They'd come a long way since the beginning of their relationship in Barcelona in 2015. Like the 2014 season, 2015 also entailed them having to perform independently, barely seeing each other due to no overlaps in races and pressure on both. Charles was set to start f2 while max was sensationalizing formula 1.
His debut was hyped by Redbull as the event of the century, claiming to make him the next youngest world champion after Sebastian Vettel and hoping to mirror his success. Max didn't want to make too much of it, but considering he had a lot of sponsors and management depending on his success, he couldn't help but create a tough persona, shielding himself from the political and toxic world of a formula 1 rookie.
On the first day of testing, he and Charles had confessed their love for each other, and max was already over the moon, there was nothing else he had wanted. But they were not alone behind the toro Rosso motorhome. The second debutant for toro Rosso, son of legendary rally driver Carlos Sainz, Carlos Sainz jr had been going over his schedule in the motorhome and witnessed the end of the 2 boys' conversation and saw the dramatic kiss shared between the 2 of them. Carlos himself was shocked
He didn't know there were any gay or bisexual drivers in all of motorsport and he was scared for himself and struggling with his identity already. Seeing his teammate and an f2 rookie going at it outside their team home only gave him a little reassurance and confidence in himself, he could make it work as a bisexual driver in the competitive world of f1.
Unsuspecting of having a witness to his and his newfound love's conversation, max walked back into the motorhome, having said an emotional goodbye in the scorching heat of Barcelona to his best friend turned boyfriend. Max opened the door and was met by the nervous figure of his teammate- Carlos.
Max had heard about Carlos, his father had often compared himself to Sainz sr and talked about how his son will be a problem for max. but after meeting Carlos, max didn't see him as a problem or rival at all. Instead, he found solace in Carlos. He was also from a racing background and understood the struggles max went through- an overbearing father, unrealistic expectations, and the load of the world on young shoulders expected to do wonders.
Max liked Carlos with all his antics, and they had shared meaningful conversations in the short amount of time they had been together. But the thought of him finding out about his relationship or worse outing max and Charles chilled him to the bone. Before max could start hyperventilating and lose his senses, Carlos exclaimed "I'm bi."
Max was stunned for the better part of what seemed like an hour. Finally, he noticed tears welling in Carlos' eyes and said, "what"
This broke Carlos and he started rambling, "I saw you and that French boy from f2 kissing and I just want to say I'm very proud of you for being brave and loving who you want, I wish I could do the same and I am also bisexual, I like guys and I don't know what to do or how to deal with it in this stupid racing world" Carlos kept speaking incoherent nonsense but all that mattered to max was that his friend was supportive of his relationship and he didn't get hated from the closest person in f1 to him right now. Carlos didn't want to get away from him, he wasn't disgusted and actually wanted to be associated with him longer.
Max had found a real friend in Carlos and silently pulled the loud, verbose Spaniard into a half hug, causing him to calm down and offer max a smug smile," your secret is safe with me Verstappen." "HES NOT FRENCH YOU BITCH" was the first thing max could say, causing both of them to break into fits of laughter
Max knew Carlos won't out him, he had too many of his own secrets to risk doing something as low as that. But he would still have to tell Charles that his extroverted teammate knew about them, and their relationship hadn't even properly begun. This might be a big problem, the happiest days of their lives might be accompanied by stress and a looming dark cloud of insecurity over them.
{AN- hey guys! the next update will be sometime early next week, I hope you like this!}
YOU ARE READING
in the middle of the night
FanfictionCharles has spent all his life doing what he loves- racing. He's been to hell and back, losing his biggest supporters along the way. But through everything he's always had one person cheering for him eternally- Max.
