#Front Row Motorsports

[frederikvesti]

bubbawallace Played as a fan before tonight’s race 😮‍💨📸

[fallen-angel-014]

Noah Gragson asking people at FRM who they are picking to win the SB….

I’m picking the Chiefs…even though I live close to Philly, I should go with the Eagles, but….I’m a Travis Kelce girl….😁🥰

I love ya, Taylor, but Momma Cougar has some candy….

Oh, don’t judge me !!

[sudden-stops-kill]

[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 🎶🎶

[5sospenguinqueen]

Please, Please, Please | Max Verstappen x Singer! Reader

Summary:  What do you do when your ex-girlfriend moves on with another guy? Become needy and pathetic. But, when the guy brings you to tears, Max knows it's his time to save you from further heartbreak.

Warnings: barry keogan (i couldn't find any other men with her that worked), swearing, toxic relationships, pathetic max 

Requested: yes by many of you on the previous part 

Faceclaim: Sabrina Carpenter (she was used on the last one and yes, she's used a lot but I stole her song and her job so I'm also stealing her face)

F1 Masterlist

prev. || next.

part 4 will be the last part so it may seem a bit rushed but i didn’t plan anything else. sorry! these just seem to be getting worse as well, so i’m also sorry about that 

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maxverstappen1 just posted

liked by danielricciardo, liamlawson30 and others

maxverstappen1 a good effort from the team to start on the front row tomorrow 💪 let’s keep pushing tomorrow 🇺🇸

6,633 comments 

user1 twitter is claiming that max and kelly broke up

user2 okay but i actually can’t function until i know if max is free from kelly once more

user3 max please tell us if you and kelly have broken up

user4 i need max and kelly to be done forever this time 

user5 is it true that you broke up with kelly?

→ maxverstappen1 yes. now can we focus on the race

→ user6 @/yn_ln this means you can give him another chance 

→ user7 why would she want to after he ran back to kelly

(comments have been limited) 

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yn_ln just posted

liked by mclaren, actorbf and others

yn_ln surprise! if you have any questions, you can refer to my new single please, please, please 💋

13,850 comments 

user8 the two of them are so cute 

jennaortega i’ll give you all the kisses 

→ user9 i wouldn’t. not with all the men she goes through

→ oscarpiastri whoa now, there’s no need for that 

user10 don’t get me wrong. i’m loving all the new music. but my heart can’t handle all the new layers to this drama 

landonorris okay, little miss hollywood. that music video just proved you’d never do well in a film 

→ yn_ln oi, i act better than you do, mr hilton 

→ hilton we’d be happy to have you both

user11 ew, so she went from a hot motorsport driver to a subpar actor?

user12 wait, what? this wasn’t supposed to happen. she’s gone off script. max is single now, they were meant to be getting back together 

→ user13 she’s not his back-up plan. plus she’s way out of his league 

user14 don’t you think you might be putting strain on her new relationship? i doubt her new guy likes to see everyone preferring the old guy 

→ user15 hopefully that means he’ll leave and we can get her and max back

user16 has anyone checked on max?

(comments have been turned off)

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yn_ln just posted

liked by charles_leclerc, verstappencom and others

yn_ln how to lose a cake in 10 minutes 

16,334 comments 

alexandrasaintmleux the most beautiful birthday girl 

→ francisca.cgomes this dress is going to live rent free in my head 

→ yn_ln thank you for letting me show you both twenty different dresses

→ alexandrasaintmleux just wish you were taller so we could steal some of them 

→ yn_ln can’t believe you’d do this to me on the day of my birth 

→ oscarpiastri technically your birthday is tomorrow. this was just your birthday party

→ yn_ln thin fucking ice, piastri

user1 guys guys guys. verstappencom liked this. i repeat verstappencom liked this

→ user2 okay but that’s not max

→ user1 but it’s an advocate for max so 

landonorris dicaprio wouldn’t want you anyway. you’re too short

→ yn_ln i’ll make my boyfriend fight you 

→ landonorris i’m not scared of your polly pocket boyfriend

→ mclaren you can’t say stuff like this publicly, lan

→ user3 i swear none of them actually like her boyfriend 

→ user4 showing their support for max. he’s the only person who matches her beauty 

user5 no but the hand in the dress is somehow cute and hot 

→ user6 not with that guy. it should be max 

redbullracing happy birthday to our favourite popstar

replies

user7 what do you mean she had to pay for her own birthday meal on her birthday because her boyfriend wouldn’t

→ user8 not even wouldn’t but flat out refused 

→ user9 streets are saying it’s because he’s broke. not exactly like he’s raking in the job offers 

user10 so this man is lucky enough to get a chance with THE y/n l/n, then he refuses to pay for her dinner, and then he yells at her?? all on her birthday???

→ user11 he’s punching above his weight and clearly that angers him

→ user12 especially with the way she looked in that yellow sparkly dress today 

user13 someone clearly isn’t very smart. she writes a song for him - the first one she’s written recently that isn’t about max - and he does exactly what the song asks him not to do 

→ user14 how dare he try to embarrass our queen by yelling at her in front of so many people

→ user15 i’m starting to question if our girl does have good judgement. how could two men do this to her? 

→ user16 definitely doesn’t have good taste

user17 the audacity to yell at her in a restaurant of people, and then continue to do so after you were asked to leave because you were yelling at her

user18 and if i said i saw max verstappen pass them in the street, stop and turn, and start defending her, then what?

→ user18 he was literally yelling at this man whilst holding a crying y/n behind him, and rubbing her arm soothingly 

→ user19 we’d say you’re full of shit and have no tangible proof 

→ user20 this could be true because he was hanging out with charles and some of the drivers. and i just know alex sm got on the phone to her boyf and begged him to send the love of y/n’s life to save her

→ user19 pics or it didn’t happen

maxverstappen1 posted a new story yn_ln posted a new story

landonorris replied to maxverstappen1 i recognise the birthday girl's dress

landonorris replied to yn_ln who’s the 3rd person 👀 → wait why wasn’t I invited

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requests open

tag list

@omgsuperstarg @seonghwaexile @evie-119 @alejandrablacklupin @nina-or-anna-or-nora @shelbyteller @raynetargaryan2 @astroniii @raizelchrysanderoctavius @azuramicah @seasonswinter @chaoswithus @casey1-2007 @chemiru @strengthandstay @ivanag1rl@anayaverse @formulaal @ellelabelle @yara011 @callsignwidow @freyathehuntress @floweringlee @isagrace22 @sunny44 @lottalove4evelyn @danielshoe @paucubarsisimp @monacosprince @stereading @hoeforsirius @anilovessadbooks @armystay89 @cassofheartsss

sorry if i missed anyone. it wouldn't let me tag some of y'all

[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

[frederikvesti]

72 Hours in Miami

[aneunelpeunim07]

I was just given a rude reminder of my age today.

I've always been open about how I started watching F1 as a kid, all the way back in 2003.

I grew up watching Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello drive for Scuderia Ferrari, and I remember how much I celebrated if they locked out the front row after qualifying and finished 1-2 at the race. I supported the both of them as a kid, with Michael being more of my favorite because he was World Champion.

Over 20 years have passed since I became a Formula One fan, and today, as I browse through Instagram, I saw a post showing how Mick Schumacher and Dudu Barrichello met while doing photo shoots for WEC.

I am now old enough to have seen both father and son duos in motorsport.

Now excuse me while I drown in tears of nostalgia and old age.

[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...

[kyasmultiverse]

Back to Where It All Began

Summary: Lando goes back home to his childhood friend who sees him as more than just a racer.

fluff

(AN: Send in any recommendations of any f1 drivers or more I love to write about it )

The roar of the crowd still echoed in Lando Norris’s ears as he gazed at the golden trophy sitting on the passenger seat of his car. It gleamed under the dim streetlights, a constant reminder of the surreal moment he had lived just days ago—finally becoming a Formula 1 World Champion.

The celebration had been everything he’d imagined: champagne showers, fireworks, and an endless stream of congratulations. But now, driving down the quiet streets of his hometown, he felt a different kind of satisfaction, one that had nothing to do with fame or fortune.

His old neighborhood looked the same as it always had, with rows of modest houses and the park where he’d spent countless afternoons racing his battered go-kart against imaginary rivals. Pulling up in front of a familiar house, Lando took a deep breath.

The front door opened before he could knock. “I saw your car,” Y/N said, smiling as they leaned against the doorframe. “You’re back.”

Lando chuckled, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “Yeah. Figured I’d stop by and say hi. Hope that’s okay.”

Y/N stepped aside, motioning him in. “Like I’d ever say no to you, Mr. world Champion.”

“Please don’t call me that,” he groaned, following them into the cozy living room. It smelled like fresh coffee and a hint of vanilla, the same comforting scent he remembered from years ago.

Y/N raised an eyebrow. “You literally just won the biggest title in motorsport. I think you’ve earned it.”

Lando flopped onto the couch with a grin. “I was hoping to escape all that for a bit. Coming here, it’s… normal, you know?”

“Normal,” Y/N repeated, sitting beside him. “I guess that’s what I am now, huh? Just your normal friend from a normal town.”

Lando turned to them, his expression softening. “You’ve never been just anything to me, Y/N.”

They blinked, caught off guard by the sudden sincerity in his voice. “You don’t have to say that, Lando. I know you’ve got this whole glamorous life now.”

“Glamorous?” he snorted. “It’s stressful, exhausting, and half the time, I’m just trying not to crash. The truth is, I miss this. I miss you.”

Y/N stared at him, unsure of how to respond. They’d grown up together, shared secrets and dreams, but when Lando’s career took off, their lives had naturally drifted apart. Still, they’d always rooted for him, even from afar.

“I watched every race this season,” Y/N admitted, their voice barely above a whisper. “Every single one. And when you crossed the finish line last week… I cried. Like a proper idiot.”

Lando’s face broke into a tender smile. “I cried too, if that makes you feel better. Not on TV, though. I’ve got an image to maintain.”

They both laughed, the sound filling the room with a warmth that felt like home.

“I don’t know if I ever told you,” Lando said after a moment, his voice quieter now, “but you were the first person who believed I could do this. Back when it was just a crazy dream.”

“Of course I believed in you,” Y/N said. “How could I not? You’ve always been special, Lando.”

His gaze lingered on them, his heart pounding in a way that had nothing to do with racing. “I’ve had all these people cheering for me, but it’s never felt like enough. Not until now.”

Y/N tilted their head, confusion flickering across their face. “Why now?”

“Because you’re here,” he said simply. “And you’ve always been enough.”

For a moment, the world seemed to stand still. Then, without thinking, Y/N reached for his hand, their fingers brushing against his. “You’re enough too, Lando. Even without the trophies.”

The words hit him harder than any championship win ever could. Smiling, he laced his fingers through theirs, the gesture as natural as breathing.

“Stay a while?” Y/N asked softly.

Lando leaned back, his grip on their hand steady. “I’m not going anywhere.”

And for the first time in a long time, he truly meant it.

[kathlare]

fault lines

Lando Norris x Amelie Dayman

Summary: During a family dinner in New York, Amelie’s brief respite from her demanding career is disrupted by an unexpected revelation.

Wordcount: 1.1 k

Warnings: just fluff

full masterlist // request over here!

May 8th, 2023 - New York City, NY

The warm hum of conversation filled the small, upscale restaurant tucked in the heart of New York City. Amelie sat between her brother Callum and her father, Elias, the gentle buzz of her family’s chatter offering a temporary reprieve from the overwhelming pressure of her tour. The past few months had been a whirlwind of sold-out shows, sleepless nights, and long flights, but tonight was a rare moment of respite. Her parents, siblings, and Checo had flown in from Miami, fresh off the Grand Prix, to watch her perform live.

The dinner was supposed to be relaxed, a celebration of family and Amelie’s success, but she couldn’t shake the unease that had been sitting in her chest all day. Perhaps it was exhaustion or the growing distance between her and Rodrigo, who was still in Spain training for the upcoming season.

Her mother’s hand on hers brought her out of her thoughts.

—You’ve been quiet tonight, mi amor,— Victoria said, her eyes warm and full of concern. —Is everything okay?—

Amelie gave her a small smile, forcing herself to push the worries aside. —Just tired, Mamá. Touring’s catching up to me.—

Her father nodded knowingly. —You’ve been working too hard. But at least now you’ve got us here. We’re not leaving until we’ve embarrassed you by crying in the front row.—

—Papá,— she groaned, though her lips curled into a genuine smile this time.

Checo, sitting across from her with Stella by his side, chimed in. —I’m just here to tell everyone backstage that I’m your favorite brother-in-law. Gotta keep my title.—

—You’re my only brother-in-law,— Amelie shot back playfully, though the warmth in her tone made everyone chuckle.

As plates of food were set down in front of them, Jack leaned back in his chair with a smug grin. "Speaking of titles, I think I’m officially the worst golfer in the family now."

—What?— Elysia said, narrowing her eyes at her twin. —Since when are you even considered a golfer?—

—Since last week,— Jack replied, his grin growing wider. —Got invited to play in Miami with Dad, Zak Brown, and some other guys. It was a disaster.—

Amelie’s head snapped up at the mention of McLaren, her chest tightening instinctively. —Wait, Zak Brown? As in… McLaren’s Zak Brown?—

Jack nodded, smirking as he reached for his drink. —The one and only. Don’t get too excited, though. He wasn’t there to see me. It was all Dad’s thing. Apparently, they’re buddies now.—

Elias chuckled, clearly amused by the memory. —He’s a good guy. Knows his stuff about motorsports, that’s for sure. Though I’m pretty sure he was regretting inviting me after the third hole. My swing’s gone to hell.—

—Hold up,— Amelie interrupted, her brows furrowing. —What exactly were you doing playing golf with Zak Brown?—

—Oh, it was just a casual thing,— Elias said, waving a hand dismissively. —Some McLaren sponsors were there too. I didn’t want to go, but Zak insisted.—

—Yeah, it was casual until he showed up,— Jack cut in, leaning forward with a mischievous grin. —Your boy Lando. You should’ve seen it, Amelie. It was like watching a soap opera. Dad looked like he wanted to throttle him.—

The air around the table shifted immediately. The lighthearted atmosphere that had filled the room moments earlier evaporated as quickly as it had come, replaced by a palpable tension. Amelie’s heart dropped at the mention of his name, her fork freezing midway to her mouth.

—Lando?— she asked, her voice tighter than she intended.

Elias’ jaw clenched ever so slightly, his expression darkening. —He happened to be there, unfortunately. I wasn’t particularly thrilled about it.—

Checo exchanged a glance with Stella, his lips pressing into a thin line as he silently reached for his glass of water. He knew better than to say anything yet.

Jack, oblivious to the growing discomfort, leaned back in his chair, clearly enjoying himself. —Not thrilled? That’s putting it lightly. Dad practically gave the guy a death stare the entire day. If looks could kill, I don’t think he’d have made it past the ninth hole.—

—Jack,— Stella hissed, giving him a warning glare.

But Amelie wasn’t looking at Jack anymore. Her focus had shifted entirely to her father. —What happened?— she asked, her voice steady despite the storm swirling inside her.

Elias sighed heavily, rubbing a hand over his face. —It’s nothing, princesa. Just an unpleasant surprise seeing him there, that’s all. I might’ve said a few things to let him know he wasn’t welcome.—

Amelie’s stomach churned. She didn’t need details to fill in the blanks. Elias was fiercely protective of her—always had been—and she could only imagine what kind of indirect jabs he’d thrown at Lando. The thought made her chest tighten uncomfortably.

—A few things?— Jack snorted. —Dad basically told him to stay the hell away from you. Oh, and then he threw in something about him breaking your heart. You should’ve seen Lando’s face. I almost felt bad for the guy.—

—Jack!— Victoria snapped, her tone sharp. —That’s enough.—

But Amelie barely heard her. Her mind was spinning, the room suddenly feeling too warm. She dropped her fork onto her plate with a clatter, pushing it away as she leaned back in her chair.

—Amor,— her mother said softly, her hand reaching for hers again. —Don’t let this upset you. Your father was just being protective.—

—Protective?— Amelie repeated, her voice rising slightly. —Papá, what were you even thinking? I told you months ago that Lando and I were done. We’re nothing to each other anymore.—

Elias frowned, his expression softening as he looked at her. —You may think that, but I know better. I know how much he hurt you, Amelie. And if you think I’m going to stand by and pretend everything’s fine when I see him acting like nothing happened, you’re wrong. He doesn’t deserve to be anywhere near you.—

Amelie closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to steady herself. She didn’t want to have this conversation here—not in front of her entire family, not in the middle of a crowded restaurant. But the damage was already done.

—What exactly did you say to him?— she asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Elias hesitated, glancing at Stella, who gave him a subtle shake of her head as if to warn him against saying too much. But Jack, of course, had no such reservations.

—Oh, you know, the usual dad stuff,— Jack said, smirking. —“Stay away from my daughter,” “You broke her heart,” “You’ll never be good enough for her,” blah, blah, blah.—

—Jack, for God’s sake!— Stella snapped, clearly fed up with his antics.

But Amelie didn’t react to Jack’s teasing. Her eyes were fixed on her father, searching his face for any hint of regret or remorse. She didn’t find any.

—You had no right,— she said finally, her voice trembling with barely contained frustration. —Papá, this is my life. My past. Not yours. You can’t just... just insert yourself into it like that.—

—Amelie,— Elias began, but she cut him off.

—No. You don’t get to do this. Not anymore.— She pushed her chair back, the sound grating against the floor as she stood. —Excuse me.—

She didn’t wait for anyone to respond. Grabbing her bag, she turned and walked briskly toward the exit, ignoring the concerned voices calling after her.

As the door swung shut behind her, the cool evening air hit her like a slap to the face. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside her, but it was no use. The weight of everything—her father’s overprotectiveness, Lando’s lingering presence in her life, the distance growing between her and Rodrigo—was suffocating.

She leaned against the side of the building, closing her eyes and letting the noise of the city wash over her. But even then, she couldn’t escape it. The memories. The what-ifs. The lingering ache of a love she’d tried so hard to forget.

And the worst part? A small, stubborn part of her knew her father wasn’t entirely wrong.

[umgeorge]

george russell, p3, is interviewed during the post-race press conference, china - march 23, 2025 (transcript under the cut)

Interviewer: "Good job. Let's come to you now, George. Well done to you, as well. You said this is one of your best weekends in Formula 1. What's been especially satisfying about it?" George: "I think just being fully maximized every time on track. Really happy with qualifying yesterday, getting in between the McLarens, and then the race today was really strong. Called it pretty early about the one-stop, and it was a bit frustrating it was so clear in the end because I was hoping that those guys ahead would have gone onto the two-stop. And we know at the moment we're trying our best to catch McLaren. These guys are doing an amazing job, and for us to end up quite a bit ahead of Max and the Ferraris right now, that's a great result." Interviewer: "You started on the front row. How important was that to ensure you finished on the podium?" George: "Yeah, I think it was pretty vital. Obviously I lost out to Lando at the first corner. Oscar did a really good job at defending, and it's always a bit difficult when it's such a high-speed first corner, and I thought I could sneak underneath him and he covered me pretty well. But for sure, if we qualified behind Max and the Ferraris yesterday, I don’t think we would have been standing on the podium today, so I think that was pretty crucial." Interviewer: "And how do you see Mercedes', pace relative to the McLarens now, after a sample of two races?" George: "I think their strength is probably in tire management and today we saw the one-stop was pretty comfortable, so let's see… When we go to a circuit where it's much more overheating, like we saw in Melbourne on the intermediate tyres or like we saw in Bahrain testing, they were even stronger. So they did an amazing job. These two have done a great job, and we need to keep pushing to close that gap." Interviewer: "Okay."

[QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR:] Interviewer: "Another one." Journalist: "Zixuan Xiong from China Grand Motorsport. I have a question for George." George: [gestures in excitement] Journalist: "Yes. You achieved a decent result today and your teammate is the Driver of the Day. Do you think it's a boost for Mercedes?" Drivers: [unintelligible] Journalist: "Yes. Your teammate, Kimi, is Driver of the Day." George: "Congratulations to him. I dunno, he… [unintelligible] Yeah! I mean, we want to get the results, obviously, as a team and we're working to try and catch up McLaren. They're the team to beat right now and we're confident we can bring some performance, but they're really doing an amazing job, so we need to keep on scoring. The last two races-or the three races, with the sprint, as well—the result we achieved was the maximum in all three, so that gives me a lot of satisfaction. And if we do deliver a car that is capable of fighting McLaren, I've got no doubt we can finish ahead, 'cause we're doing such a solid job as a team. So yeah, we need to keep on pushing."

[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.