The Teammate

11 - Racetrack Full of Memories

July 2024 - Austrian Grand Prix

The Austrian Grand Prix was a completely different atmosphere for both Lando Norris and Max Verstappen than it had been in previous years. Not only was it because Max was no longer his teammate, but it was also his first season back with McLaren. It was a move that, to Lando, felt like coming home. Which was exactly what he had needed after the end of the previous season. All Max had cared about was that Lando's contract with Red Bull wasn't renewed for the 2024 season. After that, he really didn't care what team he ended up with.

During his track walk, Lando purposefully made himself busy so that he could be one of the last drivers to leave. His team didn't seem to mind, they hardly made a comment when he suggested it giving some lame excuse about wanting to take his time. It was a mutual respect that Lando would never take for granted again. This team, these individuals, were family to him. The kindness they had shared with him after his return, it would not go forgotten. He was determined to pay them back in the only way he knew how.

By winning.

The track hadn't changed, not since before Lando's debut into Formula Ona. This track was where he had managed his first podium, way back in 2020. It seemed like a lifetime ago and in many ways, it had been a lifetime ago. He now walked the track as a completely different man.

Since the track hadn't changed much, the walk was mostly silent. His engineer explained the different areas of the track and their expectations and strategies. There were a few comments of the weather and how the conditions would change depending on the forecast predictions.

When they came to the last corner of the track; turn 16, without realizing it Lando had started to slow his pace. His eyes searched through the fence, looking for the break that had been there the year before. The break where he had snuck onto the track late on a night he hadn't forgotten.

"Lando?" One of his engineers asked and he turned his face towards him smiling from behind his sunglasses, he motioned back towards the fence.

"They fixed it." The rest of his entourage kept walking, only now noticing their driver had stopped and paused their own walks. The engineer gave Lando a puzzled look as he looked over the fence as if there was going to magically be a hole in it.

"What are you talking about?" He watched as Lando reached the fence, placing his hand over the concrete barrier the fence erupted from.

"There was a break in the fence here." He said running his hands up the chain link that had been repaired.

"This is where Latifi hit the barrier last year." He motioned looking around at where they were. "They would have fixed it before they held another race here. Safety reasons."

"Right." He mumbled picking at the flowers on the other side of the fence before he turned and started walking again. "Sorry, this racetrack holds a lot of memories."

"I can imagine." The engineer nodded as they got closer to the rest of them. "I reckon it has room to hold more." Lando nodded, glancing down at the flower in his hands. He spun the stem around between his fingertips. "What is that?"

"It's a lilac." Lando smiled.

"That's P1 Lando."

Pure silence followed as Lando brought his car into its cool-down lap. Emotions were flooding through him as he rounded the first then the second corner. An uncontrollable smile spread across his face as his black-gloved hands came up to grab the sides of his helmet. As if that would help.

"Good job mate." His engineer continued, but all Lando could do was nod. If he had a voice, he couldn't find it. Couldn't produce any words. At that moment, he just had to allow his entire body to feel the emotions that had coursed through him.

When he got his car around and pulled up to the P1 spot he finally was ready to celebrate.

"Fuck yeah!" He screamed after crawling out of his car. Standing on top of it he shoved his fist into the air and smiled, even though his helmet was still on, and no one could see him. His body language gave away just how happy he was.

He could hear his team yelling as he jumped down and ran across to them throwing himself into their awaiting arms. There was enough happiness coursing through him that he hardly noticed when the fence that separated him from his teammate jabbed him in the stomach.

"Lando, I have to..." His assistant said from where she stood at the edge of the excited McLaren mechanics.

"Where's Max?"

"He had to retired mate." One of the mechanics cut in.

"Does that mean?" His engineer grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him.

"You're first in the driver's mate!" Lando jumped back over the fence for another round of celebratory hugs and cheers.

It wasn't the first time he had won that season, but this win put him in the front of the driver's championship standings. Which was a first for his career. It made the win that much sweeter. Not just because of his personal history with Max, but also because of the team behind him. Standing up on the podium listening to the British national anthem play around him, threatened to bring tears to his eyes.

Somehow as the anthem came to an end, his eyes found Max in the crowd below him. Perhaps it was because there was one person he wanted to share this with, and Max understood it. More than anyone. When their eyes met Max gave him a slight nod of congratulations. It was that small interaction that made his face easier to spot once Lando lifted the bottle of champagne and prepared to spray the crowd below.

His entire world slowed.

He watched as Max's eyes shifted from the podium to the side of the crowd as if someone had called his name. His entire face changed as he realized who had been calling his name, then he started pushing aggressively toward the edge of the crowd.

Max didn't glance up at Lando once, not for a second.

Lando tried to turn his attention back to his victory, his moment, but then something caught his eye. The same way the lilacs had as he walked past turn 16. A blur of blonde hair. Thin, pale arms were thrown around Max's neck as the woman threw herself at him.

Lando refused to believe what his heart was telling him. Not until Levi Van Dijk stepped into his view.

Somehow he didn't drop his bottle of champagne, however, some from his podium neighbors sprayed along his side, and slipped into his mouth. He hated the taste, but at that moment he couldn't taste anything. His heart had skipped so many beats Lando felt it had stopped altogether.

Perhaps he was dreaming.

That would make the most sense.

Excitement seeped through him as he turned and shook the champagne bottle trying to spray his competitors since they had just sprayed him. Nothing could have made today better, nothing, except for that sight. His entire body was alive with excitement and relief.

She was alive, she had woken up. Turning back towards them he opened his mouth to scream her name, call to her, jump off the balcony if he had to. All he cared about was getting off the podium and seeing her. This was his moment, his day, his time to shine and she was here. She was alive and she was here for him.

The bottle of champagne slipped from his hands, smashing on the ground at his feet.

This wasn't a dream; it was a nightmare. Although even his worst nightmares hadn't conjured up what he was witnessing in front of him.

Max Verstappen had his arms wrapped around the frail-looking blonde figure, holding her up as if she was an angel sent from heaven. His fingers brushed back a few strands of her hair, and his face of pure happiness was mirrored on hers. Her hand came up and delicately cupped the side of his face.

Lando's knees threatened to give out as he watched his ex-teammate lean in and press his lips to Arabella Van Dijk.

A small silver band glinted in the sunlight, wrapping around her finger.