#(also maybe gauging interest for this au 👀)

[leqclerc]

what is this forbidden team owner seb au you speak of 👀

Oh god...basically they’re all very morally corrupt in this scenario 😈 Seb’s a Toto-esque driver-turned-businessman who’s always been passionate about motorsport. His own career as a driver never really blossomed into anything bigger, so he chose to pursue alternative avenues, graduating from college and maybe investing or setting up his own businesses here and there. Anyway, fast forward to the late 2010s. One of the F1 teams has just gone bankrupt, and there’s a scramble to buy it out (this actually happened with Force India-turned-Racing Point.) 

Seb wins the bidding war and rebrands the team to Porsche F1. He’s already got one of the seats filled - Mick was an obvious choice, with Seb being something of an honorary uncle in this scenario. Later he ends up having dinner (goddamn lobster or caviar or something) with some sponsors or business partners in the Paddock Club facility during one race weekend, and the F2 race is on. He quickly gets distracted by the race, mesmerised by one driver’s performance, going from the back of the grid to winning the race (this also actually happened.) Of course he has to find out who this young talent is. Charles is extremely talented and set to be crowned F2 champion, but he’s just a little short on funding, so his future isn’t as certain as it should be - until Seb takes an interest in him. He invites him out for dinner in private somewhere, in some ridiculous restaurant or hotel, to get a better idea of who he is outside of the car and to gauge if he’d be a good fit for his team. He’s flustered and a little awkward but he’s beautiful and charming; a honey trap for sponsors. Long story short, Seb asks if he’d like to drive for his team next season, gives him some time to consider the offer. Charles, predictably, accepts.

Anyway then the whole thing kind of goes off the rails as Charles slowly grows more confident, both in himself and his abilities as a driver (think the Sauber to Ferrari transition.) They eventually fall into this...no strings attached arrangement...that’s very morally unsound considering the power dynamics. But obviously this is them so the feelings are definitely there; Seb is not immune. There are afterparties and sponsor events and fancy dinners; a lavish, morally corrupt lifestyle that Charles gets pulled into. Charles quickly starts wanting more from Seb, feels like Seb’s holding out on him emotionally. 

In a nutshell: