Lando was really pushing his McLaren this qualifying, he hadn't been achieving the points he would usually average and he didn't know why, so he knew he need to get high on the grid for Sunday. He had started a flying lap and was setting plenty green sectors
Up to 4th on the grid, he was happy enough with that, he knew he couldn't beat the red bulls or ferraris this time. The final grid was: Verstappen, Leclerc, Sainz, Perez and Norris. Not too bad
Sunday morning came around quickly, Lando was walking in the paddock, he heard slapping footsteps behind him, a large hand nudged his waist then wrapped over his shoulder
"going to catch up to me today, Lando?" Carlos' dark, sparkling eyes looked down at Lando, a dumb pretty smile on his lips and his long nose scrunched up at his own joke.
"I'll wave when I drive past you" Lando smiled, sticking his tongue out slightly, melting into Carlos' tightening grip around him, they stared at each other for a couple seconds before Carlos opened his mouth
"I would give you a good luck kiss, but, the camera might see"
Lando just smiled and lightly touched Carlos' hand with his fingertips before walking away to the McLaren garage.
Everyone sat in their cars, waiting for each light to turn on then off, 'lights off and away we go'. The race started Lando didn't drop any positions but did quickly get a distance between him and the car behind.
A couple laps passed, Landos tires were done, they were slippy and he struggled to keep grip to the road. Finally, he went around a tight corner and the tires gave up, the car was spinning, into the gravel, and finally a big shunt into the wall.
The race was yellow flagged, Lando couldn't lift himself out the car, he was caught off guard and everything was spinning. Finally someone pulled him out the car, he couldn't walk, his body already ached, vision was blurry. After a quick assessment, nothing was broken, but he would still be taken to hospital to investigate potential whiplash or a concussion, and to patch up a couple scratches.
Carlos' radio turned on behind the safety car "that was Lando?" he asked "what happened?"
"just a bump"
"okay.. copy.."
Carlos' hands were sweating, he wanted the race to finish then and there. He couldn't just stop though, he couldn't let down the team so he had to anxiously sit and wait it out.
Finally the race had finished but the wait was not over yet, Carlos managed to place 3rd so he had to go to the podium. He tried to look as happy as he could but all his mind could think was 'Lando Lando Lando'
After getting down from the podium he asked to go to see Lando in the hospital, a Ferrari team member cautiously agreed, asking if Carlos actually wanted to go and not celebrate with the team, Carlos replied that he didn't care about celebrating right now, he had to see Lando and make sure he was okay.
Finally, a private driver was organised and Carlos was at Landos room door, he opened the door hazardously and peaked in. Lando was laying on his side, facing away from the door, a thin blanket covered his legs and Carlos could see his naked back, his waist looked thin and Carlos wanted to wrap his arms around it but he was distracted by the bandages covering Lando slightly
Carlos finally walked over to Landos bed side and put his hand lightly on Landos warm shoulder "Lando, are you okay?" he asked
"hurts a bit" Lando whispered "but I'm good" Lando started to turn his body around to where he could see Carlos
"don't move if it hurts" Carlos leaned down to hold Lando still
"I'm fine" Lando smiled "I want to look at you"
