#las vegas race recap

[isawthesainz]

Race Recap 22: Las Vegas, USA

Sunday 24th November 2024

Build-Up:

Following the Brazilian Grand Prix, Mercedes is given two €5,000 fines for adjusting the tyre pressure on both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell’s cars after the aborted race start. Carlos Sainz is also reprimanded for moving the car whilst the marshals were attempting recovery following his crash. Both Russell and Lando Norris are fined €5,000 for leaving the grid after the aborted start signal was shown

Norris labels Max Verstappen’s victory in Brazil ‘just luck’, adding that he thought the race ‘shouldn’t have been red flagged’

On 6th November, Zhou Guanyu announces that he will part ways with Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber at the end of the 2024 season

Later that day, it is announced that Gabriel Bortoleto had signed a multi-year contract with Stake from 2025. Valtteri Bottas will leave the team at the end of the 2024 season

Also on 6th November, it is reported that Red Bull will need to pay Williams $20 million in compensation to break Franco Colapinto out of his current contract

It is also rumoured that Bottas will return to Mercedes as a reserve driver in 2025

On 7th November, the F1 Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) releases a robust statement urging the FIA to reconsider its approach to penalties, driver conduct, and fines, particularly with regards to recent fines for swearing

On 11th November, it is reported by a Spanish newspaper that Sergio Perez will remain at Red Bull for the 2025 season

On 12th November, it is announced that Alpine will switch to a Mercedes-Benz power unit and gearbox from 2026

It is also announced that F1 Race Director Niels Wittich (who replaced Michael Massi in 2022) has stepped down from the role with immediate effect

Also on 12th November, it is announced that F1 will host a season launch event for the 2025 season at the O2 Arena in London on 18th February 2025. All 10 teams will unveil their 2025 cars during the event with all 20 drivers present

On 14th November, it is announced that the Monaco Grand Prix will remain on the F1 calendar until at least 2031

On 17th November, it is announced that Stéfano Domenicali will leave his position as F1’s CEO

On 22nd November, it is reported that F1 is set to welcome an eleventh team for the 2026 season and beyond. It is understood to be the continuation of the Andretti project. However, the proposed name is not yet clear, with General Motors believed to be taking on greater involvement

Alex Albon brings out the red flag in FP2 after stopping on track in the pit lane exit with a fuel system issue

Lance Stroll also brings out the red flag in FP3 after his car starts smoking and he is forced to stop on track

Franco Colapinto brings out the yellow flag in Q2 after crashing into the barriers. The Williams is destroyed, with a missing tyre, damage to two other tyres and half of the front wing missing

Race Highlights:

Russell starts the race in pole position, followed by Sainz and Pierre Gasly, but Charles Leclerc is able to over take Gasly and Sainz on the first corner

Oscar Piastri receives a 5-second penalty for a false start

On Lap 13, Esteban Ocon misses the pit box, leaves the pits, goes around another lap, and then pits again

On Lap 16, Gasly reports on the radio that something is wrong with his car. Alpine respond that there were no issues, but smoke is then seen billowing out of the car. Gasly is able to bring the car back to the garage to retire from the race

At the halfway point, Williams tell Albon to retire the car due to mechanical issues. It looked like a plastic bag was stuck in an air duct

On Lap 27, Sainz crosses the line for the pit lane, but Ferrari tell him to stay out at the last minute

On Lap 33, Russell comes into the pits with a 32-second lead over his teammate. He rejoins the race maintaining the lead, still 13 seconds ahead of Hamilton

Verstappen finishes in fifth ahead of Norris in sixth, meaning he achieves his fourth consecutive Drivers’ Championship victory

Race Results:

1st Place: George Russell

2nd Place: Lewis Hamilton

3rd Place: Carlos Sainz

[raphoupix]

Lando recap of the 2023 season 21st weekend of the season: Las Vegas 🇺🇸

[pedriscroquettes]

𝐋𝐀𝐒 𝐕𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐒 ꕥ MAX VERSTAPPEN

summary. celebrating max’s 4th title was not in your plans.

warnings. piastri!reader, max is kinda obsessed with reader, public s3x (?), unprotected pinv, fingering, just straight up dirty.

gabri speaks! i’ve been thinking about mexico gp max and las vegas sealed the deal for me.

THERE’S A BRIEF moment of silence, of anticipation, and of complete confusion. The DJ had paused the setlist less than an hour in announcing there was a special guest appearance. Then as if on cue tonight’s race is plastered on the giant screen behind him and the words, “Max Verstappen,” echo throughout the nightclub. You resist the urge to roll your eyes knowing someone might be recording you, or your brother at least.

“I thought he was flying back?” You cover your mouth with your hand as you talk with your brother.

“I thought so too.” Your brother hums in your ear trying to hide his annoyed tone. Your brother got along with Max just fine but all he wanted was one night without F1 getting mentioned.

You on the other hand…

You’d only been in the paddock a handful of times but every race weekend you had managed to have the worst encounter with the dutch man. The first time had been incidentally, you faintly recall the energy drink splashing all over your new dress. You knew from the get go that it had been an accident but when Max didn’t as so much as a muster a quick sorry and instead went on his way you had no choice but to hate him.

“He’s such a dick.” You murmur to yourself unaware your brother catches your words.

“Be nice.” Oscar motions towards the countless people recording him.

“I’m gonna get another drink.” You sigh.

The music resumes and you find yourself into a crowd of dancing couples. Your short orange dress sticks to you as you walk towards the bar. It’d been a long night with your brother not getting the result he hoped for. The post race recap inside the garage had been brutal as well. You had watched as the championship slipped from Lando’s hands and Max claimed victory once again. It had been the worst two hours of your life to say the least. You’re way too frustrated to even notice the man approaching you. In a split second you’re covered in something that smelled similar to…

“Asshole.” You mumble.

“Mini Piastri?” He gasps dramatically. “Why are you here? I wouldn’t think you’d be celebrating after tonight.”

“Well, the world doesn’t revolve around you.” You scoff. “Does it Max?”

“I’d argue that it does actually. Considering your mood, you’d be happier if your little boyfriend had actually managed to have a good race.” He taunts you.

“Look, can you get out of my way? I have to go clean up the mess you made.” You point towards the huge spots of alcohol on your dress.

You don’t even wait for him to respond before pushing past him, brushing shoulders in the process, to head straight to the bathroom. You do your best to dodge those who already have had a bit too much to drink, unaware that the dutchman is right behind you. It’s not until you’re opening the door and notice it takes a minute too long to close that you turn around and spot him. His white dress shirt is already half unbuttoned while his hair is a mess. You stare at him incredulously as he leaned against the sink.

“Max, you can’t be in here.” You state bluntly.

“I don’t recall you telling Lando to piss off when he followed you into the bathroom in Austin.” He counters.

“How do- What?” You’re taken aback by his words. How did he know?

He ignores your question choosing to walk towards you instead. You’re now face to face with the man that had taken away your team’s championship. His eye bags are dark and you can tell it’s been a while since he’s gotten a good needed break. His tousled hair falls perfectly on his head and by the way his arms flex you can tell he’s been putting extra effort into them at the gym. All of a sudden you’re nervous to be under his glare.

“Does your brother know what you and Lando do in secret?” He questions.

“You should leave.” You try to sound confident but your faltering voice exposes you.

Max just smirks at your words knowing he was getting under your skin. He still recalls the first time he ran into you, when he spilled half a can of red bull on you. He doesn’t know why he didn’t apologize but when he saw the anger in your face he realized why. You had looked so beautiful that day with the short orange sundress that did nothing to hide your cleavage. He still remembers the disappointment he felt when he saw you and Lando walk out of the restroom all disheveled. So, when he beat Lando tonight he felt absolutely no remorse.

His lips ghost yours for what feels like an eternity. You’re frozen in place wondering how his lips would taste against yours. Maybe it was the alcohol or the way his arms flex around you but suddenly you needed to know what he felt like. His arm tentatively grazes yours as it sneaks down to your knees. A gasp finds itself leaving your lips as your legs spread open instinctively. He wants to make fun of you, of the way you melt under him so easily, but he knows better. He can’t risk ruining the moment. It’s when Max inches his fingers closer to your thighs that you suddenly realize what’s happening. In a matter of seconds you push him off you and head out the door.

You’re barely four steps out when Max yanks you back and you hit his built chest. This time he doesn’t hesitate and grabs your jaw pulling your face towards his. Your lips meet in a heated kiss as his arms find their way around your waist. This time you’re the one that moves his hands from your wait to your ass. The confidence was beginning to build up and soon enough you’re tugging on his hair as his tongue enters your mouth.

“Max…” You moan and somehow it becomes the indicator that you want this. That you want him.

He pushes you flat against the cold brick of the hallway, the dimmed lights helping hide your bodies from the crowd. You’re lucky he holds you up because your legs feel like jello and if he lets go you might lose your balance. His hands roam your waist, back, and neck before he moves your hair out of the way. His lips leave a trail of wet kisses around your neck as his hands work their way down to your legs. They slowly glide up until he’s playing with the hem of your short dress. You can already feel his growing erection press against your ass.

“Tell me to stop and I will.” He groans against your ear.

You really want to tell him to fuck off but your body reacts differently. You’re shocked when instead of telling him to call it a night all you murmur is keep going. In a matter of seconds your dress is being pulled up towards your waist. You can’t help the whine that escapes your lips as he rubs your aching core through your panties.

“So wet already.” He groans. “For me or Lando?”

“Shut up.” You still find it in you to annoy him.

To your surprise he doesn’t hit you with another remark. Max had been an asshole to you long enough. Now, that you were in front of him practically falling apart he didn’t want to ruin the moment. There’s a brief moment of silence before his hand carefully moves your panties to the side exposing your core to the cool breeze. Your legs spread instinctively as his fingers tempt your folds. His fingers collect your slick as he explores you, the wet sound making him groan against you. Slowly, he brings one of his fingers to your hole entering it carefully.

“Fuck.” He moans against your ear as your cunt wraps tightly around his finger.

“Ma- Max. So close.” You’re barely able to say.

You let out a loud whine as he curls his finger inside of you leading to your climax. You come around his fingers as you coat them with your wetness. His fingers slowly move toward your mouth and you don’t hesitate as you take them into your mouth, tasting yourself. He almost comes undone as you lick his fingers seductively. Aggressively he grabs your jaw and kisses you. He groans as he tastes you.

You feel the tip of him first as he runs it up and down your folds teasing you. Your hands are weak against the wall as his tip approaches your aching hole. He enters you slowly, holding you tightly in the process. He stops halfway through not wanting to hurt you but when he hears your dirty moans he continues. Your nails dig tightly into his arms as he fills you up completely. He’s quite big and the new sensation has you spiraling trying your best to not fall against him. He takes advantage of your weakness and attacks your neck again making sure to leave love bites around your collarbone.

“Fuck, Max. You’re so big.” You whine without thinking.

You feel his dick twitch inside you at that. Your voice has him in a trance as he tries his best to not just start thrusting inside of you. It’s not until you start pushing your ass against him that he almost pulls out fully before thrusting back into you. His hands grip your ass tightly—surely leaving marks for tomorrow—as your cunt squeezes him. He’s never felt such a thrill, at least since Abu Dhabi, you were your own feeling. He couldn’t believe you had finally opened up to him in many ways you were way better than winning another trophy. Many curses escape your lips as he finds the perfect pace inside of you.

He manages to bend you over leading to the perfect position and somehow he’s even deeper inside of you. He grips your hair into a makeshift ponytail as he speeds up inside of you. His hand trails back to your cunt and slowly he starts playing with your folds. The feeling of his cock inside of you and fingers rubbing your folds is intense and you find a camisole feeling in your stomach approach you. You squeeze him tightly as his dick hits the right spot and you find yourself coming undone. You’ve never had an orgasm so intense in your life you don’t even notice how you coat his dick with your wetness.

Max isn’t far behind and speeds up at the feeling of your cunt squeezing him tightly. Your nails dig behind you at the overstimulation and stretch of his cock. Max hisses at the sensation finding it the tipping point. It’s not long before you feel his dick twitch inside of you and in a matter of seconds you feel him spill his seed inside of you. He grunts as he empties himself and as he pulls out. He pulls you up adjusting your dress in the process.

You bite your lip as he zips up his pants. The aftermath of your little rendezvous is different. Usually with others you don’t stay long enough to watch them dress themselves. But then you notice Max struggling with the buttons on his dress shirt and you find your hands on his chest again. You only button half of the shirt before stepping back. Neither of you say a word but the silence manages to speak for you both. You decide it’s time to go back but before you can take a step Max pulls you in for a final kiss before he leaves.

You’re barely able to walk back towards the VIP lounge and stumble multiple times in the process. You try your best to brush your hair down and fix your dress as you come closer to your brother’s booth. You sit down carefully unaware your brother is staring at you wide eyed and wondering why it took you almost an hour to get a drink. You shift awkwardly in your seat as Lily begins telling you both about her mixup at the airport. You turn around briefly as she goes into detail when you notice Max walking past your table. You keep your composure not wanting to expose your actions of the night but you should’ve known better. Oscar almost bursts out laughing at Max’s completely unbuttoned shirt.

“Lando’s gonna be pissed.” Your brother smirks.

“How do-” Did everyone know? “Oh, fuck off.”

The night progresses with your brother ordering countless bottles of Dom Pérignon. It’s almost five in the morning when Max takes the stage again with the DJ playing a remix of Super Max. As if on cue someone hands him a bottle of champagne and it doesn’t take long for him to start spraying it amongst those on the dance floor. You watch attentively as his chest shows the marks you left completely unaware of how your phone buzzes for the hundredth time that night.

9 missed calls from Lan

Lan: Tonight was shit.

Lan: Come over?

[valyrfia]

*insert michael jackson gif*

Let it go with the excuses already, today was on him he couldn't even beat his teammate today how you people expect him to fight max?he will put it in the wall in the last lap, oh wait it already happened, my bad

also max recommended devries lol let's not take those guys words , charles is currently fighting fraud allegations, unless his 2019 or 2022 start is coming it's only going downhill

Okay, fine, I'll bite. Let's compare Charles's and Carlos's perfomances in order to try and determine with as little bias as possible.

In order to constrain our parameters of our investigation to their current abilities as drivers, let's take the our period of investigation to be the whole of the 2023 season, plus the first three races of the 2024 season. We'll exclude the following races for Carlos due to circumstances beyond his control: Qatar 2023 (fuel leak leading to DNS), Las Vegas 2023 (10 place grid penalty due to track not being properly maintained), Jeddah 2024 (appendicitis). Likewise, we'll exclude the following races for Charles due to circumstances beyond his control: Bahrain 2023 (DNF due to technical issues), Jeddah 2023 (10 place grid penalty due to exceeding allowed quota), COTA 2023 (DSQ), Brazil (DNS due to faulty hydraulics).

There are cases to be made for other races for both of them, but these are races where they were either involved in a collision leading to a DNF or where grid penalties apply, so there's argument for driver error there. With regard to grid penalties, we're going to go by the final decisions made by the stewards regardless of whether the penalties were appealed or not. Races where they suffered technical issues in race but they still finished are not counted, as it shows a driver's ability to handle an unpredictable car.

Before we discount the races listed above entirely, let's have a look at where the driver who didn't have difficulties finished.

So we're discarding pretty much the same number of points between them, so I feel happy discarding the following 7 races entirely from this analysis: Bahrain 2023, Jeddah 2023, Qatar 2023, COTA 2023, Brazil 2023, Las Vegas 2024, Jeddah 2024. Furthermore, in Las Vegas, Carlos finished 6th and in Jeddah, Charles finished 7th. This brings their points total across the discarded races to 46 for Carlos, 45 for Charles. However, Charles managed to score those points over fewer points-scoring races, and with a higher average finishing position, so for the sake of not convoluting ourselves we'll call it even and commit to just examining the points and stats of the remaining races not excluded from our investigation. The table below shows those stats. For simplification, sprints are not considered.

So I think there are a few key things we want to consider: overall performance, reasons for retirements and driver reliability over our chosen time period. So we'll go one by one for each and examine in a little more depth.

For overall performance, it's easiest to see in a quick head to head. Carlos wins in race wins, Charles wins in poles, they tie in number of retirements (although Carlos was classified in ABU23 due to finishing 90% of the race distance), Charles wins in higher average finishing position, Charles wins in higher points total.

Next, we move on to reasons for retirement. Charles retired twice, once upon collision with Lance in Australia 23, and once in Zandvoort due to a damaged floor. Carlos retired once in Belgium 23 due to a collision with Oscar Piastri and once in Abu Dhabi 23 due to being lapped and running last without pitting.

For driver reliability, I want to consider the variance in Charles and Carlos's race finishes for reliability. A quick recap for the non-STEM people who may be reading this: the variance measures the spread of numbers in a dataset, and how far away they are from the dataset's mean. Thus, a smaller variance indicates less spread in positions that a driver has finished in, in turn indicating higher reliability. Charles has a variance of 6.46, Carlos has a variance of 8.25. It is therefore possible to conclude that Charles is the more reliable driver of the two. While on the subject of reliability, it is also worth noting that Charles has not dropped outside the top 5 since Monza last year.

So overall, anon, I'm afraid I have to reject your notion that Charles is washed or even approaching becoming washed. The data show otherwise. The only category where Carlos is superior to Charles in our time frame is race wins, race wins where Charles deliberately adhered to Ferrari strategy in order to help Carlos, and Max Verstappen was out of commission for the win for one reason or another. Carlos wins in luck, but for driver reliability, points scored, finishing position, Charles is the clear winner and the numbers show it.

[glai1023-blog]

LAS VEGAS GP RECAP (so far...)

1. Mercedes car finally finding its favorable running condition... low grip, low temp. Too bad for Lewis' run though.

2. Ferrari has pace. 2 & 4 not bad, looking good for that WCC battle.

3. Pierre dragging that tractor of an Alpine not only to Q3 but to P3! Brazil double podium is the real deal.

4. Max putting his arts and crafts rear wing car on P5 ahead of Lando, this is going to be entertaining tomorrow.

5. This situation is not very favorable to McLaren drivers or constructors championship wise. Max is going to either put both him and Lando out of the race rather than be overtaken. If Max finishes ahead its over for Lando's WDC hopes, if he forces the issue and damages his car and both Ferraris score big, McLaren's WDC is in trouble.

6. Give Yuki fucking Tsunoda a shot at that 2nd RB seat! Checo out in Q1, again. Both VCarb drivers out qualified Checo!

7. I'm afraid Williams might not be making it until the end of the season, how much is their repairs cost now? Good news, Franco is okay. Also give the Williams mechanics bonuses, they deserve it. What's going on with Alex by the way?

8. Haas got pace as well, the Haas vs Alpine narrative is also an interesting developement.

9. Zhou getting to Q2, good job. I feel bad for Valterri, is he going to finish the season with 0 points and rank 23 in a 20 driver-grid? He is not even a bad driver.

10. Aston Martin... what are they doing anyway? Are they there?

[nerdraging4point0]

The Scorpion and the Scales //Chapter One// Poly-AU

Header photo by @ladyveronikawrites

Tropes and Tags: MF, MFM, MFMM, instalove, too much sex, tattooed musicians, polyverse, friends to lovers.

Content warning: 18+ only MDNI, PinV, PinA, oral (f!recieveing, m!recieving), threesomes, light BDSM, voyeurism, exhibitionism, partner sharing, jealousy, angst.

This work below is fictionalized ideas and stories involving real people but does not directly reflect their thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. Please keep in mind that this is a work of fiction.

Active taglist: @ladyveronikawrites @tearfallpixie @beaker1636 @circle-with-me @synthetic-wasp-570 @itsjustemily @thesazzb @vinyardmauro @cookiesupplier @concreteemo @dominuslunae @mountains-to-move @sundamariis @caitcoreeeee @crimson-calligraphyx @letmeadoreyoux @starsomens @artificialbreezy @lma1986 @iknownothingpeople @lilrubles @shilohrosechicken @missduffsblog @jessicafg03 @thatchickwiththecamera @mysticdoodlez @chels3a-smile @sinkingteethinwhitenoise @deathblacksmoke @roley-poley-foley @ravieisunhinged @dethronetheveil @to-be-written @somewhere-diamond @somebodyels3 @sacredthefran

My ears are still ringing from the concert, a lingering reminder of the band's raucous performance that seemed to rattle the very walls. But as I stand outside the venue waiting, the cool Colorado night wraps around me, calming my ringing ears. I take a deep breath, letting the crisp mountain air soothe my senses. Looking up at the starry sky, I can't help but smile, the adrenaline from the show still coursing through my veins. My body may be tired, but my spirit feels alive. This is exactly where I want to be.

I scroll through the photos and videos on my phone, reliving each moment - the crush of the crowd, the first electrifying guitar riff, the encore chant that shook the rafters. I smile as I post clips to Snapchat, the glowing screen casting a soft light on my face. These are memories frozen in time now.

I glance down at my outfit, suddenly self-conscious - dark shorts with fishnets, my favorite Adidas shoes, a cropped long sleeve tee to show off my wrist tattoo. My dark curls bouncing around my shoulders, framing the natural makeup look I had spent so long perfecting. My heart pounds at the thought of meeting the band looking like this.

I can hardly contain my excitement. Getting a photo with the band tonight will be the perfect addition to my prized collection of memories! My scrapbook is absolutely full of photos with bands and celebrities - it's my most prized possession. But the photos themselves are nothing compared to the actual experiences behind them. I smile to myself remembering all the crazy adventures over the years - the VIP access, celebrity run-ins, wild nights out in Vegas and LA. I live for these thrilling moments and have to document every single one. This show tonight will give me yet another trophy photo for my scrapbook of fame.

I can feel the crowd stirring, a buzz of anticipation in the air. Around me, fans jostle for position near the stage door while security guards confer, ready to guide the band through. I'm so tempted to rush the door with some of the other die-hard fans, but I know that's crazy - I'd probably just get trampled. So, I stay put, heart racing, barely able to contain my excitement. 

The crowd roars as Folio and Jolly emerge from backstage, basking in the post-show glow. Folio's got on his favorite tour tee, that vintage New York cap perched just so atop his mop of curls. And Jolly - man, that dude looks like a rockstar with his hoodie and beanie combo, those long brown locks flowing free. They pause to snap a few pics with fans, gracious as ever, before huddling up to recap the epic show.

When I see Noah, my heart stops. His towering, muscular frame moves with a feline grace and his soft brown locks fall perfectly over his chiseled features. This triple-threat talent radiated magnetism, his lethal attractiveness gripping me in its thrall. I was helpless, I was his, utterly and completely.

I see Jolly and Folio sitting off to the side of the fans. They aren't too far away, but I feel the nerves build in my chest, and I gather my courage to call them over.

"Jolly!" I shout, my voice cracking with excitement. He turns, and I start flapping my arms like a madwoman, desperate to catch his eye. This is it. My chance to meet one of my idols in the flesh. I scurry over, my legs jittery and unsteady beneath me. "Can I get a picture with you guys?" I blurt out in a rush, the words tumbling over themselves. I'm practically vibrating now, bouncing on the balls of my feet. Just breathe, I tell myself. Play it cool. But my fangirl glee cannot be contained.

He saunters over, hands in his pockets, with Folio trotting behind him. I fumble a bit with my phone, trying to find a good angle for a selfie.

"Mind if I help?" he asks, reaching out his hand. I hand him the thin device with a shaky hand. Extending his arm, phone in hand, facing the three of us so we were all framed up perfectly. I flash my best smile, leaning on the fence post for support. He snaps a few shots to make sure they came out clear, then hands my phone back.

"Thank you so much!" I squeal excitedly.

"Not a problem at all," he replies with a gentle smile, his accent coming through each word.

Folio turns to me, but he doesn't sound too thrilled - more like he's feigning the enthusiasm. "So, did you have fun?"

"Fun? Are you kidding me? That was amazing!" I gush. "Has anyone actually ever said no?" I quip playfully.

Folio chuckles and Jolly just laughs, making me feel good - at least they get my sense of humor! "I suppose it depends on who you ask," Folio says, chuckling again.

Nick shows up out of nowhere, trying to join our conversation. But his voice is drowned out by the shrieks from Noah's fans at the door. I sneak a peek and see Noah's tall figure in the center of the chaos - signing autographs, snapping selfies. I whip back around to Nick.

"What did you say?" he asks again.

I have to yell over the noise. "We were wondering if anyone's ever told you they didn't like your show!"

He lets out the most dramatic sigh. "No one's ever asked if I enjoy doing the show." I roll my eyes hard.

I roll my eyes as he pouts dramatically. "You're literally the star of the show," I point out, barely holding back my sarcasm.

He shrugs, unaffected. "Still, no one's cared to ask little ol' me about my feelings." He places a hand on his chest, channeling a wounded Victorian damsel.

I have to resist the urge to mimic gagging. "Alright, Your Highness," I say, my voice dripping with fake enthusiasm. "Do you enjoy being on the show or not?"

He taps his chin, pondering with exaggerated thoughtfulness. "Hmm...maybe I don't. Have you considered that?"

"Wow, so brooding and mysterious," I deadpan.

I whip out my phone with a grin, waving it teasingly in front of Nick. "Mind snapping a quick pic for me?" I ask. He's happy to play along. I shuffle as close to him as I can with that barricade wedged between us, and he snaps off a couple shots before handing my phone back.

"Looks like you just need one with Noah now," Nick says, glancing over his shoulder. Noah's still surrounded by screaming fans begging for his attention. I give Nick an appreciative look - he's so chill and down-to-earth.

I sigh, my voice trailing off. "He seems a bit busy." I glance around at the mob of people crowded around Noah. I'm not sure I'll get that photo with him after all.

"Just hang out, we'll make sure he stops by," Jolly says, flashing me a reassuring smile. That makes me feel a little better.

"You local?" Nick asks me, clearly trying to keep the conversation flowing to avoid an awkward silence. I nod, "Yeah, born and raised here."

I cross my arms over my chest, trying to hold onto the warmth from the crowd. The breeze starts cutting through my shirt.

Nick, Jolly, Folio and I are still chatting away while everyone else heads home. Folio's glued to his phone, only half listening. Then security starts shooing people away, saying Noah only has time for a couple more photos. The last of the fans rush to the front for their chance.

When Noah finally makes his escape to the tour bus, Nick isn't having it. He waves Noah over, pleading, "One more, bro. I promise." Noah chuckles and ambles over, his long legs crossing the parking lot in just a few strides. Up close, he's even taller than I thought!

"Hello." His smile makes my heart flutter.

"Hi," I squeak out, unable to summon any other words. Just getting that single syllable out feels like a triumph.

"This is..." Nick hesitates, looking adorably flustered. "You know, with everything we've talked about, I never even asked your name."

"Eve," I manage, though my voice comes out high-pitched and timid. I cringe internally. I should know my own name, at least! But something about him makes me tongue-tied in a way I've never experienced before. Eve. It's not a complicated name. But looking into his eyes, I can barely remember such a simple word.

"Nick mentions something about a picture?" his voice is so low, I almost forget it's me he's talking to. We move against the barricade standing close to one another as Nick takes my phone from my hand to take the picture for us.

When the camera flashes, I blink hard, almost hoping the picture will turn out blurry. Just so we can try again.

"What cha think?" Nick asks, turning my phone screen to show me the photo. I mean, it's cute and all, but mostly I'm hyperaware of how close Noah still is to me.

"Hmm, could be better," Noah's voice is suddenly right by my ear, making chills run down my spine as he hovers behind me.

"Here," he says, stepping back and reaching for my hand. "Step over."

The moment our hands touch, my heart flutters as if a flock of butterflies has just been released inside my chest. I can't take my eyes off him, his warm smile making my knees weak. As I climb over the barricade, my movements awkward and clumsy in my nervous excitement, security rushes over. Noah holds both my hands in his, turning to look over his shoulder at the security guards rushing our way.

"It's cool, I got this," he says, his voice gentle and soothing.

My attention snaps back to him, those kind eyes telling me everything will be okay. I trust him completely. Once on the other side, I straighten my shirt, run my fingers through my hair, hoping I look presentable for this boy who has stolen my heart. Being near him is intoxicating, sparking a giddiness I've never known before. I want this moment to last forever.

His eyes lock onto mine, sending a jolt of excitement through my body. "Nick," he says, gaze never leaving mine. He reaches out his hand to his friend, "Phone."

Nick places it in his open palm, as Noah passes him the energy drink he'd been holding.

As Noah reaches out to me, my heart flutters. His arm finds its way around my waist, pulling me close. I feel the heat rise in my cheeks and chills tingle down my spine at his touch. But I face the camera with him, tossing my dark curls over my shoulder and flashing a peace sign. Noah's smile lights up his whole face. I can't help but mirror it with my own grin. We take a few silly selfies together, giggling and making faces. With his arm wrapped around me, I never want this moment to end. Being this close to Noah makes my pulse race and my stomach fill with butterflies. I am absolutely smitten.

I am so excited that Noah has taken such a nice photo for me. "That should do it!" He jokes as he hands my phone back. "Much better than the others."

Suddenly Nick suggests, "Group photo!" Before I can even reach for my phone, Noah snatches it back and turns to the security guards by the door.

Jolly, Folio, Nick and I all gather together. Nick wraps his arm around my waist and I put mine around his shoulders. Then Noah comes over to fill the space on my other side, putting his arm around me too. I reach around and put my hand on his lower back, laughing.

The security guard takes our photo. I smile big - this will be the main one for my book! A memory I'll never forget. Two quick flashes and we're done.

When Noah helps me over the barricade, I feel a spark as our hands touch. His strong grip lifts me effortlessly over the metal rail, setting me gently on the ground. I turn back, not wanting our moment to end, and see him give me a little wave goodbye before he disappears into the tour bus. My heart flutters as I watch him go.

When I finally get to my car, I slide into the driver's seat with a sigh of relief. As the heater starts blasting warmth into the cold cabin, I pick up my phone and scroll through my photos until I find that selfie of Noah and me. I know I don't look my absolute best in that pic, but none of that matters - it's a photo of the two of us together and that's what's important. I set it as my new screensaver and just gaze at it for a moment, my heart fluttering. Then I open my playlist, queue up some music, and pull out of the parking lot to head home. All I can think about on the drive is how dreamy Noah looks in that photo, and how lucky I was to have met someone so wonderful. I can't wait to get home, crawl under the covers and relive every magical moment we shared today before drifting off to sleep with a smile on my face.

[svnaaaaaa]

Monte Carlo : Charles Leclerc AU (Part Two)

pairing : charles leclerc x fem reader

summary : a year passed by, it is time for the deal to resurface.

warning(s) : google-translated french, hatred towards step-mother

previous : part one

next : part three

masterlist

author's note : kinda boring for this part but things will get better!

tagging : @notleclerc (if you want to be tagged in, let me know)

recap :

"let's go amé, the race is about to start." beau said while amélia walked towards the paddock, amélia's phone went off, signalling a notification.

hey ames, i was wondering if father's company still accepting field education student? - y/n sis

-

- a year later -

"are you really 100% sure about doing this?" grace asked as y/n was packing the night before leaving for her flight. y/n sighed. "for the last time grace, i am sure. besides nothing bad could happen, it just covering for her, what could go wrong?" y/n asked while placing her silk pajamas on top of the clothes she placed before zipping it up all the way.

grace groaned and gripping onto y/n's shoulders. "things can go wrong when you're trying to be someone you're not." grace replied, making y/n chuckled at her expression. "grace, trust me on this one, yeah?" grace released y/n's shoulders and put her hands up for surrender.

"i'm done, you know what, i'm coming with you."

-

right after y/n and grace retrieved their luggage and passed the security, y/n saw someone she doesn't want to meet once she arrives in monte carlo, marie auclair-thomas. wanting to scrowl, but she cannot do that when her sister's reputation is in her hand. and no one can know about their deal.

marie saw y/n and she smiled. as both y/n and grace approached the lady, the smile got even wider. "y/n, je suis content de te revoir! (i am happy to see you again!)" marie exclaimed as she tried to hug y/n but y/n just stood still in front of her. "not a hugger, got it." marie said to herself while grace just smiled awkwardly, making an appearance in marie's view. "and you must be a friend of y/n!" grace just keep her smile. "my name's grace, mrs thomas."

"please, just call me marie. and let's get going shall we?"

-

"you're here as the company's publicist and grace as the company second publicist, where your job will arranging every company's event schedules and make sure the company's image is in a good shape. you understand that?" marie said as they were on their way to the company for marie to give a short company tour before leaving to nice. grace raised her hand. "quick question marie, but we are social work students, what does being a publicist related to us?" grace asked as y/n snickered to grace's question. marie just smiled. "well, only that position is available in the company and the hr said that, you two will handle the related projects there." marie replied calmly. "as for you y/n, you will be handling our company's charity projects which there will be an auction for the orphanage in america." marie said, which piqued y/n's attention. "why america?" y/n asked. "because it was suggested by your father." maries replied and right then, y/n almost feel anger boiled in her. "is it because of my mum?" y/n asked, almost shouted at marie. "no sweetheart, in fact the project itself was a memorial for your mother-"

"i am not your daughter! and stop using my mum as something you can do to bond with me, i will never accept you and i don't think you can accept me. you're here because you were asked to." y/n bursted out, making the car ride in silent.

"noted on that." marie replied silently and then look outside through the car window.

-

"hey y/n, how was monte carlo? was it in your likings?" amélie asked as she was standing at the balcony in one of las vegas' finest hotel ever. wind blowing her hair, making the breeze mixed with the heat of las vegas felt nice on her skin.

"fine, i think i scared marie to the core." y/n replied, making amélie laughed a bit. "you and your hatred towards her, when will you accept her? she's a nice person y/n." amélie told her, making y/n scoffed at her comment. amélie heard y/n sighed, amélie shooked her head at y/n's reaction. "you and noah, when will you two realized that marie can be a good mother even though she isn't the same as mum." amélie said, remembering their older brother, noah, who currently stayed in canada for his doctoral degree. "anyways, do you still remember the plan?" amélie asked. "yea, just go to the race and that's it right?" y/n asked as amélie smiled. "yes and no worries, just to the front desk and ask for amélie thomas' package and remember sissy, never let other people know about this arrangement." amélie informed as she heard a knock on her door. "i have to go now, talk to you soon sissy!" amélie said and ended the call.

amélie answered the door and revealed her long-term secret boyfriend, xavier ellington. smiling, amélie wrapped her arms around xavier's neck as xavier wrapped his arms around amélie's waist and kissed amélie's neck, making amélie giggled. "i miss you boyfriend." amélie said to xavier's ear. xavier smiled and leaned to amélie's ear, saying "i miss you too girlfriend." and pushed amélie into the hotel room, closing the door and locked it.

-

the elevator's door opened and y/n exited, walked towards the hotel's front desk. "yes miss, may i-uh help you?" the front desk man asked in his french accent. "hi, i'm here for amélie thomas' package." y/n informed as she fixed her hair a bit, making her sister's impression. "yes miss thomas, right away." the front desk man left and went into the back room to retrieved the requested package.

the front desk man placed a small envelope on the front desk table. "here is the package miss thomas." y/n smiled and take the package. "thank you monsieur~" y/n said and left the hotel to the called ride which was arranged by amélie, right before she left for las vegas, making sure y/n followed the plan according to what has been agreed by both parties.

while in the car, y/n opened the envelop and revealed paddock passes for three days. y/n sighed deeply. "what am i going to do with these?" y/n questioned the passes and time flew by, she arrived at the venue, welcomed by her father's assistant, ines. "miss thomas, so good to see you again." ines said as y/n smiled sweetly, wearing her paddock pass. "hi ines, good to see you too. where's father?" y/n asked, using her sister's impression voice. "he had a business trip in italy but he will be available for the next race. for now, i will be accompany you for this week's race." ines informed.

y/n looked around and saw fans here and there, same goes with variety of teams. this was her first time since forever. the last time she went to formula one grand prix was when her mum was still by her side.

"come miss thomas, it is time to meet the team." ines told her as y/n walked behind ines, following her to ferrari's hospitality. "monsieur vasseur, mademoiselle thomas." ines announced as y/n met the team principal, fred vasseur. "ah miss thomas." fred said as he held out his hand. y/n reached for fred's hand and shooked his hand, smiling. "please, call me amélie. this isn't your first time meeting me yes?" y/n said as fred chuckled. "certainly well amélie. how is your father?" "he's good, thank you for asking." y/n informed, following to what amélie guided her before she flew to monte carlo.

"i heard for this week race is one of your drivers' home race yes?" y/n asked, making fred nodded his head yes. "yes, yes it is. charles!" fred called. y/n turned her head to the back and saw a man in red suit, walking towards her way. it felt like a slow motion in y/n's eyes where the said man, charles, walking slowly and smoothly where sun ray hit him perfectly where the ray made his features looked better as if he was a model, walking where the spotlight hit him perfectly. the said man brushed his hair back, making him looked even more ... charming.

"you remember miss thomas yes?" fred asked, making y/n snapped out from her daydreaming. "uh yea, amelia yes?" charles asked, making y/n laughed a bit which caused charles to look at her weirdly. "it's amélie." y/n corrected and charles nodded his head yes, not realizing that fred have left them alone. "uh right." charles said and y/n looked at him. "it's uh, nice to see you charles." y/n said as she held out her hand for a handshake. "you too amélie." charles reached out and shooked y/n's hand. "charles, it's time." a man, probably one of the engineers pat charles' shoulder and said quietly where charles replied with a nod and turned back to y/n. "i uh, i have to go now." charles informed, y/n nodded her head yes. "good luck charles." y/n said as she smiled genuinely.

charles, who felt weird with tingling feeling inside his heart, made a small smile at y/n's way and left her be, still smiling.

[nice-bright-colors]

6-1/2 minutes, that’s all it took.

Turns out, that’s all I needed. In reality, that’s all I got, just 6-1/2 minutes. Now, I’m having a beer.

No, get your mind out of the gutter, it’s not that. I can last 6m:45s at best :-)

I got to speak to my client for 6-1/2 minutes between his conference calls. Imagine that, a call at 5:00pm EST for a project in Las Vegas. I could help with that.

Recap:

Houston project: coasting into next phase.

San Antonio project: next week should have a notice to proceed.

Unbeknownst to him, and most of the people at corporate, this company also owns a third track in Texas. This one is a former dog racing track that has been closed. Currently the buildings are experiencing some vandalism. So yeah, great.

I might need to fly down to look at a group of buildings and say, “yes, these buildings should be razed.”

Harlingen project: site visit and scope TBD.

I see this is just a stones throw from the Los Indios border crossing town. So yeah, good times.

I guess I’m becoming the guy who cleans up or gets rid of all the shit-hole problem buildings.

[eleetalks]

LAS VEGAS RACE RECAP

This is gonna be super short and with no pics bc I have not a lot of time to write it.

The weekend obviously started really bad for Ferrari, we were very lucky nothing to bad happend to Carlos tbh.

We had a good race pace in practice and I think you could see that also in the race.

Quali went really well, had it not been for the penalty we would have had a front row lockout.

The race itself was beautiful; a lot of overtakes, a lot of good battles. The second safety car coming out just for a few debris when it could have been a virtual really gave Red Bull an advantage, maybe if Charles had pitted and put on Mediums we would have had a different podium 🤷🏻‍♀️

I think the problem with Vegas is not the design of the track itself, it was all the show that they created around it. Maybe putting the safety of the drivers at risk a bit.

What did you think of the race ?

🏎️❤️

[dylannitroblog]

Las Vegas 4-Wide Nationals Recap

For the first time this season, the NHRA has back-to-back race weekends as the NHRA heads to Las Vegas for the first of two 4-Wide Nationals. These races are different that your standard 2-Wide race at every other National Event as instead of two cars race and one advance, four cars will stage side by side by side by side and the first two to cross the line will move on to the next round, one other thing is that you earn 20 points for advancing a round and while tow wides have up to 80 points to earn 4-Wides can only add up to 60 points in round wins. With the format explanation out of the way, here are some highlights from the Las Vegas 4-Wide Nationals

First up is Pro-Stock Car the final round saw the #1 qualifier of Jerry Tucker, Brandon Foster, The natural Jeg Couglin Jr. in his first final since returning to the sport, and reigning champion Erica Enders. All four cars staged and left but Foster went red and Enders had issues early on so it was a race between Tucker and five-time champ Jeg Coughlin and at the stripe, Coughlin earned his first victory since leaving the sport in 2020.

Next up was Nitro Funny Car and this final on paper was unpredictable. You have the faster car on the planet in Bob Tasca III, you have the reigning champ in Matt Hagen, the former back-to-back champ with Ron Capps, and the Funny Car phenom in Austin Prock. The four best cars over the last few years are staged and gone with Bob Tasca getting a large starting line advantage but with Hagen and the others gaining it's gonna go all the way to the stripe and it's a triple holeshot for Bob Tasca, a 3.915 beats a 3.904 which beats a 3.902 which beats a 3.895. Matt Hagen goes low ET of the meet and comes in last in this incredible drag race.

Finally, its time for Top Fuel, and this final is also packed with some real star power. The reigning champion of Doug Kalitta faces the four-time champion of Steve Torrence who faces the hot shot Justin Ashley who faces the rookie Tony Stewart in his first ever Nitro final round. The four cars are staged and gone with the champ earning his first win of the season. Interesting note here, out of four races Kalitta Motorsports has won 3 of the top fuel races.

Overall this was a shockingly good race, the first one of the season without any rain delays so hopefully that trend continues in Charlotte where the NHRA goes 4-Wide for the final time this year and where Pro-Stock motorcycle will make its grand return.

[sportscarolinamonthly]

NCS Race Recap: Kyle Larson holds off Tyler Reddick for second straight Las Vegas win 

Kyle Larson holds off Tyler Reddick for second straight Las Vegas win  March 3, 2024  By Reid Spencer  NASCAR Wire Service   LAS VEGAS, Nv. — Based on the box score alone, you might think Kyle Larson dominated Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  You’d be wrong.  Yes, Larson led 181 of 267 laps at the 1.5-mile track. Kyle Busch led the second-most—18.…

[entertainmentlasvegas]

Congratulations to all of the brave runners! 

[raphoupix]

Lando recap 2023

I did a "series" about pics of Lando through the 2023 season from all the Grand Prix weekends.

Down there, you have the link for each race. Enjoy!

1st weekend: 🇧🇭 Bahrain GP

2nd weekend: 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabian GP

3rd weekend: 🇦🇺 Australian GP

4th weekend: 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan GP

5th weekend: 🇺🇸 Miami GP

6th weekend: 🇲🇨 Monaco GP

7th weekend: 🇪🇸 Spanish GP

8th weekend: 🇨🇦 Canada GP

9th weekend: 🇦🇹 Austrian GP

10th weekend: 🇬🇧 British GP

11th weekend: 🇭🇺 Hungarian GP

12th weekend: 🇧🇪 Belgian GP

13th weekend: 🇳🇱 Dutch GP

14th weekend: 🇮🇹 Italian GP

15th weekend: 🇸🇬 Singapore GP

16th weekend: 🇯🇵 Japanese GP

17th weekend: 🇶🇦 Qatar GP

18th weekend: 🇺🇸 United States GP

19th weekend: 🇲🇽 Mexico City GP

20th weekend: 🇧🇷 Sao Paulo GP

21st weekend: 🇺🇸 Las Vegas GP

22nd weekend: 🇦🇪 Abu Dhabi GP

[weshipyourride]

2023 L'Étape Las Vegas Recap

Cycling enthusiasts and fans of the Tour de France, rejoice! L'Étape Las Vegas brings the thrill and excitement of the iconic race to a city known for its vibrant atmosphere and mesmerizing entertainment. As an official event of the Tour de France, L'Étape Las Vegas provides amateur riders a chance to experience the challenges and triumphs of professional cycling.

This past weekend Bikeflights Partnership Director Michael Potter traveled to Nevada to attend and connect with riders exploring how this first-year ride aims to become a must-attend event for years to come.

The inaugural L'Étape Las Vegas captured the spirit of the Tour de France by providing participants with an authentic cycling experience. The event brought riders to Nevada and featured challenging routes with diverse terrain and breathtaking landscapes across the Red Rock Canyon on fully closed roads. Different length route options were available and catered to various skill levels, ensuring riders of many abilities could participate and enjoy the experience.

Each category had the opportunity to vie for various awards such as the overall, sprint and climbing competitions, or in other words, the yellow, green and polka dot jerseys. Overall winners also received a Tissot Watch and entry into the L'Étape du Tour de France.

L'Étape Las Vegas went beyond a mere cycling challenge as it immersed participants in the electric atmosphere reminiscent of the Tour de France. Riders got to experience the adrenaline rush of starting in a peloton and the excitement of crossing the finish line.

Experiencing L'Étape Las Vegas wouldn’t be complete without the presence of stars and iconic people from the Tour de France such as the 2010 overall winner Andy Schleck, first North American wearer of the yellow jersey Alex Stieda, former professional Phil Gaimon and the legendary Didi Senft, also known as Didi the Devil and El Diablo.

The weekend wasn’t just about the race itself; it offered additional activities such as community meetups and rides. The event also included an expo where participants explored the latest cycling gear and products, such as Bikeflights shipping services and Bike Boxes. It also served as a platform for connecting with fellow riders and sharing stories from the road.

Looking back on the weekend, we’re stoked to have helped launch this ride into the history books. And when you’re looking at your event calendar next year, consider rolling the dice on L'Étape Las Vegas. We’ll see you there, and we’ll even help get your bike shipped like a pro!

[just-an-inchident]

What’s the deal with charles and hanging out with max’s ex teammates. Is he trying to make him jealous. He went to Vegas and has partied numerous times with Daniel, Pierre is his bff and now he flies to Barcelona with Alex, with whom he also used to game. Inchresting.

Hmm, good point, anon! I also see a pattern here. It‘s pretty obvious how he always choses Max‘s ex teammates to hang out with 🤔

Partying with Daniel in Vegas, fooling around while sharing a plane, Daniel gifting him socks and don‘t forget the helmet swap at the end of 2019 where Charles called him king of Las Vegas. All this ‘what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas’ stuff… Max definitely didn‘t like it.

Honestly, name me one race weekend where Pierre and Charles haven‘t been together. Impossible, there‘s none. They always find a way to hang out during race weekends. Also going on vacation and playing online games together.

Flying to Barcelona together with Alex was kinda unexpected, but here we are. Definitely not the first time they spend time together. And of course all the gaming stuff back in quarantine.

And we must not forget Carlos! They‘re just super touchy and why is there so much homoerotic tension in every Ferrari race recap video, huh? Charles knows damn well Max watches these videos…

In conclusion: Pretty sure Charles saw Max hanging out with other drivers and was like well if you want to betray me like that I can do it, too. So Charles went for Max‘s weak spot and chose his ex teammates. How clever of him making Max jealous like this. It‘s super easy, it‘s super efficiant. And of course it worked out perfectly! 😌

[papiermachecat]

While it is still fresh in my mind, a recap!! So…I got locked out of my hotel room three times on Friday night (NOT my fault!), and I’ll tell you that wandering through the same part of a casino THRICE in your pajamas carrying a plastic bag full of takeout is not cool. Saturday morning I was up at 4:30 (thank you time zones) and then @yessoupy arrived around 8 and we just hung out all day and it was lovely! Highlights: 1.) Yessoupy forced me to order food for her on Doordash and said I could only get juice :/. She gave me one (1) piece of her bacon and said to quit my complaining* 2.) I had two different hair tutorials saved (EASY, they said. FOR BEGINNERS, they said) and after struggling for an hour I gave up and my roomie kindly braided my hair for me. 3.) The water pressure in the shower was painful, like needles being driven into my skin. Soupy says I am a baby but I say she has rhinoceros skin or something. 4.) @styloff ‘s horse won her race! We watched at the sports book, where we (in full Harry concert regalia) didn’t stand out at ALL from the rest of the patrons 😬 5.) the show itself was so so so so good. Everyone was so happy, and so nice, and I was just overcome with happiness and full of goodwill the whole night. I hope the amount of love in the room came through on whatever streams people at home were watching because Love on Tour was definitely appropriately named ❤️. And in closing: who looked at that barren desert and said hey this would be a great place to live? (I know the basics of the history of Las Vegas but STILL it is bleak as hell out there guys.)

Depressingggggg, I’m so happy to be back where there are trees and water 😭😭