#gasocon

[034463]

pierre and esteban grew up together in two sister towns north of france. pierre, who was deeply interested in football at that time but his family deep in karting, first only attended karting competition to support his friend anthoine. there he  made friends with este, whose family was not grounded in karting and had to sell their house to support his hobby, that was also competing. the three of them became fast friends and it was no surprise to see the three of them hanging out with each other in one of their family houses. este wanting to compete with his two new friends encouraged pierre to try karting thus kickstarting their future.

touring around france together meeting other french men, the three of them met charles who joined their karting clique. they were simply put, inseparable. promising each other to make it to f1, countless of their childhood was spent riding around the track near their family homes in snow clad to then sun kissed roads--high on the adrenaline that can only be produced by driving fast cars. motivating each other to be better because they have to get better if not then how can they reach their collective dream? to race each other in the pinnacle of motorsport.

it was a smooth ride, that is until the competition took a toll on their friendship. este and gasly had a falling out and este began to distance himself from his brothers. first it was este sitting far away from the three of them and it does upset charles and anthoine and they did try to get them to make up but those two are just too heard headed! then it evolved into este refusing to practice with each other, and how can they choose between their two brothers? but charles is closer to pierre and anthoine lived to far away to pick a side thus leaving este to race by himself. at first it hurts. of course it hurts they were brothers how could it not?

time heals all wound but scars last forever. now the three of them are racing in f1. they finally achieved their childhood dream though, not without a sacrifice. their friendship, family, childhood, innocence. they lost too much during their journey that its not possible to look back. though even until now pierre and este dont talk to each other. egos too big for their body even if both of them dont remember who or what started the rift between them no one took the first step to apologize first. avoiding each other in the paddock during race weekends that even the very act of uttering each other's name is a huge taboo. awkward phone calls with the family asking how the others are doing and its fine, he’s doing fine mom. i dont care about him dont you know we’re not friends anymore? to witnessing each other grow up from the corner of their eyes and huh hold on since when did he grew taller than me? he used to sleep on my shoulders during car rides.

years passed and its just not enough to keep this whole thing to themselves. it wasn’t pierre’s fault that he was airing out their dirty laundry for the whole world to see. its the interviewer’s fault for asking him that question. to este was the first one to crop him from the picture, its only fair to crop him in my post. its nothing serious guys, really. but when push comes to shove and other people tried to talk shit about the other they'll be the first to defend each other. because thats my ex-childhoodfriend forever rival.

“what if we never had that long and complicated history that leads us to continually justify each other’s actions. what if i never had any hand in your sculpting and now im left with the final, hardened figure you've since become” x

[034463]

as he walked closer to the podium the french national anthem blaring in the background signaling that esteban, este, his childhood friend, his forever rival is up there standing, smiling ever so widely with that twinkle in his eyes that is so familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time. it hits him how they really made it. they do. the promise they used to whisper to each other before they get into their cart as a reaffirmation that they will do anything to make their goal a reality, or at night when it was just the two of them curling up in pierre’s bed, consoling themselves after a bad race that they are chasing this dream together. the two of them. racing in the pinnacle of motorsport that is f1. 

and they did. win a race even. pierre winning last year in italy and now its este’s turn in hungary. his chance to take in all that pride and glory. the confirmation that all those late nights practices, those tears shed, their sacrifices, the suffering they had to go through was all worth it. is worth it. 

though it feels wrong somehow. they dont talk anymore not about important things at least. ego and pride too big to bridge that rift they created midst chasing their dreams. the childhood promise broken not able to survive the cruelty that is money, tension, and jealousy. and he knows that though they’re finally here it will never be as how they yearned it to be. celebrating their wins together going to clubs ordering the most expensive drinks because they're winners they deserve this. sharing their most important accomplishment with the people most dear to them. not now with each other at least. 

and the sad thing is, if you ask him if he would do it all over again, breaking their childhood promises to make it together, be there for each other come high or low, pierre would in a heartbeat. if that means esteban can be up there glowing, high on adrenaline winning his first grand prix. even if that means that he would only be allowed to send him a simple congratulatory text.