Landos pov:
Today is race day and I don't want to admit it but I am a bit nervous. A home race brings a lot of joy but at least the same amount of pressure too. I try to focus on the opportunity instead of the worst outcome and I feel a little safer because Oscar can cover me from behind and hopfully hold off the Ferraris.
Of course I’m not going to tell him that or all the other things he makes me feel. Thanks to Carlos I almost didn’t have to because he can’t shut his mouth. That reminds me, I wanted to talk to him about it but I will after the race.
It's nearly time to get in the car after an already long day of obligations and routines. First, I drove Oscar and myself to the paddock, then we had some briefings, the drivers parade, the performance of the british anthem and now we have to change into our race suit. I try not to think too much before a race, that’s why I just put some music on, on full volume. My thoughts after a race are the bigger problem anyway, even Taylor Swift doesn’t help anymore then.
When you know not the car, not the engineers, not the mechanics and not the strategists did a mistake, it was only you, that is the worst feeling. When you know, you disappointed your whole team and most of all yourself, you cannot ever escape your head.
And it’s not only being stuck in your own head, it’s being stuck with the voices of the haters and commentators and all the other people who think you can’t make it, who scream or post "Lando Nowins“ and who feel validated by every defeat of yours.
That’s why I became myselfs biggest hater. In every interview, pre or post race, I’m hypercritical, mostly with me, and never allow myself to be optimistic. I take away all the words haters could say and make them my own. They may be disarmed now but I carry all the weight of the negativity, it’s too heavy sometimes.
And to be honest, I want to change my mentality a bit. I want to be hopeful after a great Qualifying like this one, I want say that I could win this race and I want be a role model for Oscar when he struggels with the same insecruities as me, like I saw yesterday.
So I get in the car now, drive to my position after the formation lap and aim right in front of me, to P1. Let the games begin.
It’s lights out and away we go. Lando Norris then, tries to come across and cut of Max Verstappen. Oscar Piastri tries to dive in on the inside, LANDO NORRIS LEADS THE BRITISH GRAND PRIX, from Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri. YOU CAN HEAR THE ROARS AS LANDO NORRIS LEADS … Piastri now trying to go around the outside of Max Verstappen, THIS IS DREAM LAND FOR MCLAREN …
Leading my home race, even only for 5 laps, was the most incredible feeling ever. I felt the adrenaline in my whole body, being so awake, like gasping for air after swimming underwater. And this season I swam a lot underwater, waiting, hoping to come alive again. Last race I already could take a little breath but now I can fully let the air in my lungs and just drive, the car feeling as smooth as ever.
For a short moment I hoped this could be my first win, I thought about my fans and my family who just came to this race to support me. I wanted to win for them just as I wanted to win for me but it was absolutely not my fault that I couldn’t because Max Verstappen in a Red Bull is unbeatable at the moment. I could live with that, for now.
And after the safety car, winning wasn’t my real concern anyway, but keeping second place in front of Hamilton. While he drove on the soft tyres, I had hards which were pretty difficult to warm up. He nearly got me in Copse Corner but I defended as much as I could and when I saw the checkered flag I was so relieved. For the first time of this race I really could hear the people in the grand stands cheering and I saw a lot of them wearing orange. Smiling like a child I tried to wave to all of them.
I felt very proud standing on the podium and to celebrate this moment appropriately I bumped the champagne on the ground, of course. As I did I thought about Oscar, he was meant to be standing here with me, I would love to spray him all over with the champagne. But he pitted before the safety car while Hamilton, as well as me, changed the tyres during it. Only because of this advantage Lewis could take third place which was very close in the end. After the press conference I have to find Oscar …
Oscars pov:
I am rather pleased with today. I know of course that third place was a real possibility but now, with this car and a bit of won confidence, I have the ability to aim higher, not just for points but for podiums and I’m grateful for that. I just changed in my drivers room and was about find Lando. Because of all the interviews I hadn’t had the chance to congratulate him. But when I opened the door he was standing right in front of me, a champagne bottle in his hand.
"Congratulations for P2, very strong race.“
"I was looking for you, well done today.“
We spoke at the same time which happens rather often this weekend apparently. Lando laughed and said "Thanks but you did an amazing job and I made a promise yesterday, so come on, let‘s drink some champagne and celebrate with the team.“ I wanted to hug him which is weird because I never want to hug anyone but he is just so considerate thinking of me when it is him who just stood on the podium.
I follow him and see the whole team together, holding a sign which read "Lando P2, Oscar P4“. I had only a short moment to secure myself after we took a picture because Lando was immediately ready to spray the champagne over the whole team, especially me. My T-shirt was soaking wet and I had long since given up any self-defence while the other team members ran away.
Lando was now standing in front me, the champagne no longer spraying. He smiled but when he looked into my eyes and took a sip from the bottle his expression changed to something more urgently. He gave me the bottle and I drank too, not losing sight of his eyes.
"Do you come to the party tonight?“, Lando asked, coming closer to me. It sounded too inviting to be harmless, I felt like I was in potential danger the way he asked. And it was dangerous for me because I felt something, he just does whatever he wants at any moment, I think. But just before, he wanted to make me happy so I decide to trust him.
We go to the party, whatever happens there.
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Baby, just say ... yes? | Landoscar <3
Romansa~ Landoscar story + oneshots ~ Lando and Oscar haven't been teammates for very long but they do get along quite well, maybe too well. Oscar catches himself feeling something for his fellow driver. Hiding it becomes more and more difficult, especiall...
