F1 Imagines

lewis hamilton - comfort

In.

Out.

In.

Out.

Just focus on your breathing.

My engineers voice in my ears was incomprehensible over the shrill of my heartbeat in my ears. I handed my steering wheel over my head to the marshal and pulled myself up, completely supporting my body by the sides of the halo.

"...P14, Y/N...", the only thing I could make out. Fuck. I felt weak and sluggish, clambering out of my car, exasperated.

I had been hit, final lap, forcing me out of track limits, and falling twelve positions.

"Well done for finishing the race, Y/N, you tried your best"

I trudged along the barricade. I slowly lifted my helmet, which now felt to be a thousand pounds heaver than before, and harshly slid off the suffocating balaclava in an attempt to try and cool myself down. The heat radiated off the tarmac and bounced to my face. I felt so aware of my own body, yet still completely removed from myself.

I had let her down.

I passed the vacant cars of the drivers who had come in before me, keeping my head down, and indirectly ignoring reporters and marshals attempting to communicate with me as a result of my sole focus being trying to stop myself from crying in front of the eyes of millions of people. My feet ached from the thin soles contact with the steaming hot track. My shoulders were heavy and lethargic, slumping forward.

I was so sad.

I approached the paddock, seeing the race winners. Max and Charles climbed out from their cars, eagerly shaking the hands of their mechanics, smiles beaming. They were not as excited, however, as our team. I watched from the track to garage entrance, as the Mercedes team jumped and shouted, roaring Lewis' name. His 100th F1 win. The stands behind me, filled with fans, hailed his name in support. He should've felt so completely ecstatic.

Standing in one spot now, I looked over the small row of news reporters in front of the entrance, and combed through the outside of his garage. I spotted him by our team principle roughly slapping him on the back in congratulations. All the people alongside him cheered and exclaimed, over the moon by his new milestone.

But Lewis didn't seem as proud as he would've been expected to. I have seen him smile so much brighter at one of Daniel's shitty dad jokes; now his smile seemed forced.

His demeanor changed when he found my eyes. His body relaxed in a way which indicated that he had been searching for them. His head lolled slightly in an empathetic way, feeling sorry for me. Without a second thought he pulled himself from the hoard of mechanics and engineers, and started towards me.

I pushed through the small crowd and made my way to him. My steps felt like i was wading through three feet of water. I felt the back of my eyes prick, and I blinked to rid the awful sensation as my steps quickened.

The center of the paddock was open, free from mobs of people who instead opted to collate on the outer areas, so pictures could be taken freely from all angles.

Lewis' arms were outstretched by the time I had reached him, throwing his arms around me and engulfing me in his chest. His chest rose and fell deeply in a sigh of relief while my head sat between his shoulder and his jaw, my arms so tightly wrapped around his waist that I would probably have to be pried off. I felt hot tears begin to stream down my face as his hand moved to cradle the back of my head, his fingers intertwining with my hair.

"You did so well"

I had told Lewis at the start of the weekend that my grandmother, who had raised me and my sisters, would be attending the race. My home race. She had been sick for time, but we were told by doctors to make the most out of this last year. She was my everything. I was so excited to have her see me one last time, and for her to be proud of me.

"I let her down" I broke, trying my best to sound stable as I felt more tears begin to form.

The crowd that accumulated had settled now, less lively and now inquisitively observed a driver who should be celebrating like his last day on earth comfort a team mate they knew as reserved and stoic.

Lewis tutted. "Oh, baby," He shifted me slightly in his arms so that he was now buried in the base of my neck. "It wasn't your fault, and she knows that". He stroked my back in another attempt to comfort me.

"Do you think so?" I craved even the smallest bit of reassurance, a luxury I allowed myself only with Lewis. He got me, knew that all I was looking for in that moment was his affirmation.

"Of course, baby." He pulled back slightly, and I looked up at him. He took that as an opportunity to wipe my tears with his thumb, the back of his fingers as he moved to the other side. "She's watched every single one of your races, she knows you can drive so well..." He voiced softly, while tucking the hair sticking to the sides of my face behind my ears. "...and your earlier laps were phenomenal, you made me so proud". I gazed into his eyes, the sun's rays so bright that I perceived them a coppery colour. My body had felt new and regenerated, he always had a way of making me feel so in love with him that it hurt.

The last tear fell from my eye, now a result of feeling so cherished.

I stared at him in captivation for a moment, basking in my love for him, sweetly smiling. "I would really love to kiss you right now but there are way to may camera's around" He broke our silence with a smirk. I giggled, letting my head fall forward again to his chest. I felt him laugh under my arms and I looked back up at him again, still smiling.

I sighed. "We're so bad at hiding this" I said lowly with a smile, prompting him to nod quickly in agreeance and chuckle. I pulled him in closely for one last hug then peeled away.

"Will you celebrate with me later?" I called out, glancing over my shoulder as I headed towards the gazebo for post-race interviews. Looking back, I caught his wicked smile, he nodded again, his eyes closing briefly. Turning away, my smile widened, knowing there was more comfort waiting for me when I got back to the hotel.

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ouu first one shot kinda nervous , was thinking about doing a part two to this with post race press conferences n interviews? or should i just focus on getting out some more drivers stories? lmk, and feel free to request!