said as he tried to stop Jos from saying anything that’ll blow the subject out of proportions. 

“But nothing! She’s a rival, she’s always been a rival, a mclaren driver!” “Mercedes.” “Doesn’t fucking matter! What are you thinking Max?”

“Dad you’re making a big deal out of nothing.” Max tried to calm his dad, but he barely said his words before he was interrupted once again.

“You can date anyone, why does it have to be her? She’ll distract you, or take information out of you to Mercedes, this is irresponsible, I didn’t spend years getting you here for you to throw it all way from some woman! She’s only here because of her money, she’s always been in the sport because of her money, and-and she has a daughter, a fucking child Max! She’s a whore-”

“DAD! Stop okay! Stop.” Max was on his feet in an instant 

“Jos that’s enough.” Jos was glaring at his son almost panting. “This isn’t helping, Jos, I talked to Max about it and both him and Cecilia have signed contracts to keep any and all info about the other team a secret.” Christian said and sighed looking at both men. “Max sit down, just sit down.” Max sat back in his chair, but the frown on his face stayed. “Now can we be civil about this and talk it out."

"There's nothing to talk about." Jos dismissed Christian his glare still fixated on his son. Max scoffed, he really doesn't like fighting with his dad but Cecilia is a fact not an option and if he has any say in it isn't going anywhere. 

"I'm leaving then, when you want to talk call me." Max left the room before any of the older men could say anything. 

Horner sighed and rubbed his forehead in defeat. This isn't what he had hoped for. He now had the task of talking to Jos on his own. 

Yeah, Jos was unconvinced. The season just started and he's still unconvinced. She was under instruction from Max to not speak with him alone, so when she was walking around the paddock and saw the Dutch man walking her way she did a 180 and started walking the other way, spotting an Aston Martin kit walking close by she changed her direction and slipped by people until she reached the older man’s side.

“Quick act like we’re in deep conversation and shouldn’t be interrupted.” Cecilia whisper shouted and the German driver looked confused, he could see Cecilia’s eye kept darting to someone over his shoulder, he only managed to take a peak. “Don’t look!”

“Mind telling me why you’re hiding for Jos?” Sebastian was confused, he had no idea why she’d be hiding from the father of her boyfriend, unless. “Did you and Max break up?”

“What? No!” She said instantly sounding offended by the statement.

“Then why are you hiding from his dad?”

“He doesn’t like me, and I’m under instructions to avoid him.” Cecilia told Sebastian who moved so she’s mostly hidden by him, only then Cecilia’s eyes settled on Seb’s.

“Why deosn’t he like you?” Seb knew how harsh Jos can be, but Cecilia is an incredible woman, who anyone would be lucky to have her.

“Uh not 100% sure but it’s along of the lines of, I’m a rival, I’m a teen parent, I’m a female ruining the sport, and I’m a spy… yeah that’s it… i think… that I know of.” Cecilia nodded to herself once she listed.

“Huh.” 

“Yeah.”

“Only one thing you listed is true.” Seb pointed out and Cecilia shrugged muttering an ‘I don't know’. “It’s stupid, but I think Max will get it handled.”

“Hope so, because that would make family gatherings awkward.” Cecilia laughed it off, but it bothered her, of course it did. She hates being the reason why the Verstappen men were fighting, things are tense between them and in turn the garage, but there’s nothing she could do. She’s not leaving Max, and she likes to believe that Max isn’t leaving her as well.

Cecilia has managed to stay out of Jos’ way, even though it was hard. It seemed like the man was everywhere all of the sudden, Max still wasn’t talking to his father but Jos insisted on coming to almost every race. 

It was the Dutch GP round 13, Max’s home race. That meant that a lot of his family were present, including his mum and sister. Max did book a place for the four of them to have dinner the day after the race.

Qualifying day. Cecilia was somehow alone at the Mercedes garage sitting at a table in the corner going over some data, the garage was in a state of unusual calm. In a few hours the calm will be gone  and the storm will be here. Cecilia was in her own world with her headphones on and focused on the papers in her hands, she was startled when she heard the chair in front of her scrape on the floor as it was dragged. She looked up and her heart dropped, meeting eyes that are familiar in colour but nothing else. 

“Mr. Verstappen.” Cecilia has never really spoken to Jos before, not when they were young and certainly not when she got into F1. her headphones were off and the papers on the table facing down.

“Drop the formalities, why are you with my son?” Cecilia was startled to say the least, her eyes moved around the garage, and a couple mechanics eyed the man in suspicion. 

“W-what? what do you mean?” This is one of the last things she expected him to ask, to be honest she just expected him to tell her to break up with Max and maybe call her a few names and that’s it. 

“You can’t be that slow.” the Dutch glared at Cecilia, she blinked a few times, she was too stunned.

“With all due respect, Mr Verstappen, but the reason I’m dating your son is between me and him.” Cecilia said gaining her bearings, she isn’t about to allow Jos to walk all over her, those days of men disrespecting her and her taking it are over. “But I’m sure you can take out a few things.” Cecilia held his menacing gaze and didnt waver as she started counting on her fingers. “It’s not for money, i have more than enough, it’s not for red bull secrets, I never asked about a single thing about Red Bull, it’s not for attention, no one knows but our friends and family.” She shrugs and laeans back in her chair. “So you can rest assured that I’m not using your son.”

“This is bullshit, you’re trapping him.” Jos pointed his finger at the table, his anger clear as day, he didn’t like her tone and her nonchalant attitude. “And just because your family is okay with this, doesn’t mean that we are.”

“Sophie and Victoria are okay with us, besides-“

“You met them?” He asked in disbelief, he’s usually at every race so it made sense in his mind that he’d be the one to meet Cecilia first.

“Yes.” Cecilia muttered, thinking that maybe it was a bad decision to tell him this.

“Un-fucking-believable.”

“With respect, Mr verstappen, but Max isn’t a child, he knows what’s best for him and he’s a good judge of character.” Cecilia said leaning closer to the table, she never wanted to be on bad terms with Max’s dad, but when he came in with prejudice and his own opinions and notions it was hard not to take the defensive side.

“Jos! I don’t believe you have access to the Mercedes garage.” Cecilia felt a hand on her shoulder, but she didn’t have to look up to see it’s her team principal. 

“I was just leaving.” Jos muttered his glare moved from Cecilia to Toto, but the Mercedes principal didn’t let it affect him, family matters always leaves people a bit sensitive.

“Maybe you should trust your son’s judgments.” Toto said for the Dutch as he was leaving, but Jos didn’t react at all to this. “Are you okay, Cece?”

“Yes, thank you.” Cecilia looked up at Toto with a smile of gratitude.

“No worries, some of the mechanics were a bit startled to see Jos here so they called me.” Even if they only called Toto in fear of information being stolen it still made Cecilia feel more welcomed and loved in her new team.

Cecilia took out her phone and pressed Max’s name from her recently called list. 

“Cilia, I’m a bit busy.” Max said once he picked up, the only reason he picked up is because they usually never call each other in the middle of working hours only text.

“Sorry, amour but your dad was just here-“

“Did something happen? Did he do something?” Max cuts her off and steps away from his engineers.

“No-no, we talked and I may have said that your mum and victoria know about us and he’s a bit pissed at that.” Cecilia wasn’t about to tell Max everything before quali, they’ll sit down and talk later in her hotel room at the end of the day.

“Anything else happen?” Max asked, he knows how his father can get, there has to be more.

“Nothing that couldn’t wait until tonight.” Cecilia answered him and looks around her garage from her spot in the corner.

“Cilia tell-.”

“Max, nothing will change from now to tonight, you should get back to what you were doing.”

“Okay, but if he comes over again you call me okay?”

“Okay… He'll come around and I love you mon amour.”

“I hope so, and I love you too.”

username1: here's a thread of my fave queen Cecilia killing the fashion game week after week on and off the paddock

She has me on mmy knees

i LOVE her

when said COLOURSSS

more colours

username2: I'm adding some of Cecilia and Nathalie matching outfits bc can cecilia adopt me plz

no bc like i can wash the dishes and do the laundery

Next->

Taglist:

@luciaexcorvus . @vellicora . @tpwkstiles . @belennasif  . @eugene-emt-roe . @fanboyluvr . @fangirl125reader , @christianpulisic10 . @belennasif . @itsjustkhaos . @crashingwavesofeuphoria . @mynameisangeloflife . @mirrorball-6 .

[valyrfia]

i was thinking about the drivers who don’t have a wdc yet and are most likely to win one in the next 5 years with their current team and this is what i came up with re - their chances:

1. charles - i think his best chance to win his first is 2025. now inarguably, ferrari is the team which has the most left to gain from these set of regulations. they have made some absolutely stupid development choices and still they are pretty competitive? if the rumors are true and they are switching their suspension for next year, it should gear the car balance more towards charles and and that’s all he needs to win races consistently. and i don’t think lewis would instantly be comfortable enough in a new team to contend for the championship (i might be wrong) but charles is the ferrari man.

2. george - my intuition is that mercedes is going to nail the 2026 regulations. and purely that’s why george is probably winning the championship in 2026. he mostly won’t get intense competition from kimi until atleast his 3rd year in f1 just because he is still so young. and max is not leaving red bull before 2026 because switching teams before regulations change would be stupid.

3. lando - now this is where it gets interesting. maybe i don’t really like the guy too much but imo his best chance to win a wdc is 2024. mclaren have a significant pace advantage over the rest rn but it’s not going to stay that way. they will hit a development ceiling and teams will converge. and i think mclaren are going to implement team orders to help lando this year and just because oscar is still in his 2nd season and a little further away from lando in points, he will have to oblige. but this is mostly the last year lando will have that advantage over oscar and unless one of them switch teams, none of them are winning a wdc.

4. oscar - i see him winning a wdc after 2026. now i don’t know out of him and lando, who is leaving the team but i am sure one of them is going to red bull in the future.

i haven’t taken aston martin and newey into account here yet because there are just too many unknowns in that team right now. but somehow i have the feeling they are not going to cook as everyone is expecting them to.

sorry this is so long but i thought since you love hypotheticals you might have some thoughts on this!

I agree with this analysis! Ferrari haven't actually been that bad this time round with the regulations, and while I'm sure they're also looking to nail 2026, they've been vocal about aiming for 2025 with the arrival of Lewis. It will be interesting to see how Ferrari might handle Charles being the one with the championship charge considering their other driver is Lewis Hamilton though...they don't have the best track record with team orders as is.

I agree that Toto is putting all his willpower into the 2026 regulations, however I'm not sure this will mean Merc will win in 2026 necessarily, considering Ferrari are focusing on the same thing. I think Merc will jump back up the field again (since I would probably place as the 4th fastest car in this set of regulations). I also think there's a high possibility that politics at Merc will start to go bad, fast. Toto's made it clear that he wants Max, and if Kimi performs well George could be in real danger. I think Toto will be backing Kimi for WDC contention from 2026 onwards (hence why he wanted him in the car for 2025), so I unfortunately don't see George winning a WDC with Mercedes.

Lando is interesting, because I think there's a good chance that if he gets a WDC, he'll pull a Nico Rosberg and retire from F1 and focus on Quadrant and other pursuits. I get the feeling especially in the last year that F1 is bringing him far more grief than joy, and the massive backlash hasn't helped. I think this is his best year to win that WDC–Andrea Stella wants the future of McLaren to be Oscar and has made that quite clear, and I don't see them choosing him to be their championship contender in the future after this year just from the perspective of "well we tried that, it didn't work". If Lando doesn't win this year, I think he'll stick around for a few more years and maybe even move to Red Bull if Max moves to Mercedes, but I think this might be his clearest chance at the WDC. Especially if the rumours about team orders are true– if McLaren are front of the field again next year, they're giving Oscar priority. I actually DON'T think this is entirely fair–if a decision like this was to be made essentially trading off Lando's WDC chance next year, it needed to be made before the summer break since that points deficit to Max gets harder and harder to overcome with each passing race. But I agree, this is Lando's best shot at it.

Oscar might be a possibility for next year (again if the team orders rumours are true), but we've seen him not be able to beat Charles (who would likely be another title contender) for the last couple of races despite Charles being in a far worse car. So, I would think it's more likely that Oscar fights Charles for future titles once Charles has a WDC, or Oscar is fighting the Mercedes that is being built around Kimi Antonelli. I don't think Oscar will go to Red Bull purely because of Mark Webber–I think Lando is more likely at this point to get pushed out of McLaren.

I will add two things: first I don't think we need to worry about Aston and Newey. This is Newey's retirement project and while I can see Aston improving (and maybe even getting Fernando Alonso a race win), they won't be title contenders. Second, Max Verstappen is a wildcard still. Either he retires soon, or for all the talk of retirement when he was dominating, losing that top step has turned the hunt back on in him and he will want to fight for another WDC after 2024. I can see him moving to Mercedes, or if Lewis ends his Ferrari contract early (as I suspect he might), moving to Ferrari. Heavy on the Ferrari especially, considering Charles has said he'd have Max as a teammate, Fred is obviously deranged enough to go with two n1 drivers as a driver pairing, Max has a personal Michael Schumacher connection, and Ferrari have a history of wanting WDCs in their seats.

[supermaks]

No but what is red bull doing with this car??? I just can't understand how they're suddenly having so much issues. It feels like the McLaren car is great in every track while we're are struggling everywhere.

My impression is that mclaren have now a superior car and they might put some serious pressure on the championship. No hate to the mclaren drivers, but they're not doing justice to that car. The only reason max keeps winning still is because he's leagues better.

Tbh its still too early to tell but the more rbr talks about the suspension and what they think the problem is, the more sense it makes to me. Its not at all a new thing, actually its kinda part of the design itself. Like the red bull philosophy wid the 2022 regs was to maximize the aerodynamic components by keeping the suspension as stiff as possible. rb18 and the rb19 were uncompromising cars from the start, but the ground force generated was so ahead of everybody elses rbr cud have the most rigid mechanical components and still produce better lap times than the competition just because they were able to lower their rear very consistently. So for instance they get to an outlier like Singapore that has such bumpy characteristics and like explode but it doesnt matter because for most of the calendar the ride height holds and they have the advantage. Its a very milton keynes adrian newey led type of compromise regarding car design which means its not a compromise at all and it kinda expects its immediate and total sovereignty to be its own justification. I dont think rbr is doing anything 'wrong' wid the car, its just that the car was always bound to hit a limit in performance and kinda coasted on other team's setbacks. That and yes, there are lil operational mistakes throughout race weekends happening rn that didnt exist last year and cud be attributed to some uncertainty regarding car development, the turmoil inside the organization, some fatigue, etc. Time will tell if they can fix the problem or if its something to try and minimize until the next regulatory cycle

About the Mclaren, and why it looks so spooky, seems MTC have been able to develop a car that not only employs the same suspension trick as rbr, but is able to make it work to its full potential, particularly by absorbing bumps and kerbs more effectively, which is something the rb20 as of now cant do. Basically its an all around more balanced car wid better handling. Without the first SC yesterday Lando wud have put a 20 sec gap no problem. By fp3 both Mclarens were already lapping like 2 seconds faster than the rb20 so like clearly that pace is here to stay. Whether itll translate into a full fledged wdc fight it will depend on the next big 4 updates because all the top cars have room to improve in the upcoming european leg. mcl38 has a lot of potential tho and not being hindered by the suspension the way rb20 is makes it a significant threat. Also like Mclaren is still making some basic strategy errors that usually tend to go away once the team settles more into its new role in the competition.

Ab ur last comment, idk personally I think zak browns bj brothers are doing a really good job keeping pressure and staying consistent, especially Lando, but its also their first taste of a truly competitive car so its normal for them to miss out on some pole positions or maybe not drive some stints as well. I think Ive commented on this before but sometimes it does come down to experience. 2023 had some hints of a possible Mclaren resurgence but they were few and too spaced out for the drivers to be able to truly build on it. On the other side u have a world champion coming out of 3 consecutive title runs 1 of which was one of the most competitive in recent memory, and another the most dominant. Mclaren is intent on building momentum and Max wont let them. Rbr are in limbo but Max isnt. Wid much respect to everybody else but like either put ur best foot forward every time or better luck next year 😐

[smallbearlady]

Okay I need to get something off as a both Daniel and Yuki Fan

Before you come for me: Personally i root a little bit more for Daniel than for Yuki, non the less i wish BOTH! the best: points, podiums, wins, championships.

Before even the 2024 season started regarding silly season I came to the conclusion:

- I want to see Yuki Tsunoda in the second seat for Red Bull Racing besides Max Verstappen -

- I want Daniel Ricciardo to keep the seat at VCARB and Liam Lawson to become his teammate"

And here is why:

1. Daniel is a better asset for the Faenza Team than for Red Bull Racing in Milton Keynes

2. Red Bull Racing need to face the problem in case they loose Max Verstappen and their future in the sport

3. For years Yuki has been overlooked as canditate for the second seat at Red Bull Racing although he is outperforming his car since atleast the beginning of 2023

4. They loose the purpose of the Faenza Team if they choose drivers outside the Red Bull Family yet again

+

5. If that doesn't work out with Yuki and they need an expierenced driver because the competition found a way to beat Red Bull - they still can swap out Yuki for Daniel when needed

Welcome to my Ted Talk

1. Daniel is a better asset for the Faenza Team than for Red Bull Racing in Milton Keynes

When you listen to the interviews from Peter Bayer, Laurent Mekies and Franz Tost (last year), everyone always said & still say that Daniel is a great asset in term of developing and setting up the car

To quote Franz "He has an incredible feel for the car" and Peter "With his feel and developement advises he is also helping Yuki"

They were so happy last year that Daniel was there in Singapore to help setting up the car tho he himself couldn't drive, even claiming the he was an additional factor to why Liam got points in that race (i could talk hours about singapore23 trust me)

Red Bull Racing dont need someone for developing because of the current state of them dominating and being miles ahead their competiors and be able to create a car for Max smashing the whole grid

And wouldn't it be awesome to see VCARB podiums and wins like Pierre Gasly did with this Team in 2019 - 2021 ...

thinking about Daniels Renault time in 2020 and feeling that he was the asset that helped their performance jump between 2019 and 2020

2. Red Bull Racing need to face the problem in case they loose Max Verstappen

Red Bull Racing needs to look into how they will proceed to be on to top in the case when Max leaves the sport (or to another team which i doubt) (which could be quite soon on how often Max already talked about retirement)

For that you need young talented drivers to make the step up because they can still develope themselves into a better driver and they also prob stay longer than driver who already drove over 10 years

Alonso and Hamilton are exceptions in their field and as we know WDCs usually stay longer in the sport as just race winners or podium getter or point bringers. Formula 1 also has the problem that they are almost either affraid of bringing in rookies because they are more likely to make mistakes or love to hold onto their old (washed) drivers

Too many young drivers were really good coming through the ranks of F4 F3 and F2 but never got a chance in F1. The case of Oscar Piastri who smashed everthing in F2 in 2021 still had to wait and fight to get that McLaren seat or it was moreover Mark Webber, who had to fight. Most drivers dont have a well known Manager to get those deals.

So i totally understand why Marko said that Liam Lawson WILL HAVE A SEAT IN 2025.

But I feel like Liam still has to proof his worth for some years in the VCARB before stepping up to Red Bull Racing.

3. For years Yuki has been overlooked as canditate for the second seat at Red Bull Racing although he is outperforming his car since atleast the beginning of 2023

Red Bull Racing themselfs prob still have PTSD from 2019 and 2020 with Gasly and Albon. That years showed that the big team doesn't have the patience to develope a rookie like Lawson. They also had luck with Max in that term but also had to go through a lot of crashes and imperfections back then.

Yuki Fan expierence this bias against Yuki far to long. To me in my mind come how the media shitted on Yuki in Mexico for his mistake when he was trying to overtake Oscar. The media shitted in Yuki more than on Checo Perez who took himself out.

As recap: Yuki on that day started from the back bc he got a new gearbox which was 1 aditional change to max allowed gearbox changes of the season. He started from the back and made up places, he got into the points and with his mistake he fell out of the points. You also have to understand that he was stuck behind Piastri for multiple laps to try to find an opening to overtake and prob got frustrated

Besides of that happening Yuki showed a very good race craft and teamwork in qualifying that weekend.

But regarding the Red Bull Racing seat - they barely name him, though he had very very good 2023 season regarding the car he was given

In the beginning of 2023 it was often said in the Media that Nyck De Vries was a possible candidate for the RBR seat and that Nyck will be the teamleader of AT because of his expierence and age according to Helmut Marko

And Yuki smashed that Media say with beating Nyck last year ... kinda similar how he is beating Daniel right now and the fuss about Daniel taking the

Or how Yuki Fans say: All voices that rise against Yuki shall fall

In that and also considering the precious point I am really annoyed about the fact that Checo Perez only has to do the bare minimum to keep his seat and drivers in less good cars work their ass off to get nothing out of it. Ofcourse rn he looks like he is handeling the car this years RB20 better than the RB19 .. as we saw last year that can change midseason with the increase of competion and car developements

Again - the idea of Yuki (and Daniel) may be closer to Max in quali and race pace than Checo overall but we dont know because they dont sit in the same car

4. They loose the purpose of the Faenza Team if they choose drivers outside the Red Bull Family yet again

This point is regarding the rumor about that maybe Sainz or Alonso are targeted for the second seat at Red Bull Racing if Perez doesnt perform.

If they take someone outside the family 2 current drivers have to go. There are already 3 drivers for 2 seats since Helmut Marko already sees Liam Lawson in the VCARB (they could have signed the contract already).

I see that they maybe eye Sainz (als a Carlos Sainz Fan too) as a possibility since him also being an ex-Red Bull Junior ... but i think i remember Marko saying that the mood the Torro Rosso 2015 wasn't ideal bc the drivers, mechanic and especially the DADS competing directly (Franz Tost enjoyed it according to his interview end of last year and i too would watch Papa Sainz and Jos battle it out)

Marko too said last year he'd loved to have Norris, but Lando dedicated his life to McLaren. Charles dedicated his to Ferrari and I also see how Alex Albon future is within Williams since Red Bull never really apprechiated him when he was there in 2019 & 2020

There is no reason to look outside the family if you have enough good drivers to sign and resign within the family

+

5. If that doesn't work out with Yuki and they need an expierenced driver because the competition found a way to beat Red Bull - they still can swap out Yuki for Daniel when needed

This is a lead back to the first point.

It only makes sense to sign Daniel Ricciardo for the Red Bull Racing seat if Red Bull Racing needs him in that seat.

If Perez can't give Max and the Team the teamplay or the performance they need from him, Red Bull has to make changes. Currently Yuki - a young and good driver - looks like the better and more long term replacement option out of both VCARB drivers. If Yuki fails too, then i would give the seat to Daniel and hope for the best.

Because if there is 1 thing we all know is that Daniel can be a beast in the Red Bull Racing car. That car (according to himself at the red bull interview with is race engineer) has still the characteristic that he (and Max) loves about that car and the Red Bull Racing Team know what kind of car Daniel wants and needs to perform and the kind of car in that Daniel can show his beast (honey badger) in him.

------

The season only just started and we barely had 3 race ... McLaren achieve a total overturn midseason last year ... lets watch and see what happens

Love y'all

Have a nice day

[inchidentally]

Something that i really noticed with that last video mclaren posted, the way oscar talks when he’s around lando vs how he talks when he’s alone. Like that aussie vs british words video which was probably filmed not that long ago from now, oscar is completely showing his sass and not holding back at all with his thoughts, doesn’t even care what the interviewer finds weird (obviously still in a respectful way, bc he was raised right) But when he’s with lando it’s like he reigns himself back because he wants to relish in lando’s sass instead, he wants to hear his thoughts and he’s genuinely interested in him and what he’s saying. Everyone keeps saying we miss prema Oscar, but prema oscar never left, based on that video he’s obviously still like that. it’s not even that he wasn’t comfortable enough as a rookie or not well settled in yet to show his character in his first year or that he was only following lando’s lead(which he was to some extent) but it’s been an entire season and he STILL waits for lando to speak first and waits for him to finish his sentences with exceptionally long pauses. He just loves hearing him. And even with lando’s tendency to ramble sometimes and oscar wioild still listen to a meaningless ramble from him bc he adores him. Sigh

They’re made for each other(I’m delusional)

OKAY BUT I hear you so much anon and I just want to lead into smth that has been cooking around for me about this since I fully agree w you, the Oscar we see with Lando is curiously different and quieter than Oscar with anyone else.

and I think this comment on the latest video hit the nail on the head?? in a way the person prob didn't think was that deep ??

bc of speaking the same language to the point of semi-mind reading but now ugh you've got to bring Other People along on your conversations and translate everything..........

so like y'know how Lando and Max F always look a little like they're going to burst out laughing when they have to put on their on-camera personalities in a Quadrant video? when you're around a close friend where you both normally speak in like half sentences bc you don't need to fill in the rest, it gets weird when you have to translate all of that out loud for the benefit of other people watching?

seeing Lando and Oscar's relationship develop over the season and now into the new one with this interview, I'm actually starting to think that's way more the case w them as well. we all joke about the twinning and unconscious mirroring but it makes all kinds of sense that considering how similar Oscar and Max F are in many ways that Lando would have a similar dynamic with Oscar - where it's not always easy to include the general public and have to bring all of us along.

the like, overlapping sentences and watching each other's expressions thing is so similar in both those relationships as well. same as when Lando is in A Mood where he's either hyper or giddy or low-blood sugar argumentative and Oscar and Max are basically following around after him like adults making sure a worn out toddler doesn't smash their head into sharp edges lahflashf.

and with the other F1 Lando friends like Carlos, George, Daniel Alex, Yuku, Max V etc, Lando is fully a gossipy chatterbox and pretty high energy - even when they're filmed casually or candidly. those friendships revolve around F1 and shared activities like padel, golf, gossip or going out/partying. it isn't that guys like Max F or Oscar couldn't easily slot in with those groups, I just think it's more that they're a different type of friendship with Lando. the streams don't usually cross in Lando's life, or very very occasionally. and I feel like he's even said he likes keeping the different parts of his life a bit separate?

so initially it kind of threw a lot of us when he seemed so relatively quiet and less of his usual 'on camera personality' around Oscar rather than seeing his usual teammate Lando Effect of jumping into a bromance, leaning into humor and figuring out a shared activity. and that usually includes lots of social media content together for fans.

but Lando and Oscar never post about when they hang out - even when 'contractually obliged' - and we only find out incidentally or bc someone else mentions it or posts pics. and from what we do find out incidentally, it makes you wonder about what else we're missing. it's just the usual things that a lot of drivers do together but Lando and Oscar prefer not to broadcast it for some reason.

and when you think about it both Oscar and Lando keep a certain percentage of their lives strategically offline already (Oscar way more obv) and it's like they automatically inserted each other into that part of each other's social life rather than a fan-facing one?

like obviously I'm just going off what we can see but they've been pretty damn consistent about it. Lily is obv a major part of Oscar's life and he has this whole set of close friends from boarding school who've gone to races as well as a set of old friends back in Australia - but apart from the occasional post of Lily, we only know any of that part of his life from Oscar mentioning it in passing or incidentally from a post by someone else or a fan sighting. Lando has a whole existence with close friends in Monaco that fans have tried and failed to squirrel out that Lando himself only mentions in passing and never posts about. he posts Martin but goes very shy and doesn't want to talk about him or their friendship in interviews.

and then Lando and Oscar have all these little in-joke moments and watching each other super closely and almost actively concealing the time they spend together that isn't requisite… and then little touching moments like Lando posting Oscar giving him a small smile on lando.jpg as the first slide so that the black heart caption sits underneath. and Oscar staying up all night after Vegas liking comments about Lando's crash and leaving that little papaya heart under the post of McLaren announcing that Lando was discharged safe and sound from hospital. at like 5am and apparently either when Lando was with him or after he'd left him.

idk it's just such a weird case of kismet that Oscar became a serious Lando fan when they were 14 and 16 respectively, their karting journeys both went through Ricky Flynn, Oscar and Max F knew each other in the Renault Academy, their paths crossed in an interview where Lando (who doesn't really talk much about the junior categories) said "not yet" when asked if they'd raced each other. and then Oscar arrives against a LOT of odds as Lando's new teammate and he's got zilch in common with Carlos or Daniel for Lando to fall back on and it's the worst start to the season of Lando's entire career… yet it ends up being the most immediately strong partnership Lando's ever had ?? there's no mixed dynamic to overcome or huge disparity in anything, not even an age difference and they share a double podium not once but twice while Oscar is still a rookie ??

and like, Oscar's in so many ways set up to fit in perfectly with the more low-key friendships Lando has in his non F1 life. bc from what it seems, Lando likes hanging out at home playing games and eating takeout and just chilling quietly as much as he does the glamour of F1 and touring the world and being a businessman. and I feel like he's even said somewhere how he needs to have that balance in his life rather than just being an F1 guy or just being the guy who stays at luxury resorts with famous friends.

so this separate little world that even casual fans seem to pick up on feels like it's because they genuinely fit together so well as people but also happen to make extraordinarily great teammates and I get why Lando keeps bringing up what will happen when they're battling for a WDC with that worried little shadow over his face bc it's one thing to have a bromance buddy teammate where you can shove each other around and laugh and hug off the tension… totally another when it's someone you feel is so similar to you and feel so strange when you're both having to pretend to talk 'normally' on camera and even weirder imagining you both on separate sides of a competition rather than joined together for it ???

like, they wouldn't necessarily have known each other if they weren't teammates and as teammates they're both talking about WDCs in cautious but confident tones and saying how they have 'years together' but also the tension of being each other's biggest competition and measure of success without any of the usual bro-ey fun of being Good Mates or Cabrones bc Lando and Oscar aren't bros and they're not dudes and they don't shove each other around or make loud jokes so how do you diffuse tension when you can psychically sort of connect and the bleed of what you want for each other and yourselves doesn't have that easy delineated relationship boundary bc Lando and Max have had to delicately and carefully navigate something similar and they couldn't just crack a joke or slap each other on the back in a hug and sort it all out bc that's now how they are together they actually talk and they make considered kind and gentle effort and it's too embarrassing to tell people about that unless you feel absolutely safe and chat is unusually chill and idk idk idk the similarities with Lando and Oscar and the complexities man !!!!!

idk as per usual this JUST my brain chewing all of this over and is NOT me thinking I actually know what's going on but it sure helps to offload it here where I know some of us will prob be like 'oh yea I get what that btch is saying' <3<3

[loveforlandonorris]

🎤 Lando at the Drivers' Press Conference before the Bahrain GP:

(This video isn't mine, I'm in the UK so I can't access F1 TV sadly 😔 This video was uploaded on YouTube but has since been removed. Also only the first few Journalist Questions were shown in the video, so although they weren't shown, Lando did answer some questions, they're in the transcript)

Transcript

Interviewer: So, Lando, you're closest to me, so you'll start off. Um, obviously, we've had a bit of a break since, uh, the testing, and McLaren last year made such a rapid rate of development. Where are you at ahead of the first race? What are your thoughts and feelings?

Lando: Uh... good question.

Interviewer: Come on, Carlos (Carlos arrives late)

Lando: (Laughs) Uh... yes, it's a question I think everyone's asking. I think we kind of have a rough idea of where we're at, but, um... we don't actually really know where we stand comparing to a few other teams. I think it's clear - the top two, then there's a bit of a bunch behind, which is Mercedes, Aston, us, kind of thing. But in terms of just how the pre-season test went, it was a lot better than last year, and we're in a much better position than last year, so that's the most important thing.

Interviewer: Okay, brilliant.

Journalist Questions:

Q1: (Andrew Benson - BBC Sport) This is for Lewis, Lando, and Fernando. F1 as a sport has said it's making efforts to improve diversity. What's your reaction to the fact that someone accused of inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague has been left in his role and been given a platform in official press conferences while an investigation into those allegations was still ongoing?

Lando: I think it's got nothing to do with us for the time being that investigations underway, things are happening. And something I'd prefer to stay out of for now, so simple as that.

Q2 (Niharika Ghorpade - Sportskeeda): To Lando, you seem to be pessimistic after the test. Is there any area of performance you're worried about?

Lando: It's just the honest answer of, I think, where we stand. I think until we get to Friday, we get to Qualifying, it's tricky to know where we're going to stand against some other teams. I think it's pretty close with several. I think there's a lot of expectation for us as a team just because of how well we progressed last year. Certain races, we were the closest to Red Bull and definitely not far away. Certain other races we were still a long way off, you know, easily behind Mercedes, easily behind Ferrari, easily behind Red Bull and at times fighting with the teams behind that. So we were still just very inconsistent.

Bahrain has never been a good circuit for us. We've never had one of our strongest races ever in Bahrain. So I think it's way too quick to judge and just say, "okay, we're not going to be great here in Bahrain. That's the end of the season for us". I think for everyone, because everyone's so up and down, you have to give us 2 or 3, 4 or 5 races to get the first, I think, honest review of where everyone stands against one another and not just judge it off of the performance that we're going to see here in Bahrain.

A combination of things, stuff that we still need to tackle if we want to make sure we've taken a step forward, which I think we have. We've made the car quicker and that's very clear from all the data we've got. But certain things haven't allowed us to progress as much as what I would have liked and I think as we all would have liked as a team. And also some of those issues are just highlighted a lot here in Bahrain, just because of the nature of the circuit.

So I'm still confident when we go to certain circuits. We were very fast at last year, like, going back to Suzuka and things like that. I'm confident we can still be one of the best cars. But Bahrain has just not suited our car ever, necessarily. And exactly for that reason, I think that's why we're going to struggle a bit more here. But I'm confident we can turn it around later down the line.

[wedriftlikelonelyplanets]

OHHHHHHH how do you think Oscar and lando started their not quite relationship??

OH MAN OKAY SO

I didn't actually officially develop a timeline for this before starting my first fic, so I've had to think about this a little bit. I think really in the first year of Oscar's career at Mclaren, it was about feeling each other out, getting to know each other, and building a friendship.

I likely thing that after the winter break, and also after Oscar's move to Monaco, it definitely brought them closer together. I think that like both of them are really dense, though, and have been dancing around their feelings for a while

I think with Lando while not so much an age gap (they're only a couple years apart), he felt a little guilty because he didn't really want to take advantage of the rookie on the grid, so he definitely TRIED to keep his distance, but it didn't really work.

It helped that Oscar gazed at him adoringly.

Likely they started talking about being something more than just friends shortly before the first fic, which took place after the Hungarian Grand Prix, but like...they're both really good at dancing around it. It was a lot of longing gazes and hanging out together and stuff like that. On the cusp of being something more than friends.

For Oscar, he was always kind of just a little enamoured by Lando. Lando pretending to be all smooth but really he's just kind of an idiot. Lando who's funny, who likes to party probably a bit too much, who was just generally all around charming to little rookie Oscar. But Oscar's also really great at like...swooping around his feelings instead of facing them head on, so he was definitely ignoring it.

In my head, canonically, Oscar probably had a gf in his first season of F1 but it just didn't quite work, and she probably mentioned something about his longing gazes at Lando at some point.

And really, he's the one that initiated the whole thing in "Telling Me That I Gotta Behave Now," partially because well...see the 45345345 other things I've written about this 'verse and Oscar being submissive, but also because he was like "Hm I wonder if I can kinda force Lando into admitting there's feelings here so I don't have to admit it first"

Anyhow, they're stupid and I love them. I'm going to be SO totally real and say that there's HONESTLY even a likelihood that they hadn't kissed before "Telling Me That I Gotta Behave Now," and THAT is because they're both idiots.

(THOUGH I guarantee you they've both invited the other on dates and they were like "oh this definitely isn't a date")

[landinrris]

I come bearing a bit of a Carlando ficlet repurposed from an abandoned wip I mentioned in a previous fic note. Technically same year/timeline as the recent honeymoon fic. From a timeline where Lando's fighting for the championship with McLaren. This takes place during a sponsorship event early in the season and involves an ignorant brand rep and Carlos subsequently taking Lando's mind off it. Not quite nsfw, though they are them. (Also, definitely wrote this initially before silly season last summer and didn't have the heart to replace anyone upon going back through it.)

May 2024

Just because Lando’s spent the last six years being subject to the same monotonous and circle-jerk-worthy sponsor events doesn’t mean he has grown to like or enjoy them. They’re usually full of the upper echelons of who “matters” and who’s willing to write the largest cheque—meaning Lando’s stuck smiling and nodding for hours on end while he pretends to care.

He’s often stuck entertaining people’s thoughts and comments that sound like they’re trying to project an air of knowing more than he does.

Even though they never do.

While Lando’s not sure these events will ever be good, they’re at least always better when Carlos is able to be there with him. Daniel helps as well, turning them into a three-man front against condescending and underhanded remarks.

With the early races showing that Lando may well be a contender for the championship, the events he’s required to go to seem to escalate. Carlos has only been to one other event with him since the start of the season, busy with his own obligations, but he’s here tonight.

Except for the part where it’s Carlos who’s been tugged away for a conversation by Andreas of all people, leaving Lando standing off to the side with a half-empty champagne flute as perfect bait for some old fuck to corner him.

And the universe must have it out for him tonight because that’s what happens.

Some older guy who’s in charge of something or other to do with Goldman Sachs and its European branch (Lando can’t be assed to remember) pulls Lando into a conversation about the one thing Lando really wishes he wouldn’t. He reeks of cologne that lingers on the edge of too sweet, the cloying scent of red wine practically condensing in front of his mouth.

Lando pulls upon his years of politeness and PR training to stay where he is. After four sponsor events in the last month and a half, he’s rather tired of accepting their comments and strategy calls for the championship like the decision is obvious. As if the team doesn’t have months and months ahead of them with the competition close behind.

This guy starts there, like so many others, asking about how Lando feels about the team’s progress (better than during preseason now that they can see everyone’s pace), his thoughts on development (cautiously optimistic given their recent progress and his comfort level with the car), and the upcoming race (Barcelona is always fun and practically feels like home after the last few years).

It doesn’t stay there though when Mr. Goldman Sachs leans in almost conspiratorially and says, “You know, given the last few champions and standings, I think the real trick is to not be tied down to a woman while trying to be competitive.”

Lando, honest to God, chokes on his champagne, his eyes going wide despite his best efforts. “I’m sorry, sir, I don’t quite get what you mean.”

Unfortunately, this guy has no issue repeating himself. “Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, during their truly dominant seasons, never had anyone holding them back. True, you’ll find the same for a lot of the multiple champion-winning drivers. And really, maybe it’s something the teams should pay more attention to.”

Beneath the utter audacity of this man trying to start a conversation about drivers’ libidos, there’s something immensely amusing about him being so confident about Max specifically over the past few years (and that’s to say nothing about the others). Lando wants so badly to tell him Max has been in a committed relationship since 2017. He wants to see the man’s eyes grow wide, for him to choke on his words and make a stuttered apology before scampering off to talk to some other CEO. Lando keeps his mouth shut lest he accidentally creates headline-worthy news out of a fucking sponsor event, but God does he want to ruin this man’s worldview.

Mr. Goldman Sachs is rambling something about virile young men (Lando almost throws up at that one) while Lando debates asking again what position this guy holds in the company. What would the odds be of Zak renegotiating their sponsorship future over this if Lando asked?

“But you don’t have a girlfriend, I trust? Nothing to stop you from putting everything you’ve got into this championship. McLaren needs another champion. It’s been too long.” His smile is on the wrong side of leering, and Lando suppresses his shudder. He wonders if this guy even knows McLaren’s last champion, considering it’s obvious he knows little about their current front-runner.

“No sir, I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“Ah, good man,” he interjects before Lando can correct him.

“I do have a fiancé, but I don’t really anticipate it having a negative effect on my championship fight.”

Carlos, God bless him, chooses that moment to finish talking to Andreas. Lando shifts his eyes over Mr. Goldman Sachs’ shoulder and sees him approaching with an easy smile on his face, two flutes of champagne in his hands. Now is not the moment to admire Carlos in his well-tailored suit that Lando has wanted to tear off him all night, all sleek lines and sharp corners.

Especially when Mr. Goldman Sachs regrettably makes his thoughts on Lando’s relationship status known. He schools his moderately surprised expression and says just about what Lando expects from him by this point.

“Oh, well, I hope you’re right. Distance just creates such a hiccup in any relationship, let alone the stress I’m sure you’ll be under as the season unfolds. And given how focused Red Bull is on correcting their mistakes, it won’t be long with Verstappen coming through the field with a single mindset.”

The literal only thing that stops Lando from yelling that Max isn’t single and having to subsequently beg for his and Daniel’s forgiveness until the end of time, is the back of Carlos’ hand brushing against Lando’s upper arm. His smile is warm as his eyes flit back and forth between Lando and Mr. Goldman Sachs. He tilts his head enough for Lando to understand that he’s asking two questions at once.

“More champagne? Andreas needed my opinion on something, so I bring back apology alcohol for abandoning you.”

Lando’s only too glad to take it and exchanges his almost empty glass for Carlos to hand to a passing waiter.

“Am I interrupting?” Carlos asks once Lando smiles in thanks, shifting his gaze to Mr. Goldman Sachs. There’s a carefully veiled concern there, like Lando need only use their rescue word to change locations.

But Lando just musters his most professional smile and holds out a hand to present Mr. Goldman Sachs to Carlos. One of the most unfortunate moments of his career. “Uh, Carlos, this is the head of the European branch for Goldman Sachs. One of our sponsors.” Lando looks more directly at Mr. Goldman Sachs as if challenging him with his next words. “I’m sure you must be familiar with Carlos Sainz—my fiancé, actually. You’ll find distance won’t really play a role in our relationship.”

Both Carlos’ and Mr. Goldman Sachs’ faces do something funny for completely different reasons, but Lando’s too ticked off to find either of them amusing. He’ll have to commiserate with Daniel and Max later.

“Sainz? You’re with Ferrari, are you not?” Mr. Goldman Sachs manages after he practically picks his jaw up off the floor. He’s oozing with faux politeness and acceptance—trying his hardest not to look rocked by the news that Lando has the farthest thing from a girlfriend.

Carlos shifts closer to Lando, picking up easily enough on Lando’s prickly attitude. Hell, Andreas probably can where he is across the room. The slide of Carlos’ hand over the middle of Lando’s back, coming to rest at the base of his spine helps Lando to relax some of his muscles.

Carlos returns just as much sanitized politeness. “I am normally. Tonight though, I am here as Lando’s plus one. It is true like he says, we are never far apart.”

“I just find it mildly surprising that Ferrari would allow you to be here, and in this capacity. They’ve always been notoriously strict, I’ve heard.”

Carlos shrugs and sips from his glass. He looks calm and collected, but Lando can see the subtle shift of his jaw— can feel the way Carlos’ fingers flex at Lando’s back. “There are some things more important than what Ferrari wants me to show sometimes. If you’ll excuse us. I was sent to fetch Lando for Zak.”

The lie is blatant even if it works. Lando wonders if Carlos realizes he’d said he was talking with Andreas before as he gives Mr. Goldman Sachs a barely-there smile. Carlos doesn’t give them much time to linger until he’s pulling Lando away and back in the direction he’d come from earlier before Mr. Goldman Sachs can say anything else.

Carlos pulls Lando down a long hallway off the main ballroom until they’re about three-quarters of the way. Only then does he stop and turn to look at Lando for the first time.

The irritation is plain to see on Carlos’ face and in the set of his shoulders when he sighs. “Some fucking people. What did he say to you? It didn’t sound like it was going well based on how you introduced us.”

Try as Lando might, he’s unable to refrain from unloading. Poor Carlos, who hates these kinds of things more than Lando does and who doesn’t even have to be here out of obligation. He’s only here on one of his precious few free nights out of his love for Lando and not wanting him to suffer alone.

Lando starts at the point where Carlos had first been pulled away, talking fast enough as if the quickness of the words would help Lando get over how uncomfortable they’d made him. As if the speed would make it so Carlos wouldn’t have to bear their abrasiveness as well. They’ve been publicly out for a year, how do people not know?

Carlos stops him in the middle of a tangent about how, even though he’d wanted to spill about Max and Daniel so bad, there’s no way he would deserve their forgiveness, and—

“Lando, Lando stop. Breathe for me, please.”

“Can we, let’s just— I really don’t want to go back out there yet. I will do something I regret.”

It’s a wonder that Carlos doesn’t have to ask him the specifics and just nods, taking Lando’s wrist in his hand and guiding them further down the hallway.

Their shoes echo together against the walls, but it’s infinitely better than the way everyone’s voices in the main hall coalesced together to create a quiet din that built up on his nerves slowly but surely. Like a fine grit that wasn’t noticeable until it was too late and left a bleeding mess of his nerves.

Carlos tries a few doors that are locked before coming to a set of narrow double doors that aren’t. They look like heavy oak, ornately carved like they themselves are an art piece— and maybe they are considering the rest of them looked to be pretty standard. Lando decides in the back of his mind that people rich enough to have an estate and manor this big to host corporate events don’t have to make sense.

The room that Carlos pushes into is a library because of course it is. And it’s not even a small room. The walls are lined with floor-to-ceiling shelves, all packed to the brim with books old and new— tomes of information Lando could never hope to get through in this lifetime. There’s even a mezzanine off to the side with further shelves that reach to the top edge of the ceiling before it vaults up to the outer wall lined with windows. Thick drapes are pulled open along the outer edges, but they get the mood across.

The mood that happens to make Lando feel like he’s stepped back in time at least eighty years.

It’s not until Carlos pulls him a bit further into the room and away from the door that Lando remembers why they’d even found it. Right, the utter chaos of his brain and the people in the main hall aren’t mixing. And he quite likes his job.

Lando’s feet kickstart before Carlos can lead him to one of the wingback chairs off to the side, and instead, he pulls them to one of the far walls, tucked near the staircase that leads up to the mezzanine. If someone comes in looking for them, they might be out of sight back here.

Carlos turns once they stop walking, and it’s the first time Lando actually sees his face after begging to go somewhere other than the open hallway. All hints of the anger from before are gone, replaced instead with genuine concern. His big eyes and worried eyebrows make him look sad in a way Lando can’t deal with.

And maybe they shouldn’t be using the library of some wealthy person’s manor for their own benefit, but Lando desperately needs to get out of his mind—to forget, if just for a moment, what that man had said.

Carlos in all his rational sense likely has his own qualms about pressing Lando up against the shelf behind them with his hands spanning the width of Lando’s hips and their lips pressed against each other. He would ordinarily likely have some trepidation about kissing up Lando’s jaw and burying his head in Lando’s neck. Their breaths are a cacophonous roar in Lando’s ears, his chest fit to burst when Carlos’ teeth snag at Lando’s earlobe.

When their lips meet again after way too long, Lando frantically pulls Carlos’ mouth back to his own. As if this is a short, clandestine meeting where they’re meant to part once finished and pretend they don’t know the other— that they’re forbidden from being together.

It’s exactly like this, in a way. Lando doesn’t want to think of what would happen if anyone caught them in here, especially while he’s trying not to think.

Rather than Lando’s earlobe this time, Carlos’ teeth catch on his bottom lip, pulling a moan from Lando’s mouth, muffled as it is pressed to Carlos’. Lando feels weak under Carlos’ hands, surrendering to Carlos’ control with an ease that would be embarrassing if anyone else found out. But here, he’s only too happy to open his mouth to Carlos, whimpering at the feeling of Carlos’ tongue against his lip.

Even through his suit jacket, dress shirt, and undershirt, Lando can feel the heat of Carlos’ hands—can feel how they flex. It’s a tactile reminder of Carlos’ self-control, of how he’s barely holding himself together from ripping Lando’s clothing off.

Lando’s close to letting him, to saying to hell with it all, when he hears as much as feels Carlos’ groan ripped from his chest where he has his own hands splayed. He wants desperately to feel the warmth of Carlos’ skin and run his fingers through where Carlos’ chest hair is growing back from its latest wax. He wants to feel Carlos’ weight over him, pressing into him enough to reduce him to a litany of curses and pleas.

This is everything Lando wanted—to have every sense filled with Carlos instead of any of the people out in that grand hall.

All he hears is Carlos’ labored breathing that alternates between huffs and sighs and half-uttered proclamations of Lando’s name.

All he feels is the starch of Carlos’ shirt, the fleeting feel of silk that runs up the lapels of the suit jacket he’s regrettably still wearing.

All he tastes is Carlos, a hint of champagne still on his tongue, much fancier than they’re ever given on the podium. Lando still hates the taste, but it’s always been sweeter kissed from Carlos’ mouth.

Lando’s about five seconds from tearing his mouth from Carlos’ to sink to his knees where he stands, he really is, all the more encouraged when Carlos tears one of his hands from Lando’s waist to cradle his face instead. It’s instinctual to lean into the touch, Carlos’ mouth catching the corner of Lando’s and trailing up on its own accord to the space on his cheekbone just below his eye.

The action makes Lando giggle breathlessly, a noise incongruent with what they’ve been doing, what Lando’s really about to do. But that’s Carlos—always somehow subverting Lando’s expectations. It doesn’t stop Lando from trying to tilt his head back up into Carlos’ space, wordlessly begging for Carlos’ lips again, but it’s not a request that’s granted. A whimper may or may not escape unbidden from Lando’s throat at the action.

Instead, Carlos lets his thumb sweep across Lando’s cheek with a sad smile that just about reaches his eyes. Lando can’t tell for sure, but he wouldn’t be surprised if its presence wasn’t wholly because they can’t do as much as they want to. The most sure-fire way to get Lando out of his head when he wants to stop thinking isn’t something that’s possible right now, they both realistically know, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be sad about it.

“We really should not be doing this here, mi amor. Someone will be coming to look for us. We have been gone for too long, I think.”

Lando sucks in a bit more air before he trusts his voice enough to answer without producing a distinctive wobble. “If we were at the MTC, I’d know where the hiding spots were.”

Carlos huffs out laughter at that. Good, Lando thinks. Anything to wipe away the look on his face.

“And I believe you. Later though, okay? You deserve me to make love to you not against a bookshelf in a gaudy manor, no?”

Lando tries to suppress the shudder that goes through him at the combination of Carlos’ words and the way they’re almost whispered into his ear. He nods unthinking because if Carlos is telling him he deserves to basically be fucked in luxury, then who is Lando to dispute that?

“What time is it?” Lando asks in lieu of physically pulling Carlos back into him. He should honestly be commended for his strength.

Carlos could tell him to look at his own watch if he felt like it, but he doesn’t. Rather, he barely shifts his gaze down to meet his watch at Lando’s hip and sighs. “We still have about an hour before you can make an elegant exit.”

“An elegant exit?”

“Ay, everything you do is elegant. Surely leaving one of these dreadful events must also be.”

Truly, one of the most elegant things would be leaving a sponsor event, so he won’t fight Carlos on that one.

What he wants to do is fight the tug on his wrist that Carlos gives him after a much more chaste kiss to his lips. He wants to fight the intent to lead him back through the overly ornate doors that lead back to too many inane comments and questions. If there’s one thing Lando’s decided for the rest of the night though, it’s that he won’t be left alone without one of his team members.

They reenter the main hall to find Daniel standing near the entrance, glass full while he holds an empty one in his hands. He doesn’t look at either of them as they pause next to each other, and for a moment, it’s a bubble of peace in the middle of chaos.

“I think I've just figured out why I never won a world championship,” Daniel says off-handedly. The PR fight leaves Lando then, bending him at the knees as he’s helpless to fight off the hysterical laughter that bubbles up and over inside him. Carlos’ steadying hand is on his back keeping him semi-upright, but it’s a losing battle.

Fucking sponsor events.

[iamred-iamyellow]

ok this is very random (as im not sure how much of an ls2 defender u r)

BUT

every new thing that James bitchass stanky dummy shitty Vowles says abt the Logan situation just pisses me off more. makes me even wonder how logan dealt w everything for as long as he did.

Swear if Logan wasnt backed by Duracell and all the other US companies that bring in sm bank, Vowles would have dropped him even without meeting Franco...

Logan might have underperformed but his car isnt good to begin with, strategy was practically a DIY youtube video every fucking race weekend and not to mention that out of what 10-12 races his teammate has only managed to score 6 points...(no saying Albon is bad at all just goes to show that even a decent driver cant do shit in that fucking half charged golf cart 😒)

As a CS55 girlie im praying for the best for Carlos and that the team figures itself out over the new year break bc the way things r going i wouldnt be fucking suprised if Carlos opted to race for another team or just become a reserve driver after one year w bitchass Williams.

Truly a shame that a driver with such potential (LS2) and an excellent teammate and great driver with consistency (CS55) have ever had to deal with James stanky Vowles ( even tho Vowles is a D1 national level Sainz glazer 😭😭)

UGHHHHH i just know next year is gonna b...interesting to say the least.

Praying for Franco too 🥺💯 I've really come to like him so far after Monza and think he has great things in store and can rlly prove himself too 😞🩷

How it feels being BOTH a LS2 and CS55 gal btw;

as an american i think im obligated by law to be a ls2 defender 🫡🦅🇺🇸

“strategy was practically a DIY youtube video every fucking race” TRUTH!!! 

i will forever be a defender of our four williams babies alex carlos franco and logan because they were dealt some fuckass cards 

i just cannot believe that logan didn’t have enough time to develop in f2 and williams didn’t even TRY to give him more opportunities to train during his f1 seasons. they literally tossed him in a car and said GO they set him up to fail and then got mad that he didn’t exceed their expectations 

don’t even get me STARTED on the comments james made about mick i am PERSONALLY offended omg 

i’m really gonna miss franco at the end of the season but i hope he gets more opportunities from what he’s proven he can do in f1

and speaking of carlos his journey is just one that ends up being really sad for me. he jumps from team to team and proves himself EVERY TIME but he has the worst luck when it comes to it. he was teammates with max first and therefore the second fiddle because christian was set on max being his everything. then he moved to renault which was uhm renault. then mclaren where he could’ve technically been seen as first driver or equals with Lando but Lando to Mclaren is Max to RB. He got a win at mclaren and just brought out the absolute best vibes for the team. Then he moved to ferrari but it was too late bc again Charles to Ferrari is Max to Red Bull. He always ends up second to a teams golden boy and as much as i love all those drivers it really sucks that Carlos does so much and will never truly get the recognition he deserves.

[vro0m]

Seeing how confident McLaren is about their car and their drivers makes me nervous. I saw that Toto extended his contract at Merc through 2026 and it just feels like same sh*t, different toilet. I think Toto should just be satisfied as the owner of the team and step aside and let another TP come in and change the culture at Merc. I think that could potentially attract new engineers that could help with the development of the car.

Lewis is struggling with his qualifying times and George is overconfident. At this point, it's starting to feel like Merc is just not that girl. Why are they starting all over again with their car? I'm fairly new to f1, but I thought it takes years to develop a championship-winning car, yet they're developing a brand new one over the winter? That doesn't feel right to me.

Also, I didn't understand TeamLH bragging about Lewis retaining Monster as his sponsor, when Monster jumped ship from Merc to McLaren. Isn't losing sponsorships a bad thing, since the team is losing money that it would likely use to develop the car that would help Lewis win his 8th WDC? A loss for the team is a loss for Lewis..unless I'm wrong.

I truly hope Merc proves me wrong, but something's gotta give. I just don't have confidence in them.

Do you think that Merc needs a major overhaul or do you think they're going to make progress continuing on the path that they're on?

Okay i was gonna answer this in the morning but i can’t sleep so here we go, sorry if it’s a bit unhinged.

Here’s the thing. In my book, the second rule of F1 is never ever listen to a team principal. (The first rule being, of course, you always, always have to do better than your teammate.) So I’ll believe McLaren’s confidence is warranted when I’ll see it. Hell, I’ll believe they really are confident and it’s not basic 101 PR when I’ll see it. And mind you, Toto seems pretty confident too. (The only thing I’m happy about here is that he also said they’ve been working on their pitstops but due to Rule 2, I’ll also only believe it when I’ll see it.)

They’re starting over with their car because, as you noticed, the past two cars were Not Working. So no real choice here but to get back to square 1 rather than spend a third year trying to make a car that doesn’t work, work. Building a championship-winning car is less a matter of time (I mean especially nowadays with the costcap and windtunnel allocation etc. it’s getting irrelevant), and more a matter of getting it right. RedBull got it right and they won. The problem is : the others need to develop to catch up to them because they didn’t get it as right as RB, and that takes time and resources and is very complicated. And if you have a bad starting point, it’s that much more difficult. Basically there were too many things that needed changing with this car concept anyway. So they’re starting over. But it's also not like they don't have data and experiments from the past two years. They know more about these regs and cars than in 2021. Are they gonna win the ‘24 championship with the W15? No. But they weren’t gonna win by keeping the last, dysfunctional car concept either anyway. At least now they have a chance to develop in the right direction.

I did not read anything about the Monster sponsorship because i really, really don’t care. I didn’t even know that was a thing. I don’t think Monster leaving Mercedes is gonna make a dent in their budget. First of all, there’s a costcap now, so they can’t throw money at a bad car to make it good anyway. Second of all, they have a lot of other sponsors. Third, they’re the second most expensive team in the paddock. And fourth, their parent company is worth 85 billions of dollars. Lewis’ 8th has pretty much nothing to do with Monster or any sponsorship.

To answer your main question : no, I don’t think Merc needs a major overhaul. Given that you’re fairly new to F1 I concede it might not look like it in the current context but changing TPs is actually Not All That. And it generally doesn’t really solve anything. If anything I’m against major overhauls. Imho a stable ground is the best ground to build up on. Toto is... Toto. But he’s not the reason why the car is bad. It’s a whole team. 2’000+ employees. You can’t pinpoint any of the problems they have on one singular person. I mean Ferrari has had 5 different TPs in the last 10 years and that has solved exactly zero of their problems, and they still haven’t won a championship since 2007.

They are making progress. All of them are. It’s just, it’s F1. We’re talking about such tiny tiny differences in performance now, millimeters off of a piece of carbon fiber, milliseconds off of a time sheet. The time the pecking order could be turned upside down from one race to the next has been gone for decades. It’s all about the long game when the differences are so subtle. Even more now that they, again, can’t just throw money and wind tunnels at issues. It’s frustrating when it’s not your driver/team on top but success is mostly cyclical in this sport. Right now it’s RedBull. Next who knows. Merc is just not that girl, at the moment. It is what it is.

ETA : btw I think firing Toto would really throw Lewis off so. Another reason not to imo.