#f1 technical analysis

[chiliconsharls]

So, I caved in and I did it in detail! A few days ago I posted a meme of the Charlos lore iceberg but then I had some people asking about some bits and I thought, oh, might as well make the whole masterpost. LOW AND BEHOLD, it is here; an extensive compilation of the rich Charlos lore

Below the cut because boy is this bitch long

DISCLAIMER: before we begin I must note a few things. First, this isn't a whole detailed timeline of Charles&Carlos' relationship and every single bit of their moments bc I would've genuinely gone insane, so, like with the iceberg meme, this is merely key details of their relationship that make ME particularly unwell. This is also almost 2K words long. Lastly, not all points are linked as some of them are rather quite simple to find with an easy Google search

They have the same name in different languages. (In fact, Carlos has explained that his ‘chilli’ nickname comes from the fact that a lot of his friends went from calling him ‘charlie’ to calling him ‘chilli’). Their name is of Germanic origin and it means “free man”. Charles is the French/English version of it, Carlos is the Spanish one.

Beginnings & Pre-Ferrari era (2017-2020)

“I knew you before you knew me” – Charles said he had heard about Carlos when he was coming up in racing while Carlos was competing in KF3 (2008-2009)

They were already hanging out by 2017, when Charles was still only a Ferrari academy driver – as told by a reddit user who works in the Yas Marina circuit and shared the story with a tiny Renault helmet signed by Carlos

“I said this guy’s not beating me, no fucking way” – Carlos in Drive to Survive S01E02 after his battle with Charles in the Azerbaijan GP. (Sidenote: The first episode of DTS dedicated to Charles –S01E08– also showcases a battle with Carlos briefly)

Marina Bay Sands pool story – in several instances now, they both have shared the story of their first meeting/first ‘real’ conversation back in 2018, during the race week of the Singapore GP. They both said they saw each other at the pool of Marina Bay Sands hotel (it’s still unclear whether they were inside the pool or just by), and they had dinner where they talked for a while.

Carlos’ said that that first conversation made him think Charles was a good guy but also that when he first talked to him, he seemed innocent

2018 Autosport Awards interview  – Charles is giving an interview about how his exciting new season is coming and Carlos pops in and tugs him by the ear, making as if to give him a little smooch

“Carlos! My future teammate!”

Ferrari era (paper & cotton years – 2021-2022)

Youngest Ferrari duo

Lord Perceval nickname is born – despite claims that Charles disliked the nickname Carlos gave him (as requested by Charles himself that Carlos ‘from now on, call me Lord Perceval”), Charles went on to have it as his personal tag on his cap –made for driver use only. He’s also used ‘Perceval’ as his aviator call sign when he did some training with the French Air Force.

Jenga challenge video

Fiorano music challenge – this is their core happy memory, as they have said a few times themselves

“I started to listen to some jazz in the mornings” “Jazz?”

Chess – chess is one core activity they do. They would play a lot, even online. Charles would even stop talking to Carlos when he lost sometimes, and Carlos has stated that he only plays it with Charles.

Charles’ said Carlos plays better at night, and he plays better in the morning to evening. “The flights together are probably the ones I enjoy the most (...) we will put our phones away and play chess. That’s where we have the most interesting and deep conversations and I have really, really good memories of that”

“You haven’t showered together?” “We’re not that close yet” // “I find you spontaneously funny” “Carlos doesn’t do anything but he makes me laugh” – Sky Sports game interview in 2021

Charles going to watch Carlos on the podium in Monaco – Carlos talked later in 2024 about how much it meant for him to see Charles there

“Mate! You are looking at me!”

Red porn couch debriefs videos – not much to say, tbh, Ferrari sat them in a sus red couch to shoot the debrief post-race videos. Some of them are quite something

“Come on, Charles, don’t do this!” – Carlos’ radio in Saudi Arabia ‘21

Jean Alesi calling them ‘la bella coppia’ (“the beautiful couple”) // also, Jean Alesi doing photoshop manips when Charlos fought in 2024

Carlos: “good looking couple” “we make a good couple” “most beautiful pair”

Carlos showing off his strength to Charles in that Ferrari party thing

Everything that was written in the GQ article (by Tom Lamont) as well as the photoshoot

Calling each other beautiful

Charles sharing a sandwich with Carlos

Them calling each other ‘sweetie’, ‘honey’, ‘baby’, ‘love’ // ‘like this or more, darling?’ // ‘thank you, my love’  

Bahrain 1-2

Carlos checking in on Charles before his post-race interview in Monza 22’ despite being told he had to go some other place

Ferrari era (leather & forced divorce – 2023-2024)

Football watching together (despite the fact that Charles’ said he doesn’t really follow football) // “Yes, Carlos will be really happy” – Charles after someone asked him if he watched El Clasico and Real Madrid had won that time

Paddle playing too

“Can I choose the position he needs to be in? Take off your clothes, Carlos!”

The gingerbread cookies video

“He loves me” – the whole shell challenges in Zandvoort actually

Talked about racing Le Mans

Charles being jealous of Lando

“Together or nothing. We come as a package”

Charles hiding in Carlos’ closet to surprise him for his birthday

Monza 23’ battle

The Curious Case of Charlos and Pierre Gasly’s PR accusations – During a fan forum in the Singapore GP ’23 weekend, Carlos joked that he would’ve picked Charles to be stuck with in a deserted island, saying: “You see, I would’ve picked Charles, Esteban, I like my teammate” (because Esteban had been asked the same question just before and upon being told he wasn’t allowed to pick his own teammate, Esteban jokingly went: “I wasn’t going to pick Pierre anyway”).

Pierre and Esteban Ocon had a rocky relationship as teammates in Alpine, on top of having an already complicated past together since they’ve known each other since they were kids. Nearing the end of 2023 season, after Pierre (and Esteban) had been criticized for their poor relationship, Pierre talked about friendships in the paddock in an interview and he name-dropped Carlos and Charles, claiming that people “shouldn’t think that they’re all friends”. Despite Pierre having also named Mercedes and Red Bull pairs, people seemed to only latch onto Charlos

It’s important to note that Pierre Gasly is the driver Charles is famously closest to in the whole grid (as they’ve been friends since childhood) but also, he was teammates with Carlos in Toro Rosso for two races in 2017, and is fairly one of the drivers that are close-ish to Carlos as well. In fact, Pierre sometimes hangs with both of them, too.

Puma couch picture we never got the context of

Fred: “are you still single?” Carlos: *looks at Charles* “anyway, changing subject…” – DTS S06E08 // (Sidenote: theres some joking that Charles’ current girlfriend, Alexandra Saint Mleux, and Carlos’ current girlfriend, Rebecca Donaldson, seem to have a slight resemblance to Carlos and Charles, respectively (and the girls also seem to get along quite well))

New York event

Charles timing Carlos’ laps

“I want to give this to you, so you remember me for the rest of your life. For our post teammate era” // “You’re going to leave it there” “No, I won’t" – Carlos gifting him a chili plushie.

“Tell Charles to come close to me and we celebrate this one together” – Australia 24’

China Sprint 24’ incident: “He’s fighting me harder than the rest” // “A kiss on the mouth, everything okay”

Spanish reporter calling them roommates

Insane sim racing videos (almost all of them have some degree of craziness but specially Saudi Arabia, Austria, Dutch, Monza, COTA, Brazil)

Both of them thinking about their morning wood live on camera… then Carlos knowing Charles’ a sleepy guy

Miami merch promo video being cut just right as Carlos seems to go for Charles’ face

“We go from hating each other to loving each other real quick” – actually, that whole motorsport interview for Miami was awesome

Spain 24' inchident - Charles: “He was trying to do something extraordinary because it’s his home race and important moment in his career” // Carlos: “It’s too many times he complains about something”

“Charles and I have one or two ding-dongs a year”

“We look at each other and we smiled like we’re used to” // “We look at each other in the eyes and we understand immediately”

Gladiator II premiere

“Complicate me. Complicate my life, like you always do”

Charles letting Carlos drive his Ferrari in Monaco and show Carlos Sr

“I wanna smash you”

Carlos grabbing Charles’ balls in Mexico 24’

“You should try the chilli crab … I am the chilli crab”

“Try in Spanish” – Charles post Vegas 24’

“Carlos is not my girlfriend, I’m not gonna miss him like crazy”

“I would listen to you for hours”

Abu Dhabi 24’ radio: “it hurts a lot… I really wish we could’ve won it also for the last season with Carlos”

Charles goodbye to Carlos: “Now, I can call him a friend outside of racing” // Charles calling him 'chilli' in IG post (Carlos' said his personal friends call him chilli)

“I wouldn’t be the driver I am today if he hadn’t been my teammate”

“I was happy with Charles. I would’ve continued with Leclerc for life”

“Amazing four years fighting for Ferrari” — Carlos on IG

Fred: “I have never in all my time of racing seen two teammates so intensely preoccupied with what the other one is doing”

Charles being in Fiorano for Carlos’ last farewell with his father driving a Formula 1

Timeless traditions/Uncategorized info

Starting almost all videos with: “Helloooo” “hola”

“Are you ready?” “I’m always ready, Carlos”

Zero concept of personal space

Charles often looks smaller than Carlos despite actually being taller

Hand size difference

Yapper & Yapper

Carlos’ love language is physical violence

Carlos –a self-proclaimed butt guy— often taps Charles’ butt

They had 9 podiums and three 1-2s

They had 90 races together and never crashed

They’re each other’s longest teammates as of date

[silentsialia]

Where was this video when I was first getting into F1 because I learned a lot

[studioeisa]

collision course 🏁 sunwoo x reader.

“I know what it was,” said Kim Sunwoo, strolling up with the unshakable confidence of someone who didn’t yet understand how much trouble he was about to cause. The young mechanic had a smirk plastered on his face, the kind that made Jeonghan instinctively want to flee. (Full Throttle, diamonddaze01)

or: sunwoo knows a lot of things about cars, but girls? a whole different story.

★ ferrari mechanic!sunwoo x race strategist!reader. ★ word count: 3.1k ★ genre/warnings: alternate universe: non-idol, alternate universe: formula one. fluff, feelings realization/denial, confessions, car terms. alcohol consumption, swearing/cussing. sunwoo has a crush and is lame about it. i know nothing about f1/cars and relied heavily on google— so help me, god. (if anything is wrong/off? we ball.) ★ footnotes: this is a self-indulgent, belated christmas gift for @diamonddaze01, because seeing a sunwoo cameo in her ferrari!jeonghan fic was an absolute treat. in her words, "had to bring my other man in here somehow."

At speeds over 150 km/h, the aerodynamic downforce generated by an F1 car is enough to keep it adhered to a ceiling— theoretically allowing it to drive upside down.

It’s a stupid fun fact that Sunwoo likes to keep in his arsenal of pickup lines. He’ll be in a new city, grabbing drinks with the garage technicians and pit crew members, and he’ll pull that little nugget of information out of his sleeve with a winsome smile to boot. 

“Wanna hear something cool?” he’ll ask his victim of the night, gesturing for them to lean in closer so he can be heard over the thumping music. 

His success rate with the fact is at a solid 83%, which isn’t bad. 

Would be nice if it could work on you, though. 

Of course you wouldn’t be impressed with Sunwoo’s technical F1 knowledge. You had your own array of race tactics and data analysis, always knowing just how to make the car’s performance fit within the larger race context. 

You were brilliant, productive, and ruthless. The brain behind the brawn of the indomitable Scuderia Ferrari.

Sunwoo is reminded of it now as he leans over the hood of the SF-23, his brow furrowed with concentration. He catches your eye from across the garage.

“Hey, strategist,” he grunts out, and you approach gingerly to see what he’s griping about. 

Once you’re by his side, he asks, “You sure about this tire strategy? Softs at the start? I don’t know if we’ve got the grip for that, especially in this heat.”

Your expression remains perfectly neutral as you respond. “I’ve run the numbers,” you say. “The tire temps on the softs will be optimal. We can manage the degradation. The first few laps will be crucial, but we’ll have an advantage after that.” 

An advantage. Sunwoo lets out a derisive snort. 

“We’re talking about a five-second difference in lap times, and track conditions are ass,” he argues, wielding the wrench in his hand as he speaks. “One wrong move? We’re out of contention. I’m telling you, we’ll burn through those tires too fast.” 

“And I’m telling you, I know the risk.” Your tone is unwavering as ever, like you’re far too used to your decisions being questioned by hard-headed mechanics like Sunwoo. “I also know the reward. Trust the data.” 

There it was. Your go-to catchphrase. Trust the data. 

In the years that Sunwoo has worked alongside you, he can no longer count on two hands the amount of times you’ve thrown him that line. It was your way of getting him— and everyone else— to shut up, and he’d be damned if he tried to push back on it now. 

“You’re the boss,” he mumbles as he goes back to checking the car. 

In the corner of his eye, he sees the slight twitch in your jaw, as if you’re contemplating saying something more. You seem to decide against it, instead choosing to walk off with your chin held high. Maintaining faith in your own numbers, in your very credo of trusting the data. 

Sunwoo shakes his head to himself. He can feel the pull of his gut, but your confidence is hard to ignore.

It quickly becomes apparent that your conviction— and your blasted data— are not misplaced. The softs perform better than anyone had anticipated. By the time the race is nearly halfway through, your tire strategy is pulling ahead. 

The radio crackles to life with Sangyeon’s voice. “You’re going to need to hold your ground now,” the race engineer says. “Great call on the softs.” 

Sunwoo huffs out an exhale. Honestly, he doesn’t even know why he still tries at this point. 

You materialize at his side wordlessly. At first glance, there’s nothing in your expression that might give away what you’re feeling or thinking. But Sunwoo has known you long enough to recognize the upward arch of your eyebrow, the amused purse of your lips. 

I told you so, you’re saying without saying, and he can’t help the way that it makes him laugh. 

“Yeah, yeah,” he grumbles, running one hand through his sweat-slicked hair. “You were right. Trust the data.” 

“Trust me,” you amend with a knowing smile.

Sunwoo doesn’t quite know why, but something about your subdued smugness bowls him over. You’re already wandering off to check the timing board before he can grasp one of his witty remarks, leaving him at a rare loss. 

It was the strangest thing to admit, but he found himself wanting to be harmlessly wrong again— if it meant seeing that look on your face once more.

An F1 car can theoretically drive upside down. In the same vein, you’ve not-so theoretically tilted Sunwoo’s world on its axis.

F1 tires can reach temperatures of over 120°C during a race, which is necessary for optimal grip.

Sunwoo is no stranger to heat. His job has taken him all over the world, has put him through the sweltering temperatures of Bahrain and the merciless climate of Brazil. 

He’s learned how to handle those. 

Hot people, however? 

You’re several paces away from Sunwoo, your fingers wrapped around the neck of a beer bottle. There’s a lot of celebration in this middle-of-nowhere Austin bar, especially after Jeonghan finished P1. But Sunwoo can’t be bothered to care about his intoxicated fellow crew members. 

Not when you’re dressed like a cowgirl— a fringed vest, a leather hatband, and a goddamn hat. 

Was the bar a cowboy-themed one? Yes. Was Sunwoo prepared to see you in something outside of your usual race-day attire? Not quite.

He’s in the midst of untangling his complicated web of thoughts when you catch him staring. He looks away a second too late, because you’re rounding on him mere minutes later. 

“Never seen a strategist in a hat before?” you drawl, your attempted accent so horrendous that Sunwoo can’t help but bark out a laugh. 

Play it cool, a voice says in the back of his head as he leans on the bar counter. 

“Didn’t think anyone could pull it off. Especially you,” he teases. 

You sip from your beer, your eyes never leaving his face. Something about the action makes Sunwoo’s breath hitch. 

“Yeah? Thought I was all numbers and charts?” you shoot back, the lip of your bottle resting over one corner of your mouth. It’s a sight that’s going to burn itself into Sunwoo’s brain for weeks, he’s sure. 

“I mean, you do spend most of your time with a headset on, looking like you’re about to break down tire strategies. Not…” He gestures vaguely to your get-up. “Whatever this is.”

You laugh, and the sound catches him off guard. It’s low and easy, like you’re genuinely enjoying this. The two of you had always worked in close coordination, but light moments were rare in your high-stakes positions. “I can do both. Multitasking is my specialty,” you say breezily. 

Something about your tone— confident, but with just enough challenge— makes Sunwoo’s heart beat a little faster. “Well, if you can multitask,” he says, trying to keep it light, “I guess you won’t mind helping me figure out how to not make a fool of myself right now.”

There’s the ghost of a smirk on your face. “You’re not making a fool of yourself. Not yet, at least.” 

“So you’re saying there’s still time?”

“Maybe. Depends on how much you want to embarrass yourself.”

It’s a bit dizzying, how fast-paced this conversation is going. As much as Sunwoo would like to blame it on the alcohol, he knows it runs a little deeper than that. 

“You’re drunk,” he says for the lack of a better thing to say. The rest of his sentence goes unspoken: You’re drunk, and that’s the only reason you’re bantering with me like this. 

“Maybe a little buzzed, but I’ve got a clear head,” you answer. When you go on, your voice is pitched just low enough that he has to lean in a bit more to hear you. 

“You’re not exactly subtle, you know,” you note, and Sunwoo briefly considers making a run for it then and there. 

The air suddenly feels too warm, too thick. He tries to laugh it off, but it comes out a little strangled. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Those little glances,” you say, flicking your eyes over him in a way that makes him painfully aware of every inch of his body. “You were checking me out, Kim.” 

“Was not.” 

Crap, Sunwoo thinks as the answer comes out of him a little too fast, a little too defensive. 

He backtracks. “I was just—” 

But then you do that again— sipping your drink while staring directly at him— and the words hitch in his throat. He’s caught. Completely. 

The flirtatious, suave Kim Sunwoo is in over his head, just because his team’s race strategist deigned to toy with him. 

What a joke. 

“You’re just?” you prompt, the slight grin on your face giving away the fact that you know what effect you had on him. 

Sunwoo tongues the inside of his cheek. “I was just trying to get my head on straight,” he finally says.

He’s not used to being on the back foot. He’s always held his own in situations such as these, and yet here you are— subjecting him to a sudden, wild rush of feeling with a few choice words and moves. His mind is reeling over the fact that this is how lethal you are tipsy. How much more if you were sober? 

A corner of your lip curls just enough to be dangerous. “Well,” you say, almost too casually, “looks like your head’s all over the place now, huh?”

There’s an unfamiliar heat blooming in his chest, one that burns far more than any tire blanket. 

“Yeah,” he grumbles in response. “No kidding.” 

An F1 car— including its driver— weighs around 740 kg, with the car itself weighing just over 700 kg.

Remaining lightweight is crucial to any car’s victory. Sunwoo’s job demands that he maintain the steadiness of things, never sacrificing safety for durability and vice versa. 

He keeps his hands steady as he fastens the car’s bolts one more time. The hum of the garage surrounds him, a familiar rhythm that he could work in with his eyes closed. It’s in moments like this that he feels most at peace. When the noise fades into the background, when the weight of everything else in his life feels distant.

Except the weight isn’t distant today; instead, it’s in the same room as him. 

You’d laughed at his joke earlier. Some stupid wisecrack he made about Mingyu of McLaren. He doesn’t even remember what he said anymore, because the sound of your giggle had just emptied out his brain. 

Sunwoo wipes his hands on a rag, shaking his head. Focus, he mentally chides himself. There’s a job to do. There’s always a job to do. You have to—

“Hey, Kim.” 

Well, so much for that. 

His gaze snaps up to where you’re standing by the garage door. You have your arms crossed in front of you, and there’s a slight frown on your expression. 

“What’s got you distracted?” you ask point blank. “You’ve been off all morning.” 

Busted. Sunwoo almost wants to laugh at just how absurd this whole situation is. How did he ever think anything would get past you? 

He tries, still, to brush it off. “I’m fine,” he says as evenly as he can manage. 

You step closer, your gaze narrowing as you look him over. For a second, Sunwoo feels like you can see right through him.

“You’ve been quiet,” you point out. “And usually you never shut up.” 

He raises one hand over his heart, feigning like he’s been wounded. That at least draws a small chuckle from you, but you don’t look like you’re going to back down any time soon. 

“I’m just focused,” he says. “Gotta keep everything in balance, am I right?” 

“Balance,” you repeat with amusement. “That’s your thing, isn’t it?” 

Sunwoo could praise the heavens at the opportunity to veer the topic into safer waters. He snatches up the opportunity, immediately launching into an enthusiastic ramble of, “Yeah. It’s all about maintaining the right weight. The right balance between power, handling, and fuel efficiency. Gotta make sure nothing’s out of place, or else the entire thing could fall apart.” 

Really, he should’ve known better than to think you would let him off easy. 

“And yet, here you are,” you say in a way that makes him feel like you’re playing a different kind of game now. “Completely off-balance yourself.”

Damn it. 

You’re not talking about cars anymore. Hell, you’re probably not even just talking about how preoccupied he’s been. Everything from the glint in your eye to the teasing edge in your voice promises trouble, threatens to read him better than any book. 

“I guess I’m a little bit off-balance,” he admits, the confession escaping him before he can reel it in. “But I’m getting used to it.” 

You give him a long look, something unspoken passing between you. Then, without warning, you smile— something soft, almost shy, and Sunwoo forgets his damn name. 

It’s like a weight he’s been carrying for so long has suddenly lifted, even if just for a moment. A glowing sort of warmth spreads through him, light and freeing.

“You’re not the only one,” you muse, your tone almost thoughtful now. “We all are. Maybe that’s what makes us good at what we do. We’ve learned how to keep our heads straight even when everything else is... a little out of whack.”

What is this ‘we’ business, Sunwoo almost teases you. The undercurrent of your words has him thinking this conversation has nothing to do with the state of the garage, but everything to do with whatever weird tension has been crackling between you two. 

The truth is, he's never felt this light before. The weight of his feelings for you, the tension in the pit of his stomach, feels like something he’s been carrying around for ages— but right now, in this fleeting moment of understanding, it’s like the air has cleared. He doesn’t know what to do with it, but he knows it’s there. This strange, giddy feeling thrumming below his ribs.

“Yeah,” he says, his voice a little steadier. “I guess we make it work.”

Surprisingly, he’s not worried about getting things right. He’s not thinking about the balance of power or how much he can handle before breaking. 

All he knows is that in this moment, with you standing in front of him, the weight he’s been carrying feels a little more like something he can handle.

Maybe it’s the start of something. Or maybe it’s just a crush.

Either way, it leaves him feeling light. 

A well-executed pit stop takes less than two seconds, with each mechanic trained to handle their specific role.

Over the years, Sunwoo has steeled himself to the pressures of being precise, of being steadfast and reliable under the world’s most insane time crunch. Every millisecond counts. He knows that better than anybody. 

He’s done this a thousand times, and each movement is like a second nature. The tires are off, the new ones are on. The fuel is topped up. The car is ready to go. 

Soonyoung’s car is on its way again, speeding off into the distance. Flawless, just like always. 

Sunwoo lingers, his eyes drifting to where you’re standing. He lets out a long breath, shaking his head slightly. It’s getting harder and harder to ignore how he feels whenever you’re near. And for reasons he can’t quite pinpoint, it’s only grown more unbearable.

Every second he spends just working with you is like another fleeting moment, ticking away before he loses the courage to say anything.

You’re reviewing data on your tablet, and so you don’t notice him right away Sunwoo coming up to you. When you look up, there’s the slightest shift in your expression. The smallest softening. 

“Nice work,” you say coolly. There’s something almost fond in the way that you look at him, and it has him feeling like he’s on shaky ground. 

“Thanks,” he says, trying to sound casual. He knows he’s not fooling anyone, least of all you. He runs a hand through his hair, a nervous gesture that he’s sure makes him look more like a mess than the reliable mechanic he’s supposed to be.

There’s a brief silence between you, the sounds of the garage fading in the background. The team is starting to disperse, moving onto their next tasks, but Sunwoo can’t seem to shake the weight of the moment. The pressure of the milliseconds, the years of perfecting his craft, feel insignificant compared to the one question that’s been gnawing at him for weeks.

If he’s learned anything from his driver friends, it’s that hesitation can cost you everything.

“Listen,” he starts, his throat suddenly dry. He forces the words out before he can second-guess himself. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”

You tilt your head to one side. A wordless encouragement of go on. 

Sunwoo takes a deep breath, his hands still clammy despite the cool air of the garage. He’s never been good at this. Not the racing, not the work on the car, but this— this thing that’s been building up between the two of you. 

“I know we’re both busy, but… after the race, I was wondering if you’d want to grab coffee with me. Like, outside of all this.” He gestures vaguely at the cars, the people, the entire race track that’s been your shared world for so long. “I’d, uh, like to spend time with you. Not as part of the team. Just... us.”

You blink up at him, processing the words. For a second, he’s sure he’s just made a fool of himself. Maybe he’s misread every sign. Maybe you’ll just laugh it off.

But then you smile. A slow, genuine smile that makes his heart skip a beat.

“Finally,” you exhale, and Sunwoo doesn’t have the room to press you on what you mean because you hit him with, “I’d like that, Sunwoo.” 

So this is what it feels like, Sunwoo thinks, to finish P1. 

“Great,” he stammers. “I’ll see you later, then.” 

“Later,” you echo, your tone teasing but soft. “Looking forward to it.” 

Sunwoo steps back, nearly knocking into a tool box as he tries to take his leave. You don’t care much for his less-than-gracious exit; in fact, it makes you laugh a little, and it only makes him feel giddier than ever. It’s like a pit stop in the middle of a race— short, but thrilling, and completely worth it.

Every millisecond does count. 

And for once, he feels like he’s made the right choice with the time he’s spent.

🏎️ end notes: fan fiction of fan fiction? likelier than you think. if you love formula one and seventeen, you're bound to enjoy tara's ferrari!jeonghan piece, full throttle (part one & two). and to tara: this is insane. we have to stop exchanging fics like they're christmas gifts. <3 you.

[boxboxblog]

F1 Break: In the Mean Time

Alrighty, so as we are all well aware the 2024 season has officially come to a close. This means we will not see cars on track until late February and no racing until mid-March.

If you are looking at the almost 3 month long break we have ahead of us and panicking over what to do with yourself (like I often do), I find Winter break is a great way to get a little deeper knowledge on F1 and it's history.

Shows or Movies:

Drive to Survive (Netflix): Controversial, but fun, this "docuseries" makes the behind the scenes of F1 into a real spectacle. As long as you take a lot of their insinuations about people with a grain of salt, it's good fun and helps get view into the politics of F1.

Rush (Prime or AppleTV): A rather dramatized version of the Lauda v Hunt rivalry, but good fun.

Hunt v Lauda (Prime): If you want a less Hollywood look at this rivalry, this documentary is great.

The Formula 1 Story (YouTube): Covers the creation and evolution of F1 and it's history.

Schumacher (Netflix): Documentary on the 7x WDC's life, career, and legacy.

A Life of Speed: The Juan Manuel Fangio Story (Netflix): Covers the story of Fangio and his championships wins.

Senna: No Fear, No Limits, No Equal (Netflix): Documentary about Ayrton Senna, has a habit of saintifying Senna but is quite informative.

Fernando (Prime): A documentary about Fernando Alonso during his time racing with IndyCar. Interesting view into another series with a familiar face.

Grand Prix Driver (Prime): A short series following McLaren during their 2017 pre-season. Great look into what teams do over the break and how they prepare.

Villeneuve Pironi: Racing's Untold Tragedy (Max): A look into the Villeneuve-Pironi rivalry and it's tragic end, seen from the perspective of both of their families.

One: Life on the Limit (AppleTV): Looks into safety throughout F1's history and the early risks involved in F1.

Science of F1 Design (YouTube): Mini-series that dives into the technical side of F1, on the official F1 channel.

Podcasts:

F1: Beyond the Grid: Official from F1, this showcases interviews with drivers, TPs, and other important figures in F1 history.

Bring Back V10s: a deep-dive into the V10 era from the 90s to the early 200s.

Missed Apex: Dives into more detailed and technical things. Can be a bit biased, but c'est la vie.

Parc Ferme: Goes into race strategies and regulations.

The Race F1: Race analysis, technical breakdowns, etc.

EngineBraking: The hosts worked as engineers in F1 and have great insight.

Shift+F1: Very beginner friendly look into F1, light and humerous.

Books:

How to Build a Car by Adrian Newey: If you are interested in the more technical aspects of F1, these insights from possibly the greatest F1 car engineer of all time would be a fascinating read.

The Mechanic by Marc Priestley: Stories from a McLaren mechanic about life inside the paddock.

The Winning Formula by Ross Brawn: Dives into strategies behind winning teams.

Life to the Limit by Jenson Button: A humorous look into Button's career, is pretty lighthearted and fun to read.

Survive.Drive.Win by Nick Fry: The story of Brawn GPs 2009 championship.

F1 Mavericks by Pete Biro: Dives into innovators in F1 throughout its history, from drivers to TPs to engineers.

The Death of Ayrton Senna by Richard Williams: A heavily researched look into Senna's career.

The Physics of Racing by Brian Beckman: A very scientific approach to understanding how F1 cars run.

F1: All The Races by Roger Smith: A detailed account of every single F1 race ever. Pretty hefty, but interesting.

Formula 1: The Champions by Maurice Hamilton: Profiles of every single F1 champion and a look into how they got there.

My Life in Formula 1 by Niki Lauda: A great insight into of of the F1 legends himself, goes through his career and his own personal viewing on his rivalry with James Hunt.

Popular YouTube Channels:

Chain Bear: Goes into F1 technical aspects in simple ways, such as what ground effect is and how the tires operate.

Driver61: Explains car performance, driving techniques, and race strategy from an ex-racing car driver.

CYMotorsport: Goes into F1 controversies, innovations, and strategies.

The Race: Dives into different controversies and different f1 happenings as well as race overviews.

F1 Reverse: Dives into different times in F1 history, as well as some gossip here and there.

Nico Rosberg: Info from the mouth of an F1 champion, does some race analysis and analysis of particular race tracks (I like his How to Master series the most)

All Time Great Races:

You can also rewatch some old races, especially if you have the F1TV subscription. I will list some super great races to watch.

1994 Australian GP

1996 Spanish GP

1998 Belgian GP

1998 European GP

2005 Japanse GP

2008 Brazilian GP

2011 Canadian GP

2014 Bahrain GP

2019 German GP

Other Motorsports:

Finally, diving into other motorsports during this time is super doable in my opinion. F1 is not alone in this massive world, and their are dozens of other very interesting series. MotoGP is one of my all time favorites, and is racing on two wheels instead of four. If you think F1 drivers are crazy for doing what they do, just wait until you see someone fall off a bike and skid across the pavement at 150 mph, then you will understand real crazy. IndyCar is also a blast, and although people tend to equate it to F1 it is very different. I will list some great documentaries/series that dive into other motorsports below.

MotoGP Unlimited (Prime): A look into the 2021 MotoGP season, follows riders and teams. Great first look into how that world works.

Fastest (Prime): A look into the MotoGP rivalry between Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo during the 2011 season.

Marc Marquez: All In (Prime): Story about MotoGP champion Marc Marquez and his return to racing after an intense injury.

100 Days to Indy (Netflix): Story about the drivers in IndyCar and their path to the Indy 500.

Nascar: Full Speed (Netflix): A documentary that follows a few teams and drivers as they take part in the championship.

NASCAR: The Rise of American Speed (Prime): Explores the history of this sport, super duper interesting especially with the similarities and differences to F1.

Alrighty, I hope this post is helpful! I will be doing some more series and posts throughout break, but if anyone has anything they wish to know about as always my asks are open!

Cheers,

-B

[lsunstreakerl]

ohhhh im sososo in love w/ ur worldbuilding in fmf !? like i am not joking it's been on my mind 24/7 and ltrly got me thru this exam ssn (which is finally over yayyy)

i finally have a lot of time and lots to yap abt and this ask is gonna go so many different places cus. i have an inability to stay on track. hope u don't mind <3

im v interested in a lot of things fashion-wise for both kingdoms, along side other topics but my current brain worm has been abt the wedding itself. i have to imagine that customs r very different up north compared to central (ricos kingdom is centre, right?) ones and one of the main factors for me is the prince consort's attire.

would max wear his own traditional attire to signify the relation between two kingdoms or would he have to conform to the verhoeven wedding attire? and does he get a choice in the matter? i think this is a pretty major stand-in or reflection of the progressiveness/conservatism of the laws, and by extension, the people there. or at least of the royal families. i have like a wedding attire design analysis cooking up im js waitinggg for that hint or nudge twrds it (other than the tailoring and measurements mention which were very a nice touch!) so i have some material to go off of and don't accidentally mess w/the writing flow.

and sparring clothes !! ohh im thinking abt sparring fits a lot. lightweight loose sweatshirts for consistent long practice hours, tighter fits and cleaner material for evaluation sparring (and some show-off), maybe leathers for max to demonstrate certain situations better i js know rico and townspeople would go crazyyyyy.

also im thinking fmf au where everything is the exact same except townsfolk have twitter. i don't know how. they js do and purely for the sake of treating the royal families how we treat f1 drivers (and all of stantwt yk)

(these r so fun to make shsjsksk wait i got a create a separate ask of js these)

anyway yeahhh yapping over !! love ur work as always mwah xx

CONGRATS!!! exam season is The Worst Thing Ever and I'm super happy and not at all jealous that you're free!

oh I'm such a worldbuilding nerd it's genuinely a problem. fmf is entirely self indulgent and that's just another example LOL. I have no problems with rambling asks :D there's technically spoilers for the wedding below but I put lots of thought into it so I think you should all read it anyways 🫶

wedding thoughts: there's a little bit of a mix going on here! for the actual ceremony, they've both got white suits. Rico's has chunkier gold embellishments compared to max, who has finer silver jewelry. (matching with his diadem that I talk a little about here.) there's an element of northern customs with both of them having white fur cloaks (a gift from the north in celebration of max- his people put a lot of their time and energy into getting the materials and constructing two of the cloaks. it's a clear sign of approval by his own people back home.)

cultural northern customs involve having to chase your partner down after the offered proposal in what is widely considered to be a fun, slightly horny "hunting" game. sure, you can propose- but if you can't even catch the person you're trying to marry, are you really a good fit? the chaser usually has to avoid traps set by the partner being chased, who's goal is to go without getting caught until the sunrise. when the partner being proposed to initiates the chase by running, it's a partial acceptance. full acceptance is given if they're caught.

central kingdom customs involve a very large festival-style celebration that features lots of bright colors, and clothing that's flowing and showcases movement for dancing. very big emphasis on marriage being a solid foundation and element of a healthy community, so any kind of union (royal or not) is celebrated with a bunch of enthusiasm. traditionally there's a lot of dancing through the day into the evening, and then the night ends when the townsfolk carry the newlyweds and dump them into the lake. (symbolizing the washing off of any past struggles or baggage, and that when they leave the lake together they're starting their new life as partners)

for the rico and max, they do both! the initial hunt after the proposal, and then the festival after the ceremony.

sparring clothes please I love your brain. generally soldiers wear lightweight clothing to practice (unless they're doing armor training) which max is fine with, but when he's teaching certain movements and evaluations he wears the leathers. there's lots of theories floating around why he does that, ranging from "he's trying to make us overthink it" to "it's a reminder of how different the styles are" it's actually just because his leathers are very well broken in and comfortable.

PLEASE THE TWEETS 😭 I was trying to decide what was making me laugh harder- "twitter for medieval magic devices" or the fact that max is on the phone reading off of a scroll. absolutely hilarious, thank you 🤍

[the-paper-shredder]

An Analysis on Berdly & Spamton's Parallels

(A.K.A. Robert “Toby” Fox what is the point of this. What did you mean by this? Answer me, Toby.)

So, Berdly and Spamton. The bluebird and the salesman. Ever since I watched this analysis on Berdly, I've been losing my mind over the duo's parallels, despite the irony of them never meeting in canon.

(Long post ahead.)

Let's start with the basics: their appearance. Which, is admittedly, quite minimal compared to the other parallels.

Both have yellow in their color palettes. Both wear glasses, and in the dark world, Berdly shares a heterochromia-esque look with Spamton, to the point that official and fan artists alike sometimes interpret Berdly's dark world appearance as having multicolored glasses just like Spamton.

Not only that, both have connections to birds! Berdly is obvious, he's an anthropomorphic bird monster, while with Spamton... there's a bit to unpack.

His and the other Addisons' long noses could be interpreted as a beak. Spamton in his NEO form and the F1 sprite both have wings. Also, Toby once commented this on an announcement of the 🪺 emoji...

Funnily enough, this is just the description of the emoji with some words changed. While yes, this would imply pipis are eggs... they're canonically clams.

Either way, the Addisons could be birds in the same way the Tasques are cats. Which makes up only a sliver of Berdly and Spamton's parallels.

Now comes the start of the big boys. Berdly and Spamton's backstories.

Berdly describes his younger self as forgettable, before gaining a sudden spotlight when he got first place in the spelling bee due to Noelle's unfortunate circumstance. This resulted in his reliance on her abilities to stay as number one, while also being afraid of what will happen when they inevitably go their separate paths. Spamton's products didn't sell and “the Lightners never even looked his way,” until he found—or was found by—someone who helped him suddenly become a big shot. He was seemingly relying on that someone for his continued success, as when that person disappeared, abandoning him, he fell from status. (Additionally, Berdly technically “copying” Noelle's work so he stays number one is somewhat similar to Spamton copying Swatch's wardrobe in an effort to get into the basement.)

Spamton's the twisted reflection of the person Berdly could become in the future. The music track “Bluebird of Misfortune” thereby describes Berdly as misfortunate while the other Addisons describe Spamton as “Like the rest of us. Just... a little unlucky.” Suspiciously similar adjectives. Berdly's further misfortune isn't set in stone, as his spot in Chapter 2's story gives him the chance to change for the better. And, well, he does.

On top of these backstory parallels, it doesn't help that Berdly and Noelle are best friends while Spamton and Noelle know each other almost fondly through the latter's responses to the former's emails.

Additionally, Noelle is associated with the Angel. Weirdly enough, Berdly and Spamton both have ties to it as well. Birds have been seen as spirit messengers of the gods and in Christianity, angels are the messengers of God. “Birds remind us that there are angels,” Actress Jane Alexander once said in an article from 2013 on why birds matter. While the Angel in Hometown's religion is their god, it makes sense that Noelle being associated with it goes with Berdly speaking for her during certain parts of the game. He even refers to his halberd as holy.

With Spamton, it's fairly obvious. His F1 sprite has a halo and white wings, like a classical angel. The NEO form too, although it doesn't look particularly angelic, the wings and the torso armor bare a small resemblance to the Delta Rune symbol (I personally don't see it but this is mentioned on the Deltarune wiki page for Spamton so I'll add it for completeness). Finally, right before his second fight, Spamton reveals his desire to go to heaven (likely the light world or our world).

Onto the briefly foreshadowed next part of this analysis, Chapter 2's narrative and the duo's parallels there.

We first get reintroduced to Berdly when Kris, Susie, and Ralsei are on their respective roller coasters. Then his first fight starts, taking place during the roller coaster ride. This, obviously, parallels Spamton's second fight also taking place on roller coasters. Plus these two lines of dialogue are way too similar to have been unintentional.

Plus, at the end of Berdly's first fight his roller coaster explodes... similarly, in the case of fighting Spamton during his second fight (which the above line comes from), he explodes at the end.

Later on, Kris (along with Noelle) find Berdly in an alley where he initiates a battle. Only a few minutes afterward, Kris meets Spamton in yet another alley, to which he initiates a battle.

Now, before going onward, it's important to note that Berdly was being manipulated by Queen into helping her, which resulted in him chasing after her appreciation and her realizing he was annoying. She starts avoiding him... and in one of the conversations with Kris, he tells them “Don't tell me you got abandoned!? HA!!” and when questioned on Noelle and Queen's absence, he goes on the defensive, “They're just… busy retro gaming somewhere!! I bet they're waiting for me on the player select screen!!”

But the look on his face after he finishes keeping up the facade shows his insecurities.

Spamton has a similar sentiment. Invited by Queen to live at her mansion when he was a big shot before being evicted when he was no longer useful. In the weird route (which will have more analysis later), Spamton's dialogue in his battle has a lot of projection, “MUTTERING YOUR [Lost Friends] NAMES AT THE BOTTOM OF A [Dumpster]!” It reflects how the Addisons stopped hanging out with him, how the other residents and employees at Queen's mansion only watched his eviction, seemingly never attempting to reach out afterward.

Abandoned. Wanting the positive relationships you had back, but all you're left is... nothing.

Then comes Berdly's last fight, acting as Queen's puppet, even if he's not on literal puppet strings but on a wired plug. Unless you choose to ignore it, part of the goal of this fight is to loosen the plug so Berdly can pull himself free. Now think back to Spamton's second fight, the way to “spare” him is to cut him free from his new body's strings. Right before the control is free, both Berdly and Spamton comment on their appreciation for the help, too.

The narrative parallels between the nerdy bluebird and shady salesman don't stop there, though. As previously mentioned, the weird route brings up some... interesting points.

Once you're on the route and not planning on aborting it... Noelle becoming a party member marks a change, as the only two bosses going forward are Berdly and Spamton. No one else. They're the only people that truly stand in your way. It doesn't seem to be a coincidence that besides Kris and Noelle, two people connected to Berdly and Spamton, the latter duo are the only other people that know what you did.

And the worst part?

Spamton gives you the weapon that gives Noelle the ability to use Snowgrave. The spell that kills Berdly. If Spamton is the person Berdly could become, then Berdly is the person Spamton once was. And he's letting his new customers kill him, likely seeing the murder spree you force Kris and Noelle into as a way to get to NEO, to get to heaven. And when he's the only one keeping you from closing the foundation, he gets killed too. Noelle is forced into killing her best friend, then someone who's the twisted reflection of that friend.

Ironic that Berdly and Spamton never meet each other, isn't it? It's something like... the older equivalent to you in another world, the younger equivalent to you in another world, yet you don't even know each other exists. So close to coming across each other, yet through sheer chance they don't meet throughout their time existing in the same space.

Anyway...

That's all! For now, maybe. If I find any more parallels, I'll likely reblog this post with those additions. Quite fond of these two. (I'm also writing a fic about them that'll eventually get posted to AO3, so if you want to see more from me, that's something to look out for!)

[nicnak20]

Formula 1:

*Nicholas is a race car driver, and his number one fan is Yn.*

The air in the garage was thick with the smell of high-octane fuel, hot rubber, and nervous energy. The roar of engines undergoing final checks vibrated through the concrete floor and into Nicholas’s bones. He stood slightly apart, helmet in hand, dark brown hair neatly styled but a few errant strands already beginning to fall around his temples. His brown eyes, usually sparkling with warmth, held a focused intensity that was reserved solely for these moments before a race.

Yet, even amidst the controlled chaos, his gaze drifted towards a specific corner of the garage where the team’s hospitality area offered a slight reprieve. There she was. Yn.

She wasn't shouting or waving banners like the fans in the grandstands, though he knew she owned more merchandise with his number than he did. She was talking quietly with his chief mechanic, her expression one of genuine interest and calm. Her presence was a balm in the storm, a steady, comforting anchor in the high-pressure world of Formula One.

Yn wasn't just a fan; she was his number one fan, and somehow, miraculously, she had become so much more. He remembered the countless letters she'd sent in his early career, each one full of insightful observations about his driving, unwavering encouragement after difficult races, and a warmth that felt incredibly personal even then. He’d started replying himself, struck by her intelligence and kindness hidden behind the fan mail. A chance meeting at a charity event he’d attended led to coffee, then dinner, and slowly, beautifully, her role shifted from devoted admirer to the woman who held his heart.

Now, she was an intrinsic part of his race weekends, offering support not as a technical expert or a PR handler, but as the person who understood him – the kind, gentle man beneath the competitive exterior.

He saw her laugh at something the mechanic said, a bright, genuine sound, and a smile touched his lips. He nodded to his engineer, signaling he was ready for the final briefing, but his eyes lingered on Yn for another second. Her existence was a quiet reassurance, a reminder of the world outside the intense bubble of F1, a world filled with shared moments, understanding silences, and love.

“Ready, Nick?” his engineer, Liam, asked, slapping a hand on his shoulder.

Nicholas turned, the intensity snapping back into place. “Ready, Liam.”

The briefing was a blur of tire strategies, weather forecasts, and competitor analysis. Nicholas listened, absorbing every detail, his mind sharp and focused. But even as he discussed braking points and pit stop windows, a part of his consciousness was aware of Yn’s presence nearby. He knew she wasn't just there because she loved racing; she was there because she loved him. Her understanding of the demanding nature of his job, the long hours, the constant travel, the inherent risks, was profound. She never complained about the sacrifices; instead, she celebrated the opportunities and offered unwavering patience.

Twenty minutes before the start, the atmosphere shifted from focused preparation to electric anticipation. Nicholas pulled on his race suit, the familiar weight comforting. As he adjusted his gloves, Yn appeared beside him, her movements quiet and respectful of the pre-race tension.

She didn't offer last-minute advice or motivational speeches. Instead, she simply reached out and took his hand, her touch grounding and warm. Her brown eyes met his, filled with a silent message of love, trust, and support. There was no fear in her gaze, just a deep, calm belief in him.

“Be safe,” she murmured, her voice low, just for him.

He squeezed her hand, his thumb gently stroking her skin. “Always,” he promised, though both knew the inherent danger of strapping oneself into a carbon-fiber missile traveling at over 200 mph. This quiet exchange was their ritual, a moment of profound connection before he stepped into the isolated world of the cockpit.

Her small, affectionate smile was his fuel, his final boost of confidence. He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “See you on the other side,” he whispered.

He could hear the crowd roaring as he walked towards the grid, the noise growing louder with every step. Flashbulbs popped, camera lenses followed him, but his focus narrowed. He saw his car, sleek and powerful, waiting for him. He saw his team, their faces a mixture of tension and determination. And in his mind’s eye, he saw Yn’s steady gaze, her warm hand in his.

Getting into the car was a practiced routine, but today, as always, a knot of anticipation tightened in his stomach. The cockpit was cramped, a cacoon of technology. As the mechanics buckled him in, securing the intricate harness, he took a deep breath, the scent of his own racing suit and the car filling his senses.

The moments leading up to lights out were agonizingly slow and blisteringly fast all at once. The formation lap, the grid positioning, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. He focused on the lights, his mind emptying of everything but the task ahead.

And then, they went out.

The surge of power was immediate, brutal, exhilarating. The world outside blurred into streaks of colour as he launched off the line, fighting for position into the first corner. The race was a symphony of controlled aggression, split-second decisions, and physical endurance. Every nerve ending was alive, receiving feedback from the car, the tires, the track.

He was in the zone, a state of heightened awareness where time seemed to bend. He pushed the limits, braking late, cornering hard, managing tire wear, communicating with his engineer over the radio.

Through it all, in the back of his brilliant mind, was the knowledge that Yn was watching. Not just as a fan analyzing lap times, but as the woman who worried about his safety with every corner, who felt every near-miss in her gut, and who celebrated every successful overtake as if it were her own victory. Her unwavering support was a silent cheer that accompanied him on every lap.

He remembered a particularly tough race early in their relationship. He’d crashed out, a rare mistake caused by misjudgment in tricky conditions. He’d been furious with himself, bruised and disheartened. When he got back to the garage, expecting frustration or perhaps pity, Yn had simply been there. She hadn’t said ‘told you so’ or analyzed what went wrong. She had just wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight until the self-recrimination began to fade, replaced by the quiet comfort of her presence. That was her strength – her ability to offer exactly what he needed, exactly when he needed it, without fanfare or judgment. Her kindness was a balm, her patience a steadying force.

Today, the race was going well. He was holding position, managing his tires effectively, and the car felt good. The mid-race pit stop was executed flawlessly by his team – another reminder of the countless hours of practice and dedication that went into these few crucial seconds. As he accelerated back onto the track, he saw a quick flash of hair from the pit wall – Yn, standing with the team, watching his exit. A small, private signal of her continued presence.

The final laps were intense. The car behind him was closing the gap. Nicholas had to push, balancing aggression with preservation. His muscles ached, his concentration absolute. The checkered flag loomed, and he crossed the line in a strong podium position. Not a win, but a hard-fought, well-deserved result.

The cool-down lap was a chance to breathe, to let the adrenaline subside. He pulled into the pits, the roar of the engine replaced by the cheers of the team. As he unbuckled the harness, sweat stinging his eyes, the first face he truly focused on was Yn’s.

She was beaming, her eyes bright with pride. She wasn’t the first person allowed into the immediate post-race area, but she was always there, waiting with a smile that could melt glaciers.

He clambered out of the cockpit, feeling the tiredness settle in. As soon as he was free of the media scrum and initial team debrief, he made his way towards her. She met him halfway, her arms opening.

He hugged her tightly, burying his face in her neck for a moment, inhaling her familiar, comforting scent. The tension that had gripped him for the last two hours slowly began to dissipate. “Good race,” he murmured into her hair.

“Brilliant race,” she corrected softly, pulling back just enough to look at him. Her fingers, so gentle, brushed the sweat-darkened hair from his forehead. “You were incredible, Nick.”

Her praise wasn’t about the speed or the strategy, but about his effort, his skill, his resilience. It was praise for him, the man who drove the car.

Back at the hotel later that evening, away from the lights and the noise, the contrast was striking. Nicholas, no longer the intensely focused race driver, was simply Nick – the kind, affectionate man who found his greatest peace in Yn’s company.

He was sprawled on the sofa, reviewing telemetry data on his laptop, but his attention kept drifting to Yn, who was reading a book nearby, occasionally glancing up at him with a warm smile.

“Rough one?” she asked gently, noticing his furrowed brow as he analyzed a tricky corner sequence.

He sighed, closing the laptop. “Just analyzing where I could have been faster. Always learning.” He ran a hand through his hair, finally free from the constraints of his helmet and race suit.

She put her book down and came to sit beside him, tucking her legs beneath her. She didn’t offer unsolicited advice, but her presence was an invitation to talk if he wanted to. That was one of the things he loved most about her – her understanding. She knew his job, the pressures, the relentless pursuit of perfection, but she also knew when he needed space, when he needed comfort, or when he simply needed silence together.

He leaned into her, resting his head on her shoulder. “It’s moments like these,” he said softly, his voice a stark contrast to the engine’s roar, “that make the rest of it manageable.”

She wrapped an arm around him, holding him close. “Just existing?” she teased gently.

“More than existing,” he corrected, shifting slightly to look at her. His brown eyes, soft and full of emotion now, met hers. “Being with you. Your peace. Your patience. Knowing you understand, and you’re just… here.”

He saw the love reflected in her eyes, deep and true. Her own kindness and warmth radiated from her, filling the quiet hotel room. She was his haven, his retreat from the exhilarating but exhausting world he inhabited.

“I’m always here,” she promised, her voice barely above a whisper. “Your number one fan, remember?”

He smiled, a genuine, relaxed smile that reached his eyes. “You are. And so much more, Yn. You’re my rock.” He gently cupped her face in his hands, his touch as careful and precise as his steering on the track, yet filled with immense tenderness. “My heart.”

He kissed her then, a slow, unhurried kiss that spoke volumes of their shared devotion. In that moment, the roar of the crowd, the tension of the race, the demands of his career all faded away. There was only Yn, her warmth, her love, her unwavering support that grounded him.

Life with Nicholas was a whirlwind of travel, early mornings, late nights, and the constant hum of competition. But for Yn, it was also a life filled with profound love, shared dreams, and the quiet joy of supporting the man she adored. She packed his bags, learned the intricacies of race schedules, navigated airport terminals across the globe, and became a familiar, welcome face in the paddock.

She celebrated his victories with unbridled joy, tears often blurring her vision as he stood on the podium. She offered solace and encouragement after defeats, reminding him of his strengths and the lessons learned. She handled the attention that came with being his partner with grace and quiet dignity, always deflecting the spotlight back to him.

Nicholas, in turn, adored her. His doting nature was evident in small gestures: the way he’d find her in the crowd after a race, his smile solely for her; the thoughtful souvenirs he’d pick up in different countries; the way he’d carve out precious hours in his packed schedule just to spend time with her, leaving his phone silenced. He was fiercely protective of her privacy and her well-being, ensuring she wasn't overwhelmed by the demands of his fame.

He saw her for who she was: not just a fan, but a smart, caring, patient woman with her own life, her own passions, who chose to share them with him. Her perspective, grounded and kind, often helped him navigate the often-superficial world of F1.

One evening, months later, they were back home, enjoying a rare extended break between races. They were cooking together in their kitchen, comfortable in the easy rhythm of their domestic life. Nicholas was chopping vegetables, his movements surprisingly fluid for someone used to manhandling a race car at speed.

“Remember that first letter you sent me, after the Monaco crash?” he asked, a hint of a smile in his voice.

Yn paused in stirring a pot. “Which one? I sent you about a dozen after that weekend,” she chuckled. It had been a bad one, a high-profile error that had drawn considerable criticism.

“The one that didn’t talk about the crash at all,” he said, turning to look at her. “It just talked about how much you admired my resilience, and how you knew I’d bounce back stronger because that’s the kind of person I was. You called me kind, even when I was being a total idiot.”

Yn’s expression softened. “Because you are. You are kind, Nick. Even when you’re pushing yourself to the absolute limit, or when you’re frustrated. It’s just who you are.”

He put the knife down and walked over to her, wrapping his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. “You saw that, even when no one else did. When I was just another driver striving for attention, you saw… me.”

“And you saw me,” she replied, turning slightly in his embrace to meet his gaze over her shoulder. “Just a girl sending letters, and you saw… something.”

“Everything,” he corrected, tightening his hold gently. “I saw everything I never knew I was missing. My peace. My partner. My number one fan, who ended up being my whole world.”

He kissed the top of her head, contentedly breathing in the familiar scent of her hair mixed with the aroma of their dinner. The world of Formula One continued to spin outside their door – the next race was only weeks away, the pressure would build again, the travel would resume. But here, in the quiet embrace of their home, with Yn by his side, Nicholas felt complete.

He was a top-tier athlete, living a life most could only dream of, but his greatest achievement, his most cherished victory, was the love they shared. It was a love built on mutual respect, unwavering support, and the simple, profound truth that his number one fan had become the one person who meant everything to him.

And for Yn, watching him live his dream, knowing she was his anchor and his home, was a dream come true in itself. Together, they navigated the fast lane, grounded by a love that was anything but temporary.

[slutforpringles]

I know F1 journalists seem to be so drama/clickbait focussed in their reporting, but it's pretty disappointing to have watched that press conference and not seen a single question asked to Daniel about last weekend's race, how him and the team debriefed following the race, what conclusions were reached and if they had put some better procedures/communication in place to make sure it doesn't happen again. I know it's not the driver market headline that lots of people want to read, but there's so little emphasis placed on reflecting on previous races, particularly if you're in the midfield, and I find it disappointing as someone who loves the more technical and in-depth race analysis parts of F1 journalism.

[noxintheabyssblog]

im trying to focus solely on pre-season testing - how it works, the early analysis and the car science stuff, so I can prove to the die-hard gatekeeper fans who hate fangirls that I’m not just here for Lewis Hamilton’s biceps (def here for those), but also because I’m genuinely interested in the sport and the technicalities. But WHY are the main F1 and RB accounts out here trying to distract me with premium Lestappen content?? Not that I’m complaining, but as a two-month-old fan, I was not prepared for the level of fan service they provide 😳

[cherrari]

How would you recomend one approach learning about racing without any prior context? I now understand the rules (eh like not the specifics specifics) and im willing to watch a lot of videos, understand the superficial engineering of the car, telemetry, the superficial physics of racing, understand racing lines, defending, attacking, etc. But would you say I should learn about X first as a basis and then move to Y or I should just try whatever?

i think the single best thing you can do is watch old seasons. you'll see so many different types of racing, how f1 has evolved over the years, and why certain things are the way they are now. 1990, 1994 (with additional reading), 1998-1999, pretty much any/all seasons between 2006-2012 (more additional reading for 2007), 2014, 2018-2019, and 2021. 2012 is by far the most popular and what i'd recommend starting with but tbh you can also just look up the results of these and pick whichever one sounds most interesting to watch. you don't even need to watch the races, just watch the highlights

chain bear has some easy to digest videos on racing, but i would be very wary of 95% of youtubers who make "f1 analysis" videos because literally almost every one i click on is bullshit. especially those "comparing drivers' driving styles" videos that talk about how a driver prefers a specific "type" of understeer or oversteer

i think it also largely depends on how much physics you're willing to learn. the popular books written by engineers are often a good source of information, though not unbiased. e.g., newey's autobiogaphy, milliken's "race car vehicle dynamics," and seward's "race car design," in order from least to most technical. learning about aerodynamics a little past superficial but not necessarily professional-level understanding will make your life much easier in understanding the car development race

the f1 technical regulations are incredibly dry reading, but also genuinely good for learning about all the constraints on f1 cars. they're also handy to know in case you get into arguments online with people who don't know them 🙂 for specific questions or details on car development, the f1technical subreddit can be a good source. just make sure the person commenting actually knows what they're talking about. the f1technical forum is either the best or worst place for information, the team threads are incredibly biased but the more neutral car and engine threads tend to have information you won't easily find anywhere else

ultimately though, unless you're going to school for engineering and working in motorsport, there's no reason to feel pressured about learning every aspect of how the sport works. there are certain aspects of f1 that interest me more than others and i've focused a lot on learning about those aspects, but i'd never claim to have a good understanding of the sport as a whole because i am not a professional engineer

[blorbocedes]

as an ancient nico fan, i wanted to ask you, like, what made you notice him, even though he has long quit the sport? this is interesting to me, because i know why he is such an exemplary star, and i was worried that the time will be unforgiving to him, to his achievements or his talents, but thankfully i was proven wrong!

I wanted to be an informed hater and turned into a lover instead 😅

when I got in f1 around 2022 nico was regarded widely as a joke youtuber/fandom villain, but also the allure of brocedes~ that apparently a childhood best friend broke up an entire friendship and betrayal just to win the championship, well that's just a delicious narrative

so I was fully ready to hate on the guy because everyone else did and I wanted to fit in. only problem is I didn't know the guy. he retired in 2016 I don't know shit about him, beyond him being harmlessly cringe on commentary. so to be an effective and accurate hater I set on a journey to find out more about this rosberg dude and all the evils he did~

what made me notice him is that he was really pretty (I'm not gonna lie, I wouldn't have cared as much if he looked like kubica), he was the son of the wdc who won a wdc in the nepotism failbaby sport, and he'd beaten lewis hamilton in his prime while also having been childhood friends (what!!!)

I would watch his YouTube videos, esp the ones in the sim/track analysis where he'd explain the best way to optimise a track and then do a q&a, and he was so knowledgable and his enthusiasm was infectious. like did I understand what downshifting was? no. was I riveted hearing him explain why milliseconds of downshifting at the exact time on a corner matters? absolutely. that's when I was like oh he knows what he's talking about, like from a technical standpoint and not just I'm driving the car.

the more I learned about him the more fascinating he became, the five languages but not his father's, the way he was perceived by the media vs his actual personality, being the youngest ever test driver at 17, scoring points and fastest lap on debut (!!!), people thinking he only got the seat bc daddy was a world champion, enduring the britneyfication for long hair/feminine. he's also so fast, like his monaco pole laps are something out of a beautyyyyy. and then being paired up with fucking michael schumacher, having the midfield campaigns of all time at the same time while his peers and friends are winning championships. I also found him using every tactic at his disposal incredibly clever, like why shouldn't you play the media if you speak 5 languages and know german media will be more sympathetic vs british media will paint you as cold and unfeeling. his 2016 campaign that actually started after 2015 USGP when he lost the wdc -- the complete self control, restraint and putting yourself through the impossible and making it on the other side. and yet his winning radio was telling his wife WE did it, not me/i. even though it was the greatest personal achievement he never shied away from his wife's role in it and even his decision to retire is really admirable. he did it and he got to leave it behind on a high, which I think is almost impossible in f1 to do.

I think I'd have been more insane if I got to watch him live, nico the f1 driver and nico the happily retired girldad are kind of distinct entities and I enjoy both but in separate ways ofc.

but please if you (anyone reading this) was a nico fan back when he was racing how was that like!!!! how was 2016 like for you!!! and Living Through it live

[bigbandithewada]

Feeling like putting down my find so here is

JV/Ant Davidson Timeline

(Can’t guarantee 100% accuracy on all info, can’t guarantee no bias no projection, not using there full names because guess what, so less info about them together if you google their names together my blog appears on the 1st page)

JV was raised in Switzerland. Did math and computer science in Switzerland. He found out he needed an engineer background to enter F1 so went back to England to get a master in that. Got to work at BAR(later Honda, Brawn, Merc) eventually. (He had a billion interview on him hustling his way to BAR but that’s not relevant to the story here)

Ant was raised in a middle class family. Went to Karting with brother and he was more interested and started to compete in Karting. He worked his way to Formula Ford and was lucky to get a sponsorship( the sponsor bought a house and let him lived there). His sponsor talked to him about career choice, at that time, test driver made a decent amount of money and that f1 seat seems a bit too distant. So Ant ended up in BAR around the same time as JV

Well JV was not that much of an engineering guy. His job going into Honda was a combination of some data analysis, coordination between departments and some engineer. There was no proper strategist job back in the days so he just bounced around. (The untold interview he said he was suppose to fix an electronic problem on the front wing, Evan Short ended up doing that. Not saying that he knew nothing but inferring from his other interview, he definitely needed help). (Even now strategist have “low” status in the team since only the principal strategist can go to the track and everyone back home’s job is make sure to feed enough info through TR that the principal’s eyes are always on track).

Meanwhile, Ant was doing amazing as a test driver, too amazing that Honda was reluctant to release him to do actual f1 racing. He missed a seat(which team I forgot) but Honda eventually agreed to let him race for Super Aguri in 2007. That team didn’t last.

Then came the Brawn year. Before 2009, JV and Ant were already starting to worry about their jobs and registered a company together. Company never took off because here comes Brawn GP.

After the championship, our champ Jenson was scheduled to do victory laps in the factory for the fans but he already buggered off to McLaren. Ant did the laps and JV was his engineer for that.

Then came the Merc years.

Ant was doing a bunch of different things then: racing in WEC, driving the Merc simulator and later became a sky sport host. Ant missed the chance of winning a championship(he also missed a podium due to bad luck in 2007) but he got one eventually. When Alonso returned to F1, Ant interviewed him asking if Alonso remembered them racing against each other in WEC, Alonso did not remember. Ant also did Jenson’s retirement interview. Ant also did some interview later saying he was too nice to be competing in this shark tank of f1, nice guy can’t win races.

JV was doing a bunch of different things in Merc as well. He was in charge of simulator, junior team, esport team and development data analysis software for premier league(honorable mention: he wrote the drivers code of conduct in 2016 to prevent Lewis and Nico fighting). Ant was a reliable simulator driver, JV was working a lot with Ant at that time(JV didn’t need to be present for the crowd strike thing but he was there…) (Also they Merc’s equipment to tune cars for their friend’s Karting league, naughty boys). I want to believe JV cares about drivers he works with, especially junior team (he went up to hug Esteban Ocon(Merc junior driver) after his 2021 Hungarian gp win(Merc strategy was a disaster that race)

Ant said JV is one of his best friends. He phoned JV a lot during the Honda and Brawn years. Ant also texted JV to ask for technical details when he started to comment for Sky( Ant joked in 2023 pre season test that JV is getting to busy with his TP job to reply to his texts). JV also bugged Ant for a VIP pass during Ant’s LeMans years. JV had spent time with Ant’s family doing barbecue for JV’s birthday. JV is Ant’s kids’ god father.

Projection time: Brawn and Merc years treated JV so well he probably is a bit idealist about things now. The stuff he said at Williams make sense if your work experience is a streak of championships. JV will probably never get a reality check so hard the way Ant exit F1(divorce? Idw). Knowing they are good friends make me happy.

(Some source from Ant’s deleted twitter account)

[lestappenforever]

I didn't get to watch the race on Sunday because I was working at the time. But I saw some tweets and some posts on Tumblr. Then I watched the video on Twitter, but still not the full race. And I was really disappointed with Max yesterday because intentionally crashing into your opponent is terrible. All these interviews after the race only added fuel to the fire. But today, I was scrolling through my Twitter feed and saw Max's onboard. I was shocked because it doesn't look like an intentional move anywhere! I mean, the move was intentional, but not with the intention of crashing into George, but with the intention of getting past him. At some point, Max either lost control of the car or lost concentration. It was a wrong move, but Max couldn't have known it at the time. And the media blew up an incredible scandal out of it, and it's impossible to go on Twitter without reading a million tweets with hate towards Max. Now I even understand his answer, which disappointed me yesterday. "Does it matter if the move was intentional?". But now it seems to me that the point was that it doesn't matter what Max answers, because people have already created an image in their heads, made him a thief and decided for themselves what his motives were. Max admitted that the move was a mistake, received his penalty, and according to Horner, apologized to the team. What else do people want from him? It hurts me so much to read all these disgusting things about him. I'm on Twitter for the news, and I only follow a few accounts related to information about Max, F1, and technical analysis of races, strategies, and car updates. But now the recommendations are complete hell, and it seems like there's nowhere to escape from this. People are terrible sometimes. Sorry for taking all this out on you. Have a nice day, I hope you're doing well! 🫶

I've said it before and I've said it again: Twitter is an awful platform and I will never understand how people subject themselves to using it.

The move on George definitely wasn't intentional, and it's ridiculous that people are allowing themselves to come across as stupid enough to think that it was. That being said, it was a stupid move triggered by him losing his head due to the shitty position the team put him in and definitely a mistake, which Max was rightfully punished for and owned up to afterwards. Which is more than you can say for quite a few other drivers, honestly.

People make mistakes because at the end of the day, we're all humans. And contrary to what he might have made some people think over the last few years, that also applies to Max. He is not flawless, nor is he faultless, and like all other humans he must face the consequences of his actions, which he absolutely does.

Don't even get me started on the way the media portray him, though, because that's a nonsense tale that is as old as time and it will sadly never, ever change. Nor will the impact that portrayal have on quite a lot of people who desperately want to hate him for something, and will jump at every opportunity to further fuel the hate that is, at its core, rooted in jealousy and bitterness.

If you love Max, my darling anon, keep loving him, keep supporting him, and ignore the bullshit that you'll see on that hellsite about him because it's never going to change. The best you can do for yourself is ignore it. ❤️

[milfclaren]

Okay. so far this is theoretical and maybe far fetched but i need y’all to hear me out please. all the written media surrounding f1 is based on the technical aspect of the sport (track or strategy specific pieces, beginners guides, different lists and rankings), or it’s gossip/insider info from around the paddock (who’s signing where, where there’s drama, etc.) but there is no actual cultural analysis/commentary pieces in f1/motorsport writing. and i just feel that’s a huge gap. i’ve never seen a sport that lacks it so completely, to this extent. it feels intentional in a way (for starters, one media conglomerate runs the Entire org/sport and for two, corporate sponsored content is the Only other option). even if you go to different motorsport blogs and websites it’s all content of a similar vein to what i mentioned before. any cultural analysis of f1/motorsport that i’ve found is ALWAYS by individual blogs and fans online? very rarely is it ever official content. anyways i have ideas i could write about At Length. if i could hash out the logistics of this type of sport analysis (building my overall knowledge base of the sport, figuring out a platform to put this analysis on, establishing an audience for it), i guess the questions i have for YOU, dear reader, are

1) would you be part of that audience? is a written cultural analysis of f1/motorsport something you might read/watch/listen to? have you noticed the same gap and would you be interested in seeing it fulfilled? is there anyone else writing or making this style of content already?

2) are there any specific ideas or topics within f1/motorsport YOU would like to see analyzed or critiqued? this can be about anything related to the sport in general, i’m so serious. i can share some ideas i have, but i’m just One person and i want to know what other people notice and think as well.

[midesastremanifiesto]

Teto said they they have a theory why carlos felt in the car how he felt and they will test the hypothesis in Japan, so I think they have "studying the data" part covered. Also as a data analyst, I can tell you that you don't need to sit in group in round table of a conference room to study and analysis data, it can easily be done individually with effective communication with team it you have the right software program. He and his engineers can do this from their respective places then discuss new theory/hypothesis and finding over virtual meetings. Now the sim work, drivers can't just work in the factory and do sim work whenever they want, it is scheduled and structured by the team. Simulator is also used by developers, engineers for upgrades or new development for the car. It's not like he can hop into the simulator whenever he has a bad race weekend.

The bottom line is he is someone who is in this field for 10 years and ha changed team 4 times. He knows what and when needs to be done and he is the most hardworking driver in the grid. So there is absolutely no need to stress out and think that he is slacking in his work when you see him living his life in between race weekend.

P.S. I am not saying these to the specific anon who realised and said that they are probably overthinking, but there has been a trend recently among a section of Carlos fans specially on X. They "worry" that he is not pushing himself hard enough. It's been like this since the beginning of the year when they said he isn't training hard like last year, he isn't going to factory enough, he isn't going to china from Australia asap etc etc. There is always an accusatory tone to it. Idk why but I think we will enjoy the sport more in general when we stop trying to micromanage something that we have hardly any knowledge of

thanks for the detailed explanation, anon!

I don't know if those fans (I am not speaking about my anons here) are seriously "concerned", but if they are, they should question themselves because why are they doubting a guy who has been in F1 for 11 seasons, has raced for 5 teams and is known in the paddock for his technical knowledge and his hard work.

[passengerprincipessa]

https://x.com/troubleforf1/status/1911819207999680621?s=46&t=pxIjsoQnzS7mu9aE5700Wg

💀💀💀

I don’t actually think that he did it on purpose, because slowing down didn’t help his tyres, but interesting nevertheless. It did certainly damaged landos quali and race and now it’s I think pretty clear, why Andrea was suddenly backing up Lando in media and praising him for not blaming his team and taking full responsibility💀 god it will be hell of a year

Andrea also admitted that they build the car that suits Oscar much better than Lando and that they made his life much tougher….but I don’t want to wear a foil hat even tho im a (kinda) toxic Lando fan, because I believe that he knows what he’s doing and he knows his team. It’s silly to say that McLaren sabotaging him, but it’s 4 race but questionable thinks already happed. And even tho I think that Oscar not opposed to win a championship let’s say max way or toxic teammate kinda way, he won’t do it so openly stupid and he also wants to win it on merit, because it’s not worth it otherwise. Yeah, you will hold this trophy but you will also know deep down that you’re not earned it. I generally think that they want to race each other honestly, harsh and on the limit, but still honestly. So yes. It will be a long week on twitter, but I can only hope that it was pit wall kinda fault and it wasn’t on purpose

every time people talk about team’s building cars “around” a driver, i have to laugh. they’re building cars to be as fast as possible, and cars happen to suit one driver’s preferences more than another sometimes. also from what i’ve seen oscar and lando just do not have dramatically different driving styles. it’s not like carlos vs. charles where charles preferred a much pointier car than carlos. like i just don’t think mclaren has a “preference” for which of their drivers wins. they want to win the constructors and win the wdc, but other than that they don’t give a shit who does it. maybe if you had a gun to zak or andrea’s head they’d say a name, but i genuinely don’t believe they make any decisions based on that. like i love writing toxic papaya rpf as much as the next person but in the real world i find these conspiracy theories one of the least interesting ways to engage with the sport because they’re just not true…

anyway the real problem here is getting any race analysis from twitter. if you want good analysis, the race f1 podcast is great. it’s neutral, technical analysis and i highly recommend if you want to understand the wheel side of things