#Front Row Motorsports

[jack-doohan]

OH??????

[nascarwallpapers]

2020 NASCAR Cup Series: Michael McDowell, #34 Love's Ford, Front Row Motorsports. Download full resolution & extras on Patreon.

[coimbrabertone]

NASCAR Numerology: How NASCAR's Current Teams Got Their Numbers: Part Five.

Alright guys, we've gotten to the last part of this little miniseries.

Today we're covering:

Front Row Motorsports, who run the #34 Ford for Michael McDowell and the #38 for Todd Gilliland in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series.

Legacy Motor Club, who run the #42 Toyota for John Hunter Nemechek and the historic #43 for Erik Jones.

and JTG Daugherty Racing, who run the #47 Chevrolet for Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Fittingly, we get to end on representation for all three brands.

Front Row Motorsports debuted in 2004, running the #92 Ford on a partial schedule with drivers like Brad Teague, Tony Raines, and Stanton Barrett, but they would fail to qualify for any races. Furthermore, the Mach 1 Motorsports team ran the #98/#96 car that year, splitting time between Ford and Dodge, and running drivers such as Todd and Geoff Bodine, Larry Gunselman, Derrike Cope, Chad Chaffin, and Randy LaJoie.

This team did manage to make some races (keyword: some) and in 2005, Mach 1 would attempt the full schedule with a #34 Chevrolet while another slew of drivers (mainly LaJoie, Chaffin, and PJ Jones) but by the end of 2005, the team was up for sale. Front Row Motorsports would buy this #34 car, as well as Mach 1's shop, and build their team around it.

Often running as a start-and-park team with a revolving door of drivers, Front Row finally got some stability in 2009, with John Andretti driving the #34, and dragging it up to three top twenty finishes, at Daytona, Loudon, and Fontana.

Andretti left after the 2010 Daytona 500, but the top twenty streak remained, with Travis Kvapil scoring an 18th at Talladega and Kevin Conway a 14th at the summer Daytona race.

David Gilliland (Todd's father) ran the full 2011 season and scored a third place at the Daytona 500, building on the results of the last three years to make Front Row Motorsports a proper contender on the superspeedways.

For 2012, Gilliland was moved to the #38 (more on that later) while David Ragan took over the #34. This car would top off FRM's superspeedway streak by winning the 2013 Aaron's 499 at Talladega.

Ragan would leave FRM after the 2015 Daytona 500 to get the opportunity to fill in for the injured Kyle Busch, so that season was a bit of a revolving door for the #34 yet again. Yet, for 2016, they got a technical alliance with Roush Fenway Racing in exchange for running Roush development driver Chris Buescher.

And Chris Buescher would win the 2016 Pennsylvania 400 for them on a Monday after a rainy weekend followed by a foggy weekend led to a segmented and ultimately shortened race. It took a bit of luck, but it got FRM its second win, and the first that wasn't on a superspeedway.

Chris Buescher went to JTG Daugherty of all places for 2017 (more on that later), so FRM hired Landon Cassill, without much success, before signing Michael McDowell for 2018.

McDowell has seen FRM become a legitimate team, winning the 2021 Daytona 500 and the 2023 Verizon 200 at the Brickyard at the IMS Road Course. Furthermore, in 2024, now in alliance with Team Penske, Front Row Motorsports is no longer an ironic name, as McDowell has started first or second multiple times this season, including at Daytona, Atlanta, and even Gateway, the latter two being pole positions.

Michael McDowell, however, will be moving to the Spire Motorsports #71 for 2025.

FRM has built their numbering scheme off of the #34, running other cars such as the #35, #37, and most commonly the #36, but its second full time car has been the #38.

Driven by David Gilliland from 2012-2015 and son Todd Gilliand ever since 2022, the car has also seen drives from Landon Cassill, David Ragan (in a return to FRM), John-Hunter Nemechek, Anthony Alfredo, and Zane Smith. With four top tens and a further ten top twenties, 2024 has thus far been the most successful season to date for the #38.

FRM will run a third full time car in 2025, having bought a charter from SHR, and has signed SHR's Noah Gragson, but it is unknown was number he will run. FRM ran the #36 this season for Kaz Grala, but Bob Jenkins says he's not married to this numbering scheme. Still, even numbers in the mid-30s are as close to consistent numbering as FRM has ever gotten, so I hope they do decide to stick with the #36.

Onto Legacy Motor Club.

First things first, this team is a Frankenstein's Monster mess of forgotten NASCAR teams in hilarious fashion. Petty Enterprises, officially ran from 1949 to 2008, when sponsorship could not be found, leading to the team merging with Gillett-Evernham Motorsports for 2009. Gillett-Evernham Motorsports consisted of Evernham Motorsports, the former Dodge factory team that ran the #9 and the #19, MBV Motorsports (which was essentially the #10 car owned by Valvoline at this point), and money from George Gillett, who was at the time the controversial owner of the Montreal Canadiens and Liverpool FC.

So already, you had the Petty #43, Petty #45, Evernham #9, Evernham #19, and Valvoline #10 merging into one team, but for 2010, they also bought Yates Racing to take over Paul Menard and his #98 Ford. This allowed the entire team to switch from Dodge to Ford.

So come 2010, the team is running the #9, #19, #43, and #98 with relics from three different numbering schemes remaining in the team. It's freaking awesome.

The #19 and #98 went away after 2010, leaving the team with the #9 and the #43.

The #9 was initially their most successful car, with Kasey Kahne winning Sonoma 2009 and Fall Atlanta 2009 with the team, before Australian Marcos Ambrose won Watkins Glen for the team in 2011 and 2012.

The #43 would, to its credit, with the 2014 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona with Aric Almirola, and it would become the team's only car after 2016.

After the 2021 season, GMS Racing, a truck team, bought into Petty, becoming Petty GMS. Ahead of the 2023 season, the team became Legacy Motor Club, with Jimmie Johnson buying in, Richard Petty chasing out, and Maury Gallagher of GMS becoming majority owner. Petty remained involved a spokesman for the team, however.

So, finally, onto their numbers. They run the #43 and have since practically the beginning of time, because that was Richard Petty's number? Why, well, that actually takes us to their second car, the #42, which was Lee Petty's number.

Why did Lee Petty pick the #42? Legend has it was the first two numbers in his license plate.

So, Lee Petty ran the #42, his son Richard ran the #43, Richard's son Kyle would eventually run the #44, and Kyle's son Adam would run the #45. Each generation building on the last. When Adam died, Kyle took over the #45 in his memory.

Thad Moffitt in the Truck series is a grandson of Richard Petty through Petty's youngest daughter Rebecca, and he continues this trend by running the #46.

In any case, when Petty GMS bought a second car in 2022, they chose to run the #42 - recently vacated by Chip Ganassi - reuniting the original two Petty numbers.

This arrangement continued as Petty became Legacy and eventually switched to Toyota for 2024. Currently the #43 is driven by Erik Jones, who won Darlington in it in 2022, and the #42 by John Hunter Nemechek.

Also, fun fact, Kyle Petty drove the #42 at Team SABCO (which would eventually become Chip Ganassi Racing) from 1989 to 1996, so it was a Petty number even when it wasn't.

And now JTG Daugherty Racing. It started in 2007, running a second car (#47) in alliance with the Wood Brothers. I cannot find any specific reason for the #47, only that Tad Geschickter ran a #47 Busch car ever since 1996, so maybe it was an availability thing. In any case, they ran the #47 and made their Cup debut in 2007, with Ken Schrader and Jon Wood each trying and failing to qualify for a race.

The #47 managed a few starts in 2008 with Marcos Ambrose, finishing third at the Glen, which prompted JTG to split with the Wood Brothers to try and go full time for the 2009 season with Ambrose in a #47 Toyota. This lasted two years before Mabrose moved to the aforementioned Richard Petty Motorsports, with JTG instead drafting in Bobby Labonte.

They would sign AJ Allmendinger in 2013 as Labonte began scaling back his races, and with AJ full time in 2014, they'd win at Watkins Glen. Allmendinger would last until 2018, when Ryan Preece was hired for that car, but then Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was chosen for 2020. Ricky would win the 2023 Daytona 500 with the team.

JTG Daugherty also briefly has a second car, the #37 - ten less than #47, also apparently Tad used this number in college sports - the #37 ran with Chris Buescher for 2017, 2018, and 2019, before running with Ryan Preece for 2020 and 2021.

This brings up another interesting aspect of JTG Daugherty Racing - despite the fact that they're a Chevy team, they kinda have this unique relationship with RFK Racing. First of all, Chris Buescher was a Roush development driver. Second of all, that #37 car for Buescher was run on the charter for Roush's #16.

Third, was that when Roush took Chris Buescher back for the 2020 season, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. then went the other way, going from the Roush #17 to the JTG Daugherty #47.

Oh, and as recently as 2023, JTG Daugherty's pit crew was on loan from Roush. Yeah, odd.

So yeah, that is all 36 chartered teams for the 2024 NASCAR Cup series and the story of a couple other numbers that are relevant to the story. I hope you guys enjoyed all that, but I think I'm gonna write about some other motorsports for a little while. The blog has been a bit NASCAR heavy lately and this week added a whole five extra blogposts to it.

I do enjoy blabbing on about NASCAR, but I also enjoy blabbing on about MotoGP and Indycar. Formula One is also a sport that exists.

[game-set-canet]

he is my meow meow, my sweetest little meow meow 🎶🎶

[chaostudee]

smooth operator , carlos sainz.

summary : y/n is a journalist just starting out her career in the motorsport industry, it's not long for her to find an attraction to a certain ferrari driver. warnings : none faceclaim : lissie mackintosh a/n : first carlos fic 🤭 my fav forever and ever.

y/nusername first day on the job 🏁🏎

liked by skysportsf1, nataliepinkham, crofty and 56,910 others.

nataliepinkham so proud of you !!

y/nusername ❤️

user829 eeek my fav

username000 the fit ateeee

skysportsf1 welcome to the family :)

y/nfan insanely proud of you wtfff can't wait for the futureee

f1updates i love her already she seems like the sweetest

user_f1 fr 😩

y/nusername quali day 🤭

》 y/bsfusername the fit ateee

》 user82 i love your interview style smmm

》 username_20 she is so prettyyyy

carlossainz great quali let's push for tomorrow 💪

liked by y/nusername, scuderiaferrari, charlesleclerc and 1,293,100 others.

user290 he's so lana del rey vinyl 😩

f1fan_67 dyingggg

f1username that quali was insaneeee

user92 frrr like wdym charles and carlos on the front row tf?!

y/nfan help not y/n in the liked is carlos the f1 driver she has a crush on????

user200 if it is.....she's so real and i get it plus i love her even more.

naomischiff my girl <3

liked by y/nusername, carlossainz , nataliepinkham and 120,622 others.

y/nusername my fav actually

user120 new duo and i'm here for it 🙌🙌

f1fan my biggest inspirations acc

y/nlover carlos in the likes (i just know that y/n is dying rn)

user10 girl look at her twitter 😭😭 y/nlover help plsss

y/nusername new video incoming

》 user92 UM YES

》 username11 oh im so ready

》 f1fan one more person closer to carlos ☝️

》 y/nusername i like your thinking ;)

y/nusername hot lap with nico hulkenberg, you can watch now on skysportsf1 !!

liked by nicohulkenberg, skysportsf1, naomischiff and 322,671 others.

user89 this ate

danielriccardo NICO HUUULKENBERGGGG

y/nusername DANIEELLLLL RICCARDOOOO

nicohulkenberg had the best time thanks y/n !!

f1fan not y/n just casually interacting with all the f1 drivers (love that for you queen)

f1wagupdates my queen pls i love her smmm

justaninchident i love this duo smm

y/nusername singapore gp !!

liked by carlossainz, skysportsf1, nataliepinkham and 267,233 others.

user SHES SO HOT OMG

f1fan my fav f1 girl likeeee my queen my iconnn my everything

skysportsf1 WE LOVE YOU Y/N

justaninchident help they are just like us 😭

user_67 y/n needs to make a fashion inspo acc at this point because i'm obsessed with everything she wears.

f1lover_90 i love y/n more than myself atp

scuderiaferrari interview of carlos and charles with y/n out now !!

liked by charlesleclerc, carlossainz, y/nusername and 1,897,332 others.

justaninchident WHAT IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS IS THIS

user literally cause i'm not okay acc

user718 did anyone else see the way carlos looked at y/n because....DAMMMMNN

y/nusername the best time :)

f1fan oh to be y/n

user101 y/n and carlos content eeeeek (real ones have been waiting months for this)

f1lover_67 thank u ferrari we all say in unison.

y/nusername if you can dream it, you can do it

liked by carlossainz, scuderiaferrari, alexandrasaintmleux and 569,000 others.

carlossainz you look good in red ❤️

y/nusername ty !! user20 wtffff omggg username_22 BRO WHAT f1fan UM so this is insane 😃

justaninchident god she's gorgeous

alexandrasaintmleux you are literally my fashion inspo

user "everyone's a ferrari fan"

alexandrasaintmleux

》 y/nusername had the best time meeting you <3

》 user omgggg

》 f1fan ferrari wags??

》 user_89 freaking tf outtttt

y/nusername in my lover girl era 💗

liked by f1, naomischiff, alexandrasaintmleux and 714,910 others.

user omg whatttt

f1fan is that carlos or am i delulu?!?!

justaninchident NO BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I WAS THINKING

user_67 IM FREAKING OUT

f1fan our girl is officially ofc the market omgg

user190 no wonder she hasn't been active on twitter recently

naomischiff so happy for you my sweet girl <3

alexandrasaintmleux 💗

carlossainz

》 y/nusername ugh you're so hottt

》 user omlll

》 f1fan wow.

》 justaninchident god damnnnn

y/nusername guess the cat is out of the bag ;)

liked by carlossainz, landonorris, alexandrasaintmleux and 980,901 others.

user819 WHAT WHAT WHAT

justaninchident i died

user_67 SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP

f1fan girlie literally manifested it SHOW ME YOUR WAYS Y/N PLS

y/nusername crystals

f1wagupdates eeeek

landonorris my man has been stolen from me

y/nusername im sorryyy but we can share landonorris okay fair but remember HE WAS MINE FIRST

carlossainz ilysm beautiful

y/nusername i love you more handsome

carlossainz dinner date with my girl ❤️

liked by y/nusername, charlesleclerc, landonorris and 2,719,469 others.

y/nusername you always take the best pics of me 🤭

carlossainz it's hard to take a bad one when you look beautiful all the time

charlesleclerc el matador el matador

y/nusername CARLOS SAINZ

landonorris cute ig

user718 ugh i acc love them

justaninchident LIKE WDYM I LIVE IN A UNIVERSE WHERE CARLOS AND Y/N ARE TOGETHER

f1fan fav f1 driver fav wag

user10 never getting over them acc

user_67 im so single

taglist ⭑.ᐟ

@lottalove4evelyn

@llando4norris

@hadidsworld

@mxryxmfooty

[bad268]

Hi I loved your clingy Antonelli five and was wondering if for a part 3 based on the prema video that was on insta of kimi in the ice bath if you could do clingy kimi trying to convince reader to join him in the ice bath 😂 maybe the prema team and Toto are watching his attempt

4+1 (Andrea Kimi Antonelli X Reader)

Clingy Antonelli Universe

Fandom: RPF/F2/F3

Requested: Clearly (hehe this was kinda fun thank you <3 Also on a side note, you'll never guess who works in a motorsport company now (technically)!!!)

Warnings: Aged up Kimi (Starts at Qatar)

POV: Second Person (You/your)

W.C. 2270

Summary: The 4 times Kimi tried to get you into an ice bath and the 1 time you did.

As always, my requests are OPEN

MASTERLIST // HITLIST

~~(^Pinterest)

1) Qatar 2024

The first year at a new track was always going to be difficult. There was no data to go off of. Only base it on F1 drivers and if the teams were willing to share anything.

You remembered Qatar last year. There were drivers passing out, vomiting, and needing to retire. You did not think this would be a good idea for junior drivers to race here, but that was something the FIA decided. You couldn't really argue with it. 

The sprint race was hot for you, let alone the drivers, and Kimi had to retire from the race. He was starting on the front row for the feature, so he could make up points then. The car overheated five laps before the checkered flag, and he would have fried crucial components if he had stuck it out.

The team had to help Kimi out of the car once he got back to the pitlane, and they drove him back to the support paddock where you were sitting in the Prema trailer. Anthoine sent you a quick text letting you know what was going on with Kimi and asked you to start filling an ice bath for him. Anthoine would get the ice when he brought Kimi over. 

It was something you were accustomed to at this point since you were studying to be a physical trainer. You had also seen Anthoine do it almost a gazillion times before.

You went out behind the trailer and set up the travel tub. The hose was not far, so you turned it on and threw it into the tub. You went back into the trailer because you knew there was at least a half bag of ice in the freezer from the last ice bath he took, so you took it outside to throw in the tub as well. That way, it would be cold as soon as Anthoine and Kimi arrived.

All the running around you were doing outside made you remember why you decided to stay at the trailer. The Prema trailer had air conditioning. The garages had fans, but they just blew around hot air. You purposefully did not want to be in that for the whole race, so you opted to stay in the trailer. Well, now, you’re walking around outside with no air con and no fans. You went back into the trailer, and you found a random shirt in Kimi’s backpack. 

You took it back outside and threw it into the ice bath, so it would get cold. You could put that on your neck. You were busy turning off the hose as the tub was filled, and you didn’t hear or see them pull up. You pulled the shirt out of the tub just as Kimi walked by you in his swim trunks and practically collapsed into the tub. Anthoine just laughed and went off to get the ice.

“You look like you enjoyed that,” You chuckled when Kimi brought his head back out of the water. You reach over to push some of the wet curls out of his eyes before moving your hand to cup his cheek. “Are you feeling better?”

“It would feel better if you were in here,” He kind of asked as he peaked an eye open at you just as Anthoine dumped blocks of ice into the ice bath. He shook his head with a chuckle as he left you two alone.

“I would love to, but I’ve got this now,” You answered, gesturing to the still-damp shirt across your neck. “Maybe next time.”

~

2) Australia 2025

The first race of the season was always your favorite, especially now that you were now practically given unrestricted access to the F1 paddock. Well, not unrestricted, but you were able to explore a bit more since Kimi was in Mercedes now.

Australia was always one of your favorite races. The atmosphere, the fans, and the weather were never too bad. Maybe it wasn’t too bad for you because you weren’t in a car with no air conditioner, driving on the limit in the heat.

You were sitting beside Kimi while he was in an ice bath, talking to Carmen while she sat next to George who was in his own ice bath. You two were walking nonsense while George was teasing Kimi who was just staring at you.

“It’s a little creepy,” George laughed, catching your attention.

“What’s creepy?” You chuckled back.

“He’s always staring at you,” George pointed out as he got out of the tub, wrapped a towel around his waist, and left with Carmen. “Get me out of here.”

“Wow, are you always staring at me? I didn’t notice,” You teased, leaning over to gently rest your head against Kimi’s shoulder.

“Maybe I’m just lost in thought,” Kimi muttered, leaning his head on top of yours.

“Penny for your thoughts,” You whispered back.

“What would it take for you to get in with me?” Kimi asked as he pulled back a little to look down at you.

“I would, but I have a meeting in 15 minutes,” You sighed, looking up at him. “I would if I could.”

“One day, I’ll get you in here with me.”

“I’m sure you will, too.”

~

3) Miami 2025

You weren’t ready for this one. Despite hearing from friends and knowing that Florida was humid, you did not expect it to be that bad. It was disgusting! It was pretty, but the humidity was not it. 

Kimi did well in the race, earning a respectable fourth place. He’s proving himself to be a good replacement for the seven-time World Champion. 

You hugged Kimi as soon as he entered the garage, and you walked with him toward his driver's room in the Mercedes motorhome. You conversed about the race while you walked through the paddock. All was fine until you heard a bit of commotion behind you, and you saw Kimi’s entire team running after you with a cooler of ice water. You immediately pushed yourself away from Kimi as they dumped it over his head. You still got splashed a bit, but it was not nearly as bad as Kimi. The team all laughed at how you totally threw Kimi under the bus while some of the PR team got the whole thing on video.

He turned to pout at you as he opened his arms. “Why’d you leave me?”

“I have my phone in my pocket,” You chuckled as you walked into his arms, not caring that his entire race suit was soaked with cold water. “I kinda need my phone to check in with my mom. You don’t want my mom angry at you now, right?”

“Right,” He sighed as he wrapped an arm over your shoulder as you two continued on your way to the Mercedes motorhome. “One of these days-”

“One of these days, I’ll get you in an ice bath,” You mocked, turning to look at him. “I am aware. And that day will come eventually, but that day is not today.”

~

4) Azerbaijan 2025

You could not understand why they moved Baku back to the hottest time of year in Azerbaijan. It made no sense to you, but again, you’re not in the FIA. They probably had a better reason for it. Or not. They’re the FIA. 

It was coming to the end of the season, and Kimi was feeling the pressure against Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren. He was fighting for fifth in the championship, but prior to the start of the season, you and he decided the goal was the top 15. He was more than exceeding those expectations. Max was directly competing with Charles for the championship title, Lando and Lewis were fighting for third and fourth, and Kimi was fighting Oscar for fifth. Currently, Kimi had it, but all it took was one bad weekend for the cards to completely change. 

This time, you two were back at the hotel. You’re flight to the next race would be in the morning, and you wanted to chill out in the privacy of your temporary home rather than the very public paddock. You had no real reason to want privacy. Your social battery was just dead.

“Do you want-”

“Do not ask if I want to get in an ice bath with you,” You cut Kimi off immediately. He was just walking out of the bathroom while you were almost falling asleep on the bed. Despite the fact that you two just got to the room within the past five minutes, you were ready to call it a night. You sighed, realizing what you did was mean as you looked over at him. “I didn’t mean to snap, but I will fall asleep if I lay in any body of water, regardless of the temperature.”

“I think you underestimate how awakening ice water is,” Kimi chuckled lightly as he walked up to the bed and laid on his side next to you. He propped his head up on his hand as you used his other hand to brush through your hair. “You need to get clean. You hate going to sleep after sweating all day.”

“I’ll just suffer for once,” You muttered as you started falling asleep. Kimi started moving around, collecting your things. 

“Come on,” Kimi whispered as he gently shook you awake. You opened your eyes wearily, wondering how long you were asleep. “I’m not risking you being mad at me tomorrow for letting you go to sleep sweaty.”

“I appreciate it,” You replied with a sleepy smile as you pushed yourself up and stretched before heading into the bathroom. Before you got in the shower, you peeked back into the room and saw Kimi packing up the last of your things. You got his attention, “Kimi, thank you. I owe you, so I’ll get in an ice bath with you next time, I promise.”

“I’ll hold you to it.”

~

+1) Qatar 2025

Now, you had experience at this point. After last year’s outing in Qatar, you were ready for it. You were wearing just about as little clothing as you could get away with, and the heat was not nearly as bad as last year. Maybe because last year, you didn’t know what to expect, and you wore jeans and a team kit. Yeah, not this time. 

The season had been long and grueling, but the second to last race was proving to be a highlight of the year. Kimi raced for his life, knowing he needed to prove he was worthy of a contract extension, and when he jumped out of his car in Parc Ferme after taking the checkered flag first, he was certainly going to be back in Mercedes for his second year. 

You were right against the barrier when Kimi jumped into the team as they all cheered for his first win, and securing of fifth place in the championship. Even if Oscar won the next race and got the fastest lap, he would not be able to catch Kimi. 

After the celebrations and post-race interviews, you two snuck off behind the Prema trailer again. You got approval from the Prema team because Kimi thought it would be funny to make you get in an ice bath in the same area he first tried. 

Kimi had coordinated with Anthoine to set it up while he walked you around the track. He had a plan, and he was going to stick to it. He distracted you as he walked you backward through the Prema trailer until you reached the stairs. 

“Don’t tell me there’s an ice bath out there,” You chuckled as you planted your feet before Kimi could move you any further. He didn’t answer you, so you knew exactly what he was doing. “Kimi, no.” 

Kimi, yes,” He laughed as he picked you up and threw you over his shoulder. He walked straight through the door, down the stairs, and around to the back of the trailer where there was a blowup kiddie pool filled with ice. You couldn’t see it, but you saw the hose leading where Kimi was heading. You just accepted your fate at this point as Kimi stopped just before stepping in the pool and set you down on your feet. The backs of your legs could feel the coolness through the plastic, but you were ready for it. “Are you going to walk in or am I going to need to carry you in?”

“Would I like you to carry me? Yes because it’s romantic. Can I walk in on my own? Yeah, but where’s the fun in that?” That was all you had to say before Kimi reached down and put his arms under your knees and behind your back, lifting you up. 

“Quick!” Someone shouted just before Kimi stepped into the water. “Smile for the camera!”

That’s when you noticed the entire Mercedes crew standing and cheering around you two. You looked up at Kimi, nodding that you had the same thoughts. You both looked directly at the cameras, faces adorned with glares and frowns, which caused the team to laugh. After a few seconds, you two could not keep straight faces as you laughed with everyone. Kimi took your distraction to step into the water and sat down with you in his lap.

“Ah, it’s so cold!” You shouted as you were caught off guard and tried to get out. “Let me go, Kimi!”

“No,” He smirked as he held you tighter. “I’ve been waiting for this moment. I’m getting at least five minutes.”

~~~

Part 5 -> (Coming Soon)

Series masterlist

~~~~~

© BAD268 2024. DO NOT REPOST WITHOUT PERMISSION.

[b0r3dtod3ath]

Hi,

Would you be open to write about Oscar and his childhood friend, now scientists. just them supporting each other during their own careers. Being so damm proud and all the time yapping about the otheres archivements Showing up at diffrent events for each other, like her coming to a race, and him showing up at a conference, where she's presenting her research.

Thanks a lot!

♡ navigation / request info / f1 masterlist

♡ warnings: none

♡ an: i messed up and replied to a different request with this T_T. so this is basically a repost. nonetheless, thank you for requesting and sorry for the mess-up.

Oscar couldn’t remember a time when you weren't around. From the early days at your father’s karting track, where you would sit on the bleachers with a juice box and your homework, to the present - F1 tracks, where your face was one of the first he searched for in the crowd.

Your friendship started when your fathers introduced you to each other. You were both six and despite most kids this age being disgusted by the opposite gender you two quickly became close. When you were kids people often mistook you as siblings - always next to each other, teasing and giggling but also supporting each other. 

When Oscar went to boarding school a lot changed. You went from seeing each other everyday to seeing each other twice a year. Nonetheless, not seeing each other very often and the mix of puberty hormones didn’t take a toll on your relationship. While Oscar was in Europe, racing in junior motorsport series, you were in Australia pursuing your academic dream. 

You two reunited not long after turning twenty. Oscar just got his seat in Formula one and you were on your way to receive your diploma. Even with your busy schedules you tried to spend as much time together as possible. You were a regular in the paddock and everyone in Mclaren’s garage knew you. 

The crowd was loud as Oscar climbed out of his car and hugged his team. His eyes searched the crowd until they landed on you - his biggest supporter. He jogged over and pulled you into a tight hug. You kissed his cheek and hugged him close “Oscar, you did it! You were amazing. I’m so proud of you” you shouted over the noise. His first Formula one win. “Did you see what I did on the first corner?” he said, his eyes full of adrenaline. “Did I see? Dude, I was clutching the seat so hard I might’ve bruised my hand. I thought Carlos would push you off the track!”. You laughed, and he noticed the way your eyes shone with genuine pride. For a moment, he forgot about the cameras, the media - everything except that you were there, seeing him at his best. “Now go get weighted so we can celebrate!”. 

Later that evening a group sat at a table at the back of a busy restaurant. Oscar was surrounded by many people, his teammate, boss, engineers and friends. But most importantly you were sitting next to him. 

You raised your glass, he rolled his eyes knowing exactly what you were going to do. “To the guy who went from karting on Tuesdays to taking wins on Sundays”. He blushed slightly from embarrassment, maybe from the alcohol . “To the girl who always believed I’d get there - even when I didn’t” he said quietly before bumping your glass with his. 

A few months later, it was Oscar’s turn to sit in the front row, this time at a prestigious science conference. He was out of place among the suits and academics, but he didn’t care. He’d been waiting to see you shine, finally seeing all those years of hard work in action.

The room was filled with applause as you entered the stage after being introduced by the host. “Hello, thank you everyone” you said in a confident yet still a bit shaky voice. You glanced at Oscar as he gave you a big thumbs up and a huger smile. “So before I start, I can’t express how honored I am to be standing here. This has been my dream for the past eight years. I want to thank everyone here, for supporting, inspiring and helping me through this”. 

Throughout the presentation your eyes kept finding their way back to Oscar. Whenever you would get a bit too overwhelmed, the sight of him calmed your nerves. After the presentation Oscar gave you space as a flood of people gathered around you, eager to discuss your theories. You answered questions from a mix of young researchers, curious students, and seasoned scientists who all seemed genuinely intrigued by your work. 

You were talking with an elderly lady, a woman that has been your huge inspiration. “Thank you. It’s… honestly, I wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for people like you. Your work really inspired me.” You could feel the heat rising to your cheeks as you spoke, starstruck and a little shaky. She asked you a few questions and invited you to another convention. 

The woman tilted her head, glancing subtly in Oscar’s direction, who was leaning against the wall. “And, if I may say, it seems that someone else is equally inspired by you”. You blinked, following her gaze to where Oscar stood. He hadn’t noticed you looking, caught up in watching you in your element, a proud smile playing on his lips. You could see how much this meant to him - that he genuinely admired you, not just as his friend.

“Oh him, that’s just my best friend” you replied giggling a little. “Hold on to him,” the lady said gently, giving your arm a reassuring squeeze. “It’s rare to find someone who believes in us as much as we believe in them” she paused for a moment glancing back at him “and stop by for a visit in my home in Uk, both of you”. 

Before you could respond the lady disappeared in the crowd. “Hey,” Oscar said, his voice soft as he reached your side. “How are you holding up?”.

“I’m good,” you replied, voice brightening as soon as he was close. “Still a bit… overwhelmed, but good. Did you, um, survive the science talk?”. He laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I think I caught about 30% of it, which for me is a win. But I caught all the important stuff - like you absolutely crushing it up there”. Your heart gave a little flutter, his voice hitting you harder than you’d expected. “Thanks, Oscar. It… it really helped having you here”. He looked down at you, his expression softening. “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Seeing you up there… I’m just so proud of you, you know?”.

You let out a deep breath, feeling some of the tension melt away as you watched the lady. “I can’t believe she was here,” you whispered, still awestruck, “She’s, like, my hero”. Oscar chuckled, nudging your shoulder. “I get it, really. I feel the same way every time you’re at a race. Just… ridiculously lucky to have you on my side”. 

You smiled up at him, the words slipping out before you could stop them. “I’m the lucky one, Oscar. Thank you for being here. For everything, really.”

He didn’t answer right away, just watched you, his gaze steady and warm. “I’ll always be here”. 

… a few months later … 

“It’s a nice place,” Oscar said, parking his car. As you two walked up to the ivy-covered cottage hand-in-hand, he gave your fingers a squeeze, a familiar sparkle in his eye. “Think she’s going to guess right away?” he whispered, as if afraid to break the quiet charm of the place. You nudged him, smiling. “Of course, she noticed something between us before we even did”. He chuckled softly. “Guess that’s fair”. 

Before you could knock, the door swung open, revealing an old lady with a warm, welcoming smile. “There you are! I was beginning to think you’d gotten lost”. You and Oscar exchanged a sheepish look before following her inside.

Her home was cozy and filled with books, artifacts, and stacks of research papers - a testament to her lifelong dedication to science. She led you to a sitting room where a tea set and a tray of scones were waiting.

“So,” she began, settling herself comfortably into an armchair and pouring each of you a cup, “Tell me, how have the two of you been?”. “We’ve been great,” you began, accepting the delicate teacup she handed you. “It’s been busy, as usual, but… a good kind of busy”. The lady nodded,  “I imagine you’ve been wrapped up in your research, my dear. And you, young man - what line of work are you in?”. 

Oscar glanced at you, suppressing a grin. “I’m, uh… I’m a racing driver”. Her brows lifted in pleasant surprise. “Racing? Goodness, that’s a bit different from the world of science, isn’t it?”. He chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. “Just a bit. I race in Formula One, actually”. 

Her eyes widened, a mixture of fascination and amusement flashing across her face. “Formula One! How thrilling. I’ve read about it - those cars going at breathtaking speeds. I can’t say I know much about it, but I can imagine that must be… well, exhausting.”. Oscar nodded, his voice softening as he replied, “It is, it’s intense, but it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. It’s taken me all over the world and I’m lucky enough to have had this one,” he said, glancing at you, “supporting me every step of the way”.

“And actually… there’s something else we wanted to tell you”.  Her  smile widened knowingly, and she leaned in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Oh? Do tell,” her voice with a hint of irony. 

Oscar’s cheeks colored just slightly, but he held your hand firmly. “Well… we’re together. As in, officially”. She clasped her hands together, her expression delighted. “Oh, how wonderful! I could tell there was something between you two from the moment I saw you at the conference. And now you’ve finally seen it yourselves, too”. 

You both laughed. It was true, if it hadn’t been for her perceptive nudge, perhaps you would have taken even longer to realize what everyone else seemed to see so clearly. “Thank you,” you said, smiling. “You were right, back at the conference. He’s been by my side for as long as I can remember”. 

“Likewise,” Oscar added, his voice gentle. “She’s my biggest supporter. My constant”.

“Hold onto that. Life has a way of throwing surprises our way, but the strength you two share will see you through anything.”

The three of you sat for hours, talking about life, love, and work. The evening felt timeless as laughter and stories filled the air, connecting the three of you in a way that felt like family. When it was finally time to leave, she walked you both to the door, wrapping you in a heartfelt embrace.

“Promise me you’ll visit again soon,” she said, her voice filled with affection. “And don’t forget, no matter where life takes you, you’ll always have a place here”. 

“We promise,” Oscar said, squeezing her hand. “Thank you”.

As you and Oscar walked back under the starry sky, he slipped an arm around your shoulders, pulling you close. “So… we’re officially a ‘we’ now, huh?” you asked.

He laughed as you leaned your head against his shoulder. “Looks like it. Think you can handle it?”.

You grinned feeling his lips on your forehead. “I think I can. As long as I’ve got you beside me”.

November 4, 2024

[rickybaby]

We keep talking about media literacy, but it's actually something very difficult to put into practice in this very overcrowded F1 media ecosystem, especially for new fans. I thought it would be a good idea to put together a list of reliable sources to hopefully make this year's silly season easier to navigate.

Publications

Auto Motor und Sport (more commonly known as AMuS) - the German publication is arguably considered as the most reliable source for F1 news. Most other publications will very often quote AMuS as source.

Speedcafe.com - Australia's foremost motorsport website. Mat Coch, their F1 editor, has access to Daniel's management and was one of the first people to seek clarification from Daniel's team when the rumour that he would be replaced by Miami first cropped up.

Other reliable publications: Autosport, Motorsport, PlanetF1 (caution to be advised with PlanetF1 because very often, it just quotes sources like AMuS or tends to have a lot of clickbait articles), BBC F1.

Journalists

Chris Medland - Chris is a freelance journalist with permanent FIA accreditation. He usually writes for RACER.COM. In my opinion, he is the most reliable from the whole cohort of journalists on twitter. He may not always be the one to break a story, but if he tweets out about a rumour or story, this is pretty much confirmation that the rumour or story is true.

Nate Saunders - Nate writes for ESPN F1 and is generally considered to be the Ricciardo camp mouthpiece. However, this does not necessarily mean he is, at all times, privy to insider information from Daniel's camp. Look out for him quoting 'sources close to ...'

Thomas Maher - Thomas writes for PlanetF1 and while PlanetF1 is not the most reliable of publications, I think Thomas is a good source to follow on twitter as he is pretty good at reaching out to his sources in the paddock when it comes to seeking clarification on a rumour.

Erik Van Haren - the Dutch journalist writes for the Telegraaf. He has the reputation of being close to the Max & Jos Verstappen camp and was the first one to break the Christian Horner SH story. Therefore, anything he writes about Max or Red Bull can be more or less be relied upon.

Albert Fabrega - he is a longstanding reporter with great technical expertise and is considered as the go-to source for the Spanish/ Spanish-speaking drivers, especially Alonso. Though, caution to be exercised after the whole 'I cannot believe what I have just been told' thing he pulled last year.

Lawrence Barretto - Lawrence is a presenter for F1. He is one of my favourites in the paddock and from time to time, he will have some insider information when it comes to Daniel. He was the first one to report on Daniel's best lap at the Silverstone being good enough for the front row.

F1 Pundits

There is a whole host of characters who act as commentators or guests across a variety of international broadcasts over a race weekend (or some of them just hang around the paddock). Think Martin Brundle, Crofty, Karun Chandhok, Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, David Coulthard, Eddie Jordan, Ralf Schumacher ...

Their opinions are invariably given a lot of weight by virtue of most of them being former drivers or World Champions, but fact remains that many of them have no insight into what's actually happening within a team. However, that being said, a few of them still have close relationships with some of the teams, for e.g., David Coulthard with Red Bull or Mika Hakkinen with McLaren and whatever they say about these teams could potentially be relied upon.

Caution ⚠️

Joe Saward - Joe is rather notoriously known for his Green Notebook column on his blog. The column is supposedly meant to provide titillating insider information about F1, but it more often ends up being a regurgitation of the rumours that have been floating around that week. He has more misses than hits when it comes to rumours and anything he says needs to be taken with a generous dose of skepticism.

Will Buxton - if you see Will tweet something out, please lock your phone and walk away. This is not to say Will doesn't know what's happening in the sport - after all, he was the first one to give any indication of the Lewis to Ferrari story, but he is too committed to playing the game of shit-stirrer for engagement. The unfortunate thing is, we're all too human and we all invariably for his game and we end up going into a downward spiral of 'what does he mean???' when he tweets something out...

[leclerrari]

“I’m so sorry, but I suffer from short-term memory loss”. Those who have never seen Nemo probably won’t understand the reference, signed in this case by the very charming Dory. A reference that I use to address a problem that seems to afflict many “fans” (the quotation marks are not used by chance) of the pinnacle of motorsport. Following the - extraordinary - victory of Carlos Sainz, in fact, I found myself reading various comments which, rather than praising the Spaniard’s performance, preferred to bring out how “Ferrari renewed the contract of the wrong driver”. None of these were journalists from Marca, much less from AS. I’m talking about long-time Ferrari “tifosi”, regular visitors to our platforms, who have pointed out that Leclerc has only won two races more than the mistreated Sainz. Consequently, getting off the wagon of the person who was about to win in Bahrain, at the steering wheel of the red car, in his second appearance wearing the Cavallino suit, or in Austria, before being escorted out by Max Verstappen, or in Singapore, again in 2019, before he was subjected to an undercut by his own teammate. Getting off the wagon of the person who achieved two podiums with the SF1000, of the person who was on the verge of winning in Silverstone at the steering wheel of the SF21, a car with which he even achieved two pole positions (how can we forget the one in Monaco, lost without even having the chance to race). Of the person who was mocked by a Virtual Safety Car in Jeddah in 2022, the year in which his power unit broke while he was dominating both in Barcelona and in Baku, the year in which he was the victim of the worst of treasons in Silverstone and of strategies bordering on embarrassment, as in Monte-Carlo and Budapest. Of the person who was vice World Champion in 2022, of the one who before the 2024 Australian Grand Prix was returning from seven consecutive front rows, of the one who collected 23 pole positions: only Michael Schumacher, in Ferrari, did better than him. Carlos, unlike Charles, has always been able to be in the right place at the right time (Singapore 2023 and Australia 2024) taking advantage of the circumstances like no one else has and, certainly, of the not excellent weekends of his teammate, which unfortunately for Leclerc have coincided with the very rare failures of Red Bull and Max Verstappen. This, for those who suffer from short-term memory loss, was Charles’ fault, this is the reason why Ferrari would have “renewed the contract of the wrong driver”. This is what has led many to get off the wagon of the monegasque, a wagon that they will soon be forced to chase on foot. On the other hand, “those who don’t have a good memory must have good legs”.

— Alessandro Morini Gallarati for Hammer Time Magazine

[mynicosensesaretingling]

Lost in the moment (part 1)

Nico Rosberg x fem!reader

Summary: Throughout her career as a motorsport journalist, (Y/N) has established a special relationship with Nico. But what happens when unfortunate circumstances keep her from being there for him during the most important moment of his career? (part 1 of 2)

Warnings: Other than some angst there isn't any, female reader

Note: Noticing the lack of Nico fanfiction, I've decided to turn my dreams into an actual story. No worries, there will be a second part!

Part 2: https://www.tumblr.com/mynicosensesaretingling/734355288476565504/lost-in-the-moment-part2

Hope you enjoy it <3

Life as a journalist was not exactly a quiet life, especially for (Y/N), who worked as a reporter live on location for a motorsport journal called Countdown Magazine. Having been a dream job for the young woman since childhood, however, the stress that came with working in the motorsport industry seemed only half as bad to her.

But this year, the atmosphere had changed as the intense rivalry between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, known as the “Silver War”, had captivated the world of Formula 1. As a dedicated and well-reputed reporter, (Y/N) had secured herself, what you could call a front-row seat, which allowed her to immerse herself in the high-stakes drama that unfolded throughout the season and enabled her to follow every twist and turn with unwavering dedication.

However, even though the feud between the Mercedes drivers provided great headlines and stories, (Y/N) couldn’t help but feel tense whenever Lewis and Nico had a go at each other.

Having been covering the sport for multiple years now had created a closer bond between her and several of the drivers and none more so than Nico Rosberg. The German Mercedes driver had always struck (Y/N) as a fascinating character. 

Over the years, their paths had crossed countless times during press conferences, pit-lane interviews and post-race debriefs. She had covered his journey from the earlier days of his Formula 1 career, watching him develop from a promising talent into a championship contender. His approachability and genuine interest in connecting with those around him were what had set Nico apart from the other drivers. Beyond the professional facade, the driver was a thoughtful guy, cracking jokes, sharing gossip, discussing the intricacies of the sport, the pressures of competition and even personal anecdotes from his life. 

Before she knew it, (Y/N) had found herself staying behind after work, searching out any chance to connect with the German. It didn’t take long before he invited her to join him at whatever he was planning on doing next, be it a walk around the track, getting something to eat or simply hanging around the paddock. Each time she accepted his offer the unique bond between them grew stronger, forging a friendship that transcended the typical reporter-athlete dynamic.

"Sometimes I really wonder why you spend so much time with me." the young reporter once mused, resting her chin on her hand as she leaned against the counter. Nico, who was standing next to her at the whirring coffee machine, shrugged his shoulders calmly, "I have to make sure I'm always presented in the best light. After all, we don't want any scandalous headlines or such, do we?." his cheeky laughter was quickly interrupted when (Y/N)'s foot found his shin. "Ouch." the blond man exclaimed overdramatically, pointing at her with his silver spoon in an accusing manner, but his narrowed eyes were sparkling playfully. "I swear one day I'm going to lose my ability to drive because of you. And then we'll both be out of a job." (Y/N) couldn't help but laugh at his antics. "There are plenty of other Formula 1 drivers I could report on." "Mhm." Nico was nodding while picking up his cup from the coffee machine. "But apparently these drivers must be boring as hell, otherwise you wouldn't be spending so much time with me." He winked at her whilst stirring his coffee, getting an eye-roll from (Y/N) in response. "Oh come on, I know you love me." Nico chuckled. "Oh shut up," the young woman laughed, waving her hand in a dismissive manner, purposefully ignoring the way her heart skipped a beat.

One of (Y/N)’s favourite memories, which she had made in her friendship with Nico, was when after a long, rainy qualifying day and countless press conferences, the driver had waited for her in the pitlane, an umbrella in his right hand as he wordlessly motioned for her to join him with his free one. “It’s raining.” she had expressed, pulling her jacket tighter around her body in hesitation, eyes darting to the dark clouds above. “And I have an umbrella.” Nico had simply countered matter-of-factly, shaking the umbrella for emphasis, scrunching his nose as his gesture led cold droplets to land on his face. (Y/N) suppressed a laugh, finding the sight utterly adorable. “I can’t just leave you standing there in the rain, can I?” her voice was filled with amusement, as she mustered the man, before quickly making her way over to Nico. “I mean,” he chuckled, as she ducked under his umbrella “You definitely could, but I’d find it incredibly rude.” (Y/N) huffed a laugh, linking her arm with his. “Well, how kind of me to join you then.” She hummed, eyes fixed onto the moon’s reflection in one of the puddles below. “ What are we doing anyways ?” she raised her brow, looking up at him with curiosity. Nico turned his head, a sparkle in his eyes. “We’ve never walked a track at night before, so I figured we’d make it a first. And now that I am thinking about it, I don’t think we’ve ever walked in the rain before either.” his gaze turned mischievous as he shook the umbrella once again, sprinkling water into both of their faces. A hearty chuckle left his lips as he watched (Y/N) scrunch her nose, just like he had done earlier.  “Why did you even bother getting an umbrella?” (Y/N) huffed lightheartedly, as she wiped her face with her sleeve. “Cause I know you wouldn’t have joined me without one.” he grinned down at her before pulling her along with him. That night, as Nico and her had spent several hours walking the moonlit track, sharing an umbrella and conversing about everything and nothing, is when (Y/N) had realized that her feelings for the Mercedes driver went far beyond friendship.

In the current tense situation, moments like these were not lost on the pair, but they were becoming increasingly infrequent. With the championship-deciding race approaching, (Y/N) could feel the pressure on Nico becoming stronger by the minute. Being on the brink of realizing his lifelong dream of becoming a Formula 1 World Champion and stepping into the footsteps of his father had led to several sleepless nights thinking about the sacrifices and the relentless pursuit of excellence that had brought him to this pivotal moment. And on top of that, Nico’s biggest rival was his own teammate and best friend, Lewis Hamilton. 

Especially now that the relationship with his childhood friend was slowly but surely coming to an end, Nico found himself drawn to (Y/N)’s presence, even more so than usual. Amongst this utter mess, which he found himself in, she was his lifeline and he clung to it like a desperate sailor lost at sea. 

Particularly in the days leading up to the race, Nico was confiding in the woman about his innermost fears and ambitions, trusting her as someone who genuinely understood the intricacies of the sport and its impact on his life. She, in turn, had found herself awaiting his late-night calls, admiring his determination as she listened to him rambling about whatever was occupying his mind, her heart filling with a sense of pride whenever she’d hear a faint chuckle from Nico as she managed to bring some lightheartedness and humour to their conversations.

"You'll be okay," she would say to him in a gentle voice, "you've always managed so far." On the other end of the line, the driver would sigh, "But it's never been like this before." His voice was weary and full of thoughtful despair. "And in the future, it will never be like this again." she would say with a shurg, her empathetic smile practically audible through the phone. "So try to enjoy as many of these moments as you can." There was a pause before Nico gave a breathless chuckle, "Oh man, what would I do without you?"

On the day of the race, as Nico prepared for taking on the track, he couldn't help but think of (Y/N) and how she had supported him over the last few weeks, reassuring him and quite literally keeping him sane as the situation within his team steadily deteriorated.

His blue eyes scanned the area outside of the Mercedes garage. Unable to spot his friend in any of the spots she’d usually be in, Nico approached one of the stewards. “Hey, sorry,” he tried to sound nonchalant  “Have you seen the Countdown crew?” his eyes nervously flitted around the paddock, before landing back on the steward. “Countdown Magazine? No, I don’t think I have seen them anywhere on the track today.” the older man answered, a rough hand scratching away at his beard. “Thank you.” Nico shortly nodded, before abruptly turning on his heels and making his way back into the garage with tense shoulders. (Y/N)’s absence from the paddock weighed heavily on his mind. She had promised him to be there today and she’d usually come in amongst the first wave of reporters. Why wasn’t she there yet? Nico combed his fingers through his hair , lost in thought. Shaking his head, he felt his team’s eyes on his form. She’d surely be at the paddock in no time, he thought,  deciding that for now, it would do him better to focus on the race and his strategies, in order to secure the championship.

What Nico didn't know, however, was that just mere moments before the gates to the paddock were opened, the boss of Countdown Magazine had abruptly fired  (Y/N) at short notice. 

With her heartbeat pounding in her ears, the only thing the young journalist had been able to understand through the speaker of her cell phone was that the magazine needed a “breath of fresh air” and therefore had decided to get rid of their motorsport department in the composition in which it had existed until then…or something like that. (Y/N) wasn't entirely sure, as she was overcome with panic as her thoughts flew straight to Nico.

Just the night before, she had promised him on the phone that she would never miss the most important race of his career and now she was sitting in her hotel room, unemployed, with no access to the paddock and no way to get a ticket to the race because the tickets had already sold out weeks ago. 

Had a champion of misfortune been crowned that night, she was sure that no one would have been able to deprive her of that victory. Shaky fingers dialled Nico's number, which she by now knew better than she did her own, the cheap wood of the hotel bed creaking as (Y/N)'s leg bobbed up and down in unease. With each ring of the call, her breath caught in her throat. The ex-reporter knew the driver too well by now to have expected him to use his cell phone so close to the race, but what other option did she have? She pressed the phone to her ear for a few more moments, each second more painful than the last, wide eyes staring blankly at the F1 broadcast on her TV screen. It was only when the drivers left their garages to get into formation that she dropped the cell phone from her ear and threw it onto the mattress behind her with a loud "Fuck!", followed by a strangled sob whilst desperate fingers pulled at her hair. 

As the race unfolded, the tension in the air was palpable. Nico and Lewis were locked in a fierce battle for the championship and every corner, every lap, seemed to carry the weight of each driver’s dreams. When Nico finally crossed the finish line , securing his victory, he felt a mix of euphoria and disbelief. After this particularly demanding season, he could finally breathe a sigh of relief, having  fulfilled his life-long dream of winning a World Driver’s Championship title.

The moment Nico stepped onto the podium to accept the championship trophy, he couldn’t help himself but to scan the crowd of reporters, still hoping to catch a glimpse of (Y/N). She had to be there, after all that’s what she had promised him. Yet, his friend still remained conspicuously absent. 

Nico held the coveted trophy high, the cheers of the crowd a deafening roar, as he smiled down at the sea of people. But even with a championship in hand and hundreds of people celebrating his achievement, there was a strange feeling of emptiness within his heart. As the champagne sprayed and the crowd celebrated, Nico's emotions were a turbulent mix of exhilaration and confusion. He couldn't help but wonder why (Y/N) hadn't been there smiling up at him, especially when she had been a constant presence throughout not only the season, but the majority of his career. The absence of his friend was like a splinter in his heart, casting a faint shadow over what should have been the most triumphant moment of his career. 

Meanwhile, (Y/N) watched the race unfold from her hotel room, fresh tears welling up in her eyes. The news of her abrupt departure from her reporting career had come as a shock, and she had fought bitterly against it. Her job had been her passion, and Formula 1 was her life. To be denied the opportunity to report on the championship-deciding race, and more importantly to support Nico in his most crucial moment, was a heartbreak she struggled to bear.

As she witnessed Nico celebrating his victory, the realization of her absence was a painful weight on both her shoulders and her mind. She had been forced to watch her friend reach the pinnacle of his career from a distance, unable to share this moment of glory with the man who had unknowingly stolen her heart. The tears she shed were a mixture of pride for her friend and a deep sense of sorrow for her own situation. 

Back at the race track, Nico's initial reaction, unaware of the circumstances behind his friend’s absence, was one of betrayal. Finding himself being swarmed by countless reporters fighting for even the smallest of chances to get a word from the freshly crowned champion, he couldn’t help the bitterness he began to feel towards (Y/N). If all of these random journalist could have turned up, then why couldn’t his dearest friend do the same for him. The longer Nico thought about it, the more he questioned his relationship with (Y/N), something which he had valued so highly up until that very moment. 

She hadn’t just used him to boost her journalism career, had she? As much as he wanted to shake the thought, the champion couldn’t stop the idea of having been used solely for thrilling stories and eye-catching headlines to consume him, clouding his mind as the pain of having been abandoned by the woman, whom he had opened himself up to, right when he needed her most, sank in. 

His heart was clouded by hurt, and the insufferable ache of believing he had been manipulated by someone he had grown to trust and even developed some sort of feelings for was something he didn't know whether he could cope with.

How could a person whom he valued so highly and would give anything for, be so selfish and leave him standing there like that, clutching his fulfilled lifelong dream in his hand and yet still feeling a hole in his heart. Had his feelings really blinded him to such an extent that he hadn't realized (Y/N)'s true nature, or had his heart perhaps never wished to recognize it in the first place ?

“Mr.Rosberg!” the shout of his name pulled the driver out of his thoughts. Blinking, his eyes travelled up the arm currently shoving a microphone into his face, before settling on the face of the reporter, whose red lips were pulled into an impatient smile. “I am sorry, I didn’t quite catch your question.” he mindlessly gestured around with his hand, hoping to come across as if he really hadn't caught the question in the bustling scenery. 

He raised his brows, a half-heartedly apologetic smile on his lips as he kept his attentive eyes on the reporter while waiting for her to repeat what she had just asked. The reporter laughed in a put-on fashion and Nico had to wrestle with himself to refrain from rolling his eyes.

"So," the woman thrust the microphone even further into his face, "I'd be really interested to know whether there was anyone who helped you get through this difficult season, or whether it was all down to you?" Almost immediately the driver put on the mask of a cocky smile. "No, all of that was entirely down to me and I dare say I managed pretty darn well." Nico’s hair bobbed as he nodded towards his trophy. His smile grew painful as he was intent on ignoring the extent of the lie he had just told and the pang of pain, that the conscious erasure of his relationship with (Y/N) caused deep within his core.

[jack-doohan]

vastly unfamiliar with law words but this doesn’t look good for 23XI or FRM 😬😞

[petit-papillion]

"Despite his season threatening to fizzle out, Leclerc vowed to get on top of his troubles. Those words would not be unfulfilled as the Monegasque rebounded emphatically. Across the remaining seven rounds, Leclerc out-qualified Sainz every single time and wasn’t beaten when both drivers classified.

Leclerc registered three podiums and three pole positions to Sainz’s none, while also ending the year with five straight front-row starts. The last statistic provided perhaps the clearest indication that he was back to his swashbuckling best behind the wheel.

The exhilarating sight of Leclerc, equipped with the lowest possible fuel and fresh tyres, hurtling a car into a sequence of corners and dancing perilously close to the extremities of the track had only been on display in flashes through the first two-thirds of the season.

Leclerc’s one-lap speed prospering again proved vital to his race prospects too as it enabled him to manage his pace in clear air, tempering Ferrari’s tyre degradation issue. That was especially clear in the final round at Abu Dhabi, when Leclerc produced a stunning last-gasp qualifying effort to mitigate Ferrari’s cornering deficit to beat McLaren and Mercedes to a front-row spot.

That feat granted him the platform to control proceedings on Sunday to effortlessly caress the tyres home on the optimal strategy without threat, affording him the capacity to display racing intelligence at either end of the encounter to pick his battles wisely and prioritise the team’s goals above his race.

The season finale marked one of Leclerc’s most complete showings in F1, following on from one of his highest peak performances in Vegas that should have yielded a victory.

Despite being usurped from the line by Verstappen, Leclerc outfoxed the Dutchman in managing the Medium tyre against graining in the cooler track temperatures to become the first driver to successfully overtake a Red Bull driver for the lead in ‘23."

Source: Motorsport Week

[cbsxreader]

You go to a car rally with the mercs! Pt.1

I was at a WRC rally recently so this was inspired by that

Pt.1 ; Pt.2

Notes: Gn!Reader, can be interpreted as romantic or platonic!

Scout

Rally or motorsports in general is probably his second-favorite sport behind baseball, so you bet he wants to take you.

He makes a point to buy the overpriced food and merchandise, he says that it's a part of the experience. You end up leaving with nearly empty wallets and well-fed on fast food.

Scout insists on getting the front row and getting as close to the track as possible, but when he gets hit with a cloud of dust or rocks, he acts like it doesn't even bother him to impress you and then proceeds to cough his lungs out.

Also he probably gets trampled by a bunch of people somewhere in the whole experience, that's what I imagine could happen at a rally.

It comes back to bite you two in the ass when you realize getting the car as close to the watch area as you could makes you stuck in traffic from everyone trying to leave.

Soldier

As a proud, red-blooded American, of course he loves fast and loud cars, and especially so when they're competing with each other.

Brings his patriotic merch along to show his support and love for rally, it's especially prominent if there are other countries competing in the race. He'll be the one cheering the loudest for the American drivers.

Even if you arrive late, he pushes through the crowd to get you two the front. He also keeps the rocks and pebbles that hit him as souvenirs, no overpriced shirts for him, thanks.

Just keep an eye out for him and be a voice of reason because he might go to do something that's against the whole etiquette of the event like stepping over the barriers where you're not supposed to go.

If you want an autograph from one or multiple racers, he'll go out of his way to push through the line, pull the racers aside just for them to give you an autograph.

Pyro

Pyro would rather watch from a distance, it's a bit overwhelming for them with all the loud noises and closeness of many people around you. Yeah, they're a mercenary, but it's different when they can't do anything about it.

It's better for them to watch the big screen where they fly over the car in a helicopter or it's the drivers' POV and not mind the actual cars driving by.

After the rally, help them clean up their goggles from the dust that hits them.

They will draw a drawing of going to the rally with you afterwards and will keep the attendee bracelets (if the organizers hand them out) for the memory.

Just make sure you're not watching near where the cars start driving. Pyro might get an idea that might...upset the rest of the live viewers and if you lose sight of them, some drivers would not be in for a fun time.

[coimbrabertone]

What is the Greatest Team in Motorsports?

So last weekend, Team Penske swept the three-wide front row for the 2024 Indianapolis 500, marking only the second time that a team has locked out the front row. The first time? Penske in 1988. Oh, and just to add a cherry on top of that, Penske won the NASCAR All-Star race at North Wilkesboro with Joey Logano.

This comes on the heels of Penske winning the 2021 Daytona 500 with Austin Cindric, the 2022 Indycar championship with Will Power, the 2022 NASCAR championship with Joey Logano, the 2023 Indianapolis 500 with Josef Newgarden, the 2023 NASCAR championship with Ryan Blaney, and the 2024 24 Hours of Daytona with Dane Cameron, Matt Campbell, Felipe Nasr, and Josef Newgarden. Yeah...they're on a run and a half, aren't they?

Beyond that, Penske has been everywhere and done everything.

Formula One? Won the 1976 Austrian Grand Prix with John Watson.

Sports Cars? Well in addition to the aforementioned Daytona 24 win, their Porsche-Penske RS Spyder dominated LMP2 racing in the 2000s - you know how everyone talks about how dominant the Diesel Audi LMP1s of the 2000s were? Well at the 2008 12 Hours of Sebring, the Porsche-Penske RS Spyder LMP2 beat the Audi R10 TDI LMP1. Penske won, a privateer RS Spyder finished second, and the Audi had to settle for third. Damn.

That's not even to mention how the Penske Porsche 917-30 with its 5.4L Twin Turbo Flat-12 was so dominant in 1973 that it killed Can Am.

Three Daytona 500s, nineteen Indianapolis 500s, four NASCAR championships plus two in the Xfinity series, seventeen Indycar championships across USAC, CART, and Indycar, and a grand total of over 500 race wins makes for a pretty compelling case.

Pretty much the only major feather messing in Roger Penske's cap is the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and, well, the Penske-Porsche partnership is at it again. The #6 Penske Porsche driven by Kevin Estre, Andre Lotterer, and Laurens Vanthoor has gone first-second-second in the first three WEC races of the season. That kind of form, plus some of the historic context I established for the Porsche-Penske partnership...are you really going to write them off ahead of Le Mans this year?

So yeah, Penske is a powerhouse of a team and they've been everywhere.

Including Australian Supercars of all things. Scott McLaughlin in the DJR Team Penske Ford took forty-eight wins across four years and won three championships in a row from 2018 to 2020, including the 2019 Bathurst 1000. He then went on to race in Indycar, has taken five wins so far, and just set a 233.220 four-lap average to take that pole position for the Indy 500.

Running the same classic Pennzoil yellow submarine livery as Rick Mears did in 1988. In the race itself, he'll wear a retro red and yellow suit of overalls modeled on the ones that Rick Mears wore in the 80s. If the stars align and Scott repeats what Rick did in 1988 and wins the Indy 500, then he'll have done something truly remarkable. He'll have cut his teeth in Australian supercars and come out of it one of the best Indycar drivers of the modern era.

Of course, his teammates will challenge him.

Will Power, who has more poles in Indycar than anyone else in history.

Josef Newgarden who won last year and has turned into a dominant force on ovals in Indycar.

Not to mention thirty other cars that want to wipe the smile off of Team Penske's face.

There is a lot of talk about Kyle Larson doing the double this year, racing the Indy 500 for Arrow McLaren and then racing the Coke 600 in Charlotte for Hendrick Motorsports, and he'll start fifth. That legitimately gives him one of the best chances of anyone to attempt the double. That being said, last year...Team Penske did the double as a team.

Josef Newgarden won the Indy 500, then Ryan Blaney won the Coke 600. Both of them went into the crowds to celebrate. If Kyle Larson wants to win the double, he'll be up against the mammoth that is Team Penske. Perhaps one of the greatest teams in all of motorsports, and they'll be facing him in both Indianapolis and Charlotte.

Let the games begin.

Sunday, May 26th, 2024 is going to be Motorsports Christmas. The Catalan Motorcycle Grand Prix, the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500, and the Coke 600. Two triple crown events, one of NASCAR's crown jewel, and the home race for about half of the MotoGP field, all in one day.

It's going to be a damn good day.

[umlewis]

At the Invitation of Rimowa, Lewis Hamilton Makes A Pit Stop With ELLE

One of the most influential drivers in Formula 1 and protagonist of Rimowa's new campaign, Lewis Hamilton talks about traveling the world, his motivation after seven world titles, and his passion for fashion.

Lewis Hamilton started traveling at the age of thirteen because of motorsport. At 22 he joined Formula 1, which meant visiting around twenty countries for nine months, each year of the championship, and he has contested eighteen seasons so far. "Getting to know different places, and especially different cultures, really helped expand my mind and my understanding of the world," says the pilot. Naturally, then, the Englishman is one of the protagonists of the new campaign by Rimowa, a German brand that is a reference in luxury luggage. Named Never Still (or "always on the move"), it brings together personalities who have travel as the engine of their personal journey and evolution. And Hamilton never stopped surpassing himself. Born into a working-class English family, he has won seven world titles, a feat he shares only with Michael Schumacher. He also has the highest number of victories, pole positions and podiums in the most important category in world motorsport. After 945 days without a win, he took the top spot on his home podium at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone last month in one of the most thrilling achievements of his career. "There were times when I thought this would never happen again. (…) I had never cried when crossing the finish line," he said in the interview after the race. "That's what happens when you keep going. We stand up," he wrote on his Instagram profile, thanking his team, Mercedes. In the following race in Hungary he achieved the 200th podium of his career. After twelve years at the German team, the Englishman will start racing for Ferrari in 2025, in one of the most talked about moves in the sport in recent times.

The first (and still only) black driver in F1, he became a voice against racism and in defense of diversity in the sport, taking a firm stand in the midst of Black Lives Matter. Hamilton was not afraid to contrast the homogeneous look of his circuit colleagues, with his dreadlocks, tattoos and jewelry. His passion for fashion is clear-he has walked the Met Gala red carpet a few times, collaborates with major brands, is a constant presence in the front rows-and his willingness to dare. The driver shows a lot of his choices behind the scenes on the circuit, reinforcing his connection with fashion under the spotlight of F1. "I don't always get it right, but I think it's a matter of personal expression," he says. The Englishman also expressed several times his admiration for Ayrton Senna, who he chose as an idol when he was still a child. In 2022 Hamilton gained the title of honorary Brazilian citizen, and at the beginning of this year he went to Bahia to spend his rare days of dolce far niente. Away from the track he opened his own film production company, with which he is preparing a feature film about F1 with Brad Pitt and Javier Bardem, in which he will also act. Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick), the production had scenes filmed at the British Grand Prix last year. At a pit stop in Seoul, where he posed for the photos that accompany this article, the driver spoke about his connection with Brazil, his admiration for Senna, travel, and fashion.

You will turn forty in 2025. What has age brought you? How different do you see yourself, compared to your twenties and thirties? "Deep down I'm still the boy I always was, but much more sure of myself, of what I want and where I want to go. I'm more comfortable with myself, in my own skin, enjoying my creativity, whether in music (Hamilton composes), or in fashion and sport. This brings me a lot of joy. At twenty everyone is a little lost, trying to figure out what they are and what to do. I feel like I have a north star. I think the forties will be the best. I will make them the best."

You've won seven world titles, broken a series of records, founded your own charity organization, and star in Rimowa's campaign. What motivates you? What are you looking for in the coming years? "You need to remember that life is short, to be present and find a balance between work and family. I am extremely motivated and I want to use the time I have here well. One of the things I'm most proud of is Mission 44 (an institution founded by the pilot with a focus on creating a more inclusive future for young people) and the work we are doing. Last year in São Paulo I managed to take sixty children from the city to the Autódromo de Interlagos, showing them the circuit, the pits and everything. I spent some time with them, who had ideas on how to solve some of the problems they face in Brazilian education and society. These are things I want to continue developing. I want to find out how I can use this initiative to impact people, especially children, who are the future. We need to encourage and create platforms for the next generation; the new innovators, the new designers, the new artists."

You've spent much of the last few years traveling the world. How did this influence you as a human being and as a pilot? "I started traveling when I was thirteen years old. I'm very lucky to be able to see the world. It's very different when you start traveling at a young age. Everything is the first time; the first time in Brazil, the first time in Italy. This news is so special. It's sad that you don't have the first time again, because it's very difficult to have the same feeling. Getting to know different places and especially different cultures really helped expand my mind and my understanding of the world, how vast it is and how different people interact. At the same time, we are all human beings and have a lot in common. I feel like it helped me understand humanity better, to have compassion, and I think you can be a better person when you have that understanding, unlike being in one city or country for many years."

What's never missing from your suitcase? "Face mask, a book or two, my laptop and headphones. These are the things I can't travel without."

You always seem very comfortable in Brazil. What attracts you to the country? "The thing I love most about Brazil is the people, the energy. When I was younger, growing up in England, it was the colors-the green and yellow of football shirts-that attracted me. I watched many Brazilian team games. And, of course, there was Senna. When I saw advertisements and documentaries about him, I could hear Brazilian music and drums in the background. I saw Carnival and how people celebrated. Every time I met Brazilians in England, they said, "I love it, I love the country." I don't think I've ever met anyone of another nationality who was so passionate about their country. So when I finally went to Brazil, I felt the energy. It's a very diverse country, which I love. I feel at home."

You are an honorary Brazilian citizen. "Yes. I need to learn Portuguese. [laughs]"

Your admiration for Senna is well known. Among so many F1 idols, how did your connection with the Brazilian come about? You were only nine years old when he died. "I started watching races when I spent the weekends with my father. I remember starting to watch them when I was around four years old. I was a very active boy and getting me to sit down was not easy, but for some reason I stopped with him for the grand prix. Ayrton's toy car models were what I wanted for Christmas. When I watched his videos, I felt like I understood the things he represented, how honest he was. I wanted to drive his way. I felt a connection. I remember I was racing (in a kart) the day he died and my father came to deliver the news. It knocked me down. At nine years old I had not yet had this experience. I remember crying for weeks. It was difficult and strange because I didn't know him, he wasn't from my country, but he meant so much to me. Over these years, I learned to love the person he was."

You really like fashion; you have a defined style. How would you describe it and what do you enjoy using it most? "I would say it is urban chic, quite sophisticated. I like taking risks. I love fashion, and when you enter this world you see how diverse and creative it is. I love being in that space, because I absorb a lot of inspiration. In everyday life, I love being comfortable. For example, I flew here in this sweater. Right now I'm creating amazing tailoring, something similar to suits but more comfortable than regular suits. I'm constantly learning from people and the fashion world. I don't always get it right, but I think it's a matter of personal expression."

[blackswaneuroparedux]

Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting.

Steve McQueen

In his lifetime Juan Manuel Fangio was called 'El Maestro' and was rightly considered as one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time.

In seven full Formula One seasons (he missed one recovering from a nearly fatal injury) he was World Champion five times (with four different teams) and runner-up twice. In his 51 championship Grands Prix he started from the front row 48 times (including 29 pole positions) and set 23 fastest race laps en route to 35 podium finishes, 24 of them victories. His superlative track record was achieved by some of the greatest displays of skill and daring ever seen. Fangio did it all with style, grace, nobility and a sense of honour never seen before or since.

Fangio flourished in Formula One racing when the world championship was in its infancy and he was a comparatively 'Old Man' - which is what his admiring rivals called the aging genius who won his last driving title in 1957, when he was 46 years old.

Most of his challengers were young enough to be his sons, and nearly all of them came from privileged backgrounds far removed from Fangio's humble origins in a remote corner of Argentina, in the dusty frontier town of Balcarce. His father and mother, hard-working immigrants from the Abruzzi region of Italy to whom Fangio was deeply devoted, raised their six children (three boys and three girls) to believe in God and the dignity of labour.

Juan Manuel Fangio credited his parents with instilling in him the virtues of honesty and integrity, self-discipline, respect for others and the sense of responsibility that characterised his approach to life. 

Fangio’s legacy in the world of motorsport is immense. He set a standard of excellence that has inspired generations of racers, and his smooth driving style and strategic mastery have been studied and emulated by countless drivers. He was also a pioneer in the sport, helping to popularize Formula One in South America and paving the way for future generations of drivers from the region.

A notable victory came in the 1955 Monaco Grand Prix, where Fangio overcame a 50-second deficit to win the race by just over three seconds. The race is remembered for Fangio’s heroic performance, as he pushed his car to the limit and overtook several competitors in the closing laps.