#carlando asks

[phebess]

Phebes, you NEED to share your secret, how do you write that much? And everything you post is amazing, really how do you do it? I'm really jealous 🙃🙃

i have no idea i just write!!! I know this is probably so unhelpful, i just have it playing like a movie in my head and i write out as it plays out in my mind??

im so so happy you like my fics, ty! 🤍

[fairylando]

oh to be a fly so i can spy their debriefs with eachother when something is wrong🦟

[landinrris]

What’s the picture they’re talking about in that post?

I'm assuming you're talking about this post?

Only the most batshit and iconic photo he's ever posted, in my humble opinion:

Came off the back of Mexico 2022 and multiple posts on the jpg account that included bits of Caco and/or Rupert, yet never Carlos himself. And then this was randomly dropped on the Tuesday after Mexico.

It seemed to set off a month of crazy in my mind.

Right after this, came: -the Brazil villa 2022 edition (complete with some evidence that Lando might've flown with Carlos in the helicopter to the villa; x, xx, xxx, xxxx, xxxxx) -The post-dinner Abu Dhabi group pic featuring Carlos' wandering hand -Lando choosing to post this paddock walk coming into Abu Dhabi (wearing Carlos' glasses) -The two of them being more glued to each other than normal on that weekend's driver's parade (x, xx) -Lando going to Madrid for Caco's wedding and going out with Carlos beforehand (x, xx) -Being the only f1 driver at the wedding and then posting another insane dump (x, xx, xxx, xxxx, xxxxx) -Carlos and Lando joint posting from Caco's wedding -[jump cut to March] Sainz family golf outing in Bahrain

(Honorable mentions to "we talk about feelings now" from September and Lando's random ass pole congrats to Carlos in Austin)

Truly a whirlwind of insanity

[valyrfia]

I've been a F1 fan since 2005. I've first loved Kimi. Then Charles came. I've endured the Mercedes dominance and never thought about switching the TV off. Hell, even Max' season didn't annoy me.

But something about McLaren having the fastest car (especially with Norris, idc about Piastri tbh) makes me just want to switch the TV off. I don't know if it's the team or the driver. They just make me want to not watch and I hate that feeling because I love this sport so much and it has been my safe haven for many, many years. But I cannot stand Zak Brown and Lando Norris and these guys are tainting this sport for me and honestly I don't know how to cope.

Do you have any ideas how to get through this?

I think there's many factors pissing me off about McLaren dominance, the first is that their drivers are good but they're not WDC level and it's INFURIATING that the dual factors of them suddenly producing a rocketship seemingly out of thin air and Red Bull forgetting how to manufacture a car might give a WDC to someone who before the rocketship era has never shown the mentality nor driver skill needed to become world champion.

The second is that McLaren as a team are smug, smarmy, and manipulative in a way that makes me want to burn Woking as a concept to the ground. Their PR strategy carefully manufactures a parasocial relationship to a degree rarely seen. Them and their little army of fans want you to believe that you fundamentally are a bad person if you dislike them or their drivers. and if they face any large-scale meaningful criticism they're so happy to roll out "omg Carlando! omg Landoscar! yay we're all friends look how much our drivers might want to fuck each other!" or Lando's own personal mental health struggles without batting an eye, essentially changing the narrative and going 'you just are just a terrible person because you're criticising us and look how openly Lando is admitting to being depressed and anxious!'. It's very uncomfortable to watch. The truth is that F1 teams are brutal and cut-throat and all of them are a nightmare to work for, but Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari all embrace it to a certain degree whereas McLaren try to be on a high horse and pretend they're morally better than the other teams. They also have a tendency EVEN NOW to try and fully pretend they're the underdog to farms aws and gain some sort of sympathy, but I will say that this strategy seems to be backfiring somewhat. I've never seen such a huge backlash a team and a driver as I've seen against McLaren and Lando in recent months for stuff that doesn't even happen on track and frankly I hope it continues because it's ridiculous how little class that team has shown since they've started dominating. They've not been just gleeful, they've been vindictive and catty but when criticism comes in they're quick to call critics morally bad people.

[aaltilis]

Lando: I wanna ask a question-

Carlos: Yes, I still love you.

Carlos: Yes, I would cry if you died.

Carlos: Yes, I would still love you if you were a worm.

Carlos: Which one do you want to ask?

Lando:

Lando: Thanks :)

[palalabu]

"The easy one is to say red bull. He should've gone there."

😔

[artemispt]

[charleslelurk]

carlando fic recs?

*cracks knuckles* Good thing I keep a spreadsheet of all the fics I read

through the sleepless nights by nahco3

“Don’t go,” Lando says, too fast, and then scrubs his hands over his face. Carlos sighs. He looks tired. “You don’t make things easy,” Carlos says, and then kisses the top of Lando’s head. Lando wraps his arms around Carlos’s waist, burying his face in his chest, in his bright warm smell.

from here to kingdom come by anonymous

Lando marries the crown prince of Britain four months and four days after his nineteenth birthday. He meets the head of his security detail, Carlos Sainz Jr., the next afternoon. Or, a royalty AU where Lando is basically Princess Diana and Carlos is his bodyguard.

Unconstrained by kolyarostov (@landinrris)

From what Lando can see through the half-open door, there’s a guy sitting at a large table looking down at his keyboard. All Lando can plainly see is a head of dark hair, his nose, and a large bottom lip. Lando thinks he’s seen the guy around even if he doesn’t know his name. He’s beyond intimidating in a way too-attractive people often are, but Lando’s desperate. The guy’s head shoots up, eyes wide in surprise, when Lando knocks on the open door. He’s probably in the middle of office hours and not expecting anyone to need him. His gaze is as piercing as Lando remembers from the previous few times. “Can I help you?” the guy asks, probably realizing Lando’s not one of his students. And while Lando’s seen him, he doesn’t think he’s ever heard him speak. The sound of his voice is a deep timbre that curls around the English words. Lando wonders what this guy teaches and if he would be allowed to audit the class just to get more of it. Or: Lando and Carlos are in a Ph.D. program navigating both graduate school challenges as well as an ill-advised friends-with-benefits situation that has no chance of going wrong.

and all of my wildest dreams by choripain

“What time did you go to sleep last night, cabrón?” The 7AM light hitting Carlos made his Disney Prince dark hair look like a halo, his features softer in the morning. He was frowning a little bit, but in a way that made him look worried instead of angry. “Uhhhhhhhh…” “Landooooooo…” OR: the one where Lando is slowly girlrotting away and Carlos just wants to help.

re-education by pipitass

Did you forget what you are here for? He remembers. Remembers why, remembers the colors tied across his face and the fact that he has one-hundred and twenty-six ghosts watching, not just the one of the man he thought he knew. “Open your mouth, Lando,” he says, and his voice sounds just like at dinner. Just take it. You’ll be fine. So he does. OR: Lando joins a frat. It all spirals from there.

ALSO just anything by @phebess but especially: Superache, Michaelangelo's Smile (wip), and Still Into You

And any and all of pitmewithyourbeststop's one shots if you're looking for amazing smut

[phebess]

I agree with anon about continuing fics!! Definitely would love to read another chapter for slicks 👀

noted 👀👀👀👀👀👀

[janesurlife]

Carlando if they were crabs... they'll be holding each other's claws 😭

[fairylando]

what do i even pay (i don't😜) these streaming services for if they don't show me the good stuff???

[underatedwords]

a carlando pic per day till australia 57/93

[landinrris]

do you have any carlando fic recs?

Do I have carlando fic recs? always. There's a somewhat recency bias to the individual recs, so if you're wanting a more comprehensive look, I would definitely utilize the resources above this "read more." But also the individual fics are 🥰

First off, I'm gonna humbly present my catalog 😅

I also have some authors (in no particular order) that I would recommend anything Carlando-related they've written: -Phebes (@phebess) -Pitmewithyourbeststop -Magnificentbirb (@magnificentbirb) -Charleslelurk (@charleslelurk) -Madlyiephasetwo -Tiredtiredsharl (@wolfiemcwolferson)

My general fic rec tag is a great place when I come across tumblr links/snippets (also contains other rec lists: x, xx)

My public bookmarks on Ao3 is also a good indication of my fave fics (because some things are between me and god)

I'll shove some individual fics (in no particular order) below the read more so I don't clog people's dashes

Someone Who Can Stand in Your Storm by The_in_between_honey (@the-in-between-honey) (Rating: M)

Like most drivers, Lando has always worn scent blockers - like, always. He’s not ashamed of being an omega, it's just not anyone else's business. Besides, who wants to get into the politics of alphas vs omegas vs betas in F1? He doesn't buy into any of that, just like he doesn't buy into the idea of a "soulmate." No one asks, and he doesn’t tell anyone. Not even Carlos.

I never knew I was looking for all of my tomorrows by Anonymous (Rating: E)

They’d joked about it sometimes, what it would be like if one of them were a girl, if they would cross that line they already tiptoed around. “Would you break up with your girlfriend for me?” Lando teased once, pushing it ever closer to the edge they teetered on. “Lando,” Carlos had said in that warning voice of his, but he hadn’t said no, and now there’s no girlfriend either…

Across The Never by ShankySpork (Rating: M *Rated with MCD but not permanent)

Benny Goodman once wrote a song, ‘Where Or When’. It goes as follows; “It seems we stood and talked like this, before//We looked at each other in the same way then, But I can’t remember where, or when//The cloths you are wearing, are the cloths you wore//The smile you are smiling, you were smiling then//But I can’t remember where, Or when//Some things that happened for the first time//Seem to be happening again//And so it seems//That we’ve met before//And laughed before//And loved before//But who knows//Where or When” And truly, nothing could summarize this story better.

you lit a fire (and left no mark) by slapshot (Rating: E)

Lando doesn’t really drink or do drugs. So when he collects his things and dresses himself and leaves the room, fighting back tears and muffling his sobs behind his hands, Lando remembers everything. ~*~ the carlando accompaniment to salad days.

Count-Back by nottonyharrison (Rating: E)

Lando’s career progression up to the age of nineteen can be summarised by one word: Hustle. Lando learned the fine art early on in her racing career. It’s not always been successful, sometimes it’s blown up in her face, and sometimes her smart mouth gets her in trouble. But, on balance, things have worked out pretty damn well. The one fly in the ointment now though, is her teammate. Carlos Sainz is a whole lot of things Lando’s not. He’s confident in an old-money, sophisticated sort of way. He’s intelligent and well spoken. He’s goddamn gorgeous. Most annoyingly, he’s better than she is.

i’ll race you for pinks by cazio (@chubbydino) (Rating: M)

Heist!AU. Carlos Sainz Jr. is heading a heist operation based out of New York, following his father’s footsteps as a criminal mastermind. Max Verstappen, the most feared mercenary in the business, is his second in command. Daniel Ricciardo is the deadly charmer that gets them whatever they need, from whoever they need it from. Lando Norris is the mystery. Carlos has never met him in person, but he knows Lando will be perfect for the job. But Lando is not exactly what Carlos envisioned a computer nerd to be. In fact, he is very, very hot.

 fall and fixture by heroics (@restacks) (Rating: E)

Lando’s already had a very poor time of it this morning. First there was no real milk in the break room refrigerator, so he had to put almond milk in his tea, disgusting. Then he caused a panic in the explosives lab by knocking over someone’s project. Now he’s faced with Carlos Sainz Jr., Foreign Operative #055.

If the Love is Pure by loveleclerc (@holacarlando) (Rating: E)

After being attacked in the middle of the night by an unknown Alpha, Lando flees to Spain for protection from the Sainz Pack while his fathers search for a way to keep him safe in England. He never asked to be a male Omega, a designation rare beyond belief and sought after by Alphas around the world, but fleeing into the care of Carlos Sainz Jr. may just be the solution to all of his fears… and dreams.

and all of my wildest dreams (they just end up with you and me) by choripan (@7msc) (Rating: E)

“What time did you go to sleep last night, cabrón?” The 7AM light hitting Carlos made his Disney Prince dark hair look like a halo, his features softer in the morning. He was frowning a little bit, but in a way that made him look worried instead of angry. “Uhhhhhhhh…” “Landooooooo…” OR: the one where Lando is slowly girlrotting away and Carlos just wants to help.

i love you forever, not maybe (you’re my one true love) by mtchmrnr (Rated: E) 

Lando is starting to suspect that off-camera, he’s quite the soft and gentle guy. What did he say once in an interview? He protects love? I’d love to be protected, Lando thinks. or: the one where Lando is a student, Carlos is a F1 driver, and they go through a lot before they get their happy ending

[valyrfia]

hi i came here from thearchercore where they said that you think there seem to be friendship cliques forming around the paddock as of late like carlando vs. lestappen. i've seen these divides between fans but what makes you think there's also that divide between drivers?

I wouldn't call them friendship cliques. More....workplace alliances regarding the way F1 is going and the way F1 should go.

(Full disclaimer. This is a theory of grid dynamics that's been brewing for a little while in my head and I've only really bounced it off people in dms so far, so feel free to critique or refine it.)

Now, why would these two camps clash? Apart from interpersonal reasons (power struggles at any of the teams for example, I think any of the drivers listed racing or PR would resent being labelled as the team's n2 driver), F1 itself as a sport is at a crossroads. We're seeing the obvious effect of DTS in popularising the sport and making these athletes world-famous. In the past, only the world champions really became world-renowned. Now, most drivers are massive social media stars, or even proper A-list celebrities in their own right (Daniel at the Met Gala, for example). This one one hand is brilliant for the sport, because it brings more attention and eyes, and F1 becomes far more popular than it ever has been in the past. Liberty media especially is fond of this, as it brings in more profit for them.

However, in a lot of ways quintessential aspects of racing are lost via appealing to the masses. We see this in the removal of traditional purpose-built tracks in the calendar to make way for street races, in team line ups prioritising the PR-friendliness of a driver much more than before. The question of can the individual personalities of these drivers be sold is now a much bigger factor when considering a line up now than it was even ten years ago.

Since the question of racing vs. PR is raging in F1 in general right now, I think there's natural battle lines being drawn up in the paddock at the moment, that seem to fall along drivers which prioritise racing results over PR, and drivers that rely on PR/sponsors to boost their image without the racing results to necessarily back it up. Let's call them the racing clique vs. the PR clique for simplification.

Furthermore, I think these battlelines are drawn between teammates more often than not. So for example, I'd say Oscar tends to fall into the racing clique, Lando the PR clique (because let's be frank, his level of hype in British media especially WITHOUT a grand prix win is a little ridiculous). Likewise, if we consider our once and future RBR teammate pair, Max is the racing, Daniel the PR.

Ferrari is a little trickier because Charles is a PR mastermind and plays the PR game well in order to manipulate public perception about him. However, I will say that above all Charles has a fair estimation of his own abilities, an incredible racing IQ, and a sharp hunger to win that shines through despite the scrupulous Ferrari PR training (lest we forget the origin of the Il Predestinato name). For this reason, I think I place him in the racing camp. Considering the way that the Sainz camp uses leaks, well-timed sympathy posts, and Carlando to boost the public perception of Carlos's racing ability, I would place Carlos in the PR camp.

There are also other natural flash tensions between these people, but from Lando and Daniel distancing themselves from Max post his Vegas derogatory comments (@tsarinablogs has written some good thinkpieces on this), to the Ferrari civil war (as currently being chronicled by @thearchercore, along with some pretty good evidence as to McLaren trying to copy Ferrari's contract renewal hype, which further puts Lando and Charles into conflict). I don't think the happy go lucky Landoscar dynamic will survive McLaren being a competitive car, especially if Oscar wins a grand prix before Oscar.

There are faultlines and flashpoints forming in the paddock, and I think that especially with the incoming silly season, this question of PR vs. racing when picking drivers will be thrown into haut relief and that'll serve to only heighten the natural and/or pre-existing tensions between these two different groups of people.

[wanderingblindly]

what are the chances that lan and osc stay at mclaren forever. bc i won’t survive when they get seperated you don’t understand

I have no idea if this is a skill issue or not, but I genuinely struggle to conceptualize drivers at other teams. I think it's because usually one move is contingent on another, so it's a bit of an intricate web. Anyways:

As with all things in this sport, there's so many variables. Lando seems much less likely to leave McLaren due to the sunk cost of it all (already been there for so long, it's his team, he gets preference periodically, etc.), but there are reasons he may leave. The team's inability to make and stand by good decisions regarding their talented drivers, for one (I'm still in shock over the lack of strategic foresight in Hungary). Their pit wall situation is a massive deterrent, and now that Lando knows he can win, that may become a deciding factor.

Oscar may choose to leave because he wants to avoid being someone like Carlos -- a strong driver that never has a team built entirely around him, perceived as second fiddle only by nature of getting to the team after his teammate.

But, should McLaren learn how to handle two race winning drivers and continue progressing in development/engineering, I think there's a very good case for the two of them electing to stay beyond 2026.

[talksaboutracing]

[x]