Touchy friend - Carlos Sainz x Oscar Piastri F1 Fanfiction

Intro

Oscar never really liked physical touch. He was alright with his family and even his closest friends randomly touching him, hugging him, but everyone else, not so much. He felt like this since a young age, with the years the want to exchange or reserve physical touch decreased more and more.

Then he got into Formula 1 alongside Lando Norris. The Aussie was quite nervous about that big step, and even for a big team like McLaren. It soothed him to have his long-time friend Logan Sargeant by his side. The American wasn't eager on that body contact either, so they spend their time just sitting close, hugging as a goodbye, but that was it. That was like a lot of his friendships went.

But Lando...

Lando was different. His love language obviously was physical touch, a lot of it.

The smaller Briton rarely missed an opportunity to be physically close to loved ones. Or actually anybody he spend more time with. That trait had his peak when he had Carlos Sainz as a teammate. The older Spaniard was also into physical touch. There always was a hand on the other one, pulling playfully, hugging, just making that connection.

Carlos and Lando reinforced that kind of communication further along their time together. So when Oscar came to replace the now Ferrari driver, the difference was something they needed to work hard on. Lando wanted to make Oscar feel comfortable, which meant to cut back on the touches. While Oscar needed to get used to some more body contact in a way he felt okay with.

They started small, fist bumps, handshakes, as they got to know each other some playfully pushing. The knot fully broke during a race weekend. They just finished their meet and great with fans on the center stage. The last thing was taking a picture. Lando posed, arms crossed aware of Oscars space respecting his boundary's. Oscar wasn't sure what it was, but it felt right to wrap his arm around Landos back, initiating the touch for the first time.

Lando happily reincorporated the gesture, wrapping his arms around Oscars back. The picture still was one of Oscars fondest memories. Their friendship had taken off from then on, like he ever wished in his darkest nights. Touches became more often, and both felt as comfortable as can be.

At the same time Oscars career was also going exceptionally well. Soon he was comfortable with the team, the car, the tracks and as his second season started with a new contract in his pocket, his skills developed more and more.

Since he felt more in tune with the car Oscar started to take more risks on track, that caused some run ins with Carlos. On track both drivers were fierce, standing their grounds. At the same time, they knew that even the things said over radio or in interviews were stuff that was left on the grid. When they met privately, when Lando invited both of them for something, they got along well.

Oscar and Carlos never spend much time together, other then getting invited to the same meet ups or parties, so naturally both drivers didn't have some kind of friendship. Oscar couldn't name one thing they had in common, other than Lando.

When they did spend time as a three-way constellation it always was fun. The Aussie mostly watched the other drivers fooling around, getting involved from time to time. His sarcastic and kinda dry nature, always made the others giggle in delight.

There only was one thing Oscar had noticed that he didn't know how to think about. Carlos was touchy, all the time, but only with Lando. The Spaniard rarely offered any physical touch to the youngest driver and that made him unsure. Didn't he like him? Maybe he secretly hated Oscar? He had to have some negative thoughts, if the guy that was the definition of touchy stayed away from him like this.

Once he voiced his concerns to Lando, after the Briton had asked him to join him and Carlos for a barbeque. The older driver looked at him seriously "Did he make you uncomfortable. I told him not to overwhelm you?" Oscar shook his head "No...No its not that. It sounds silly but I just noticed that he avoids touching me... like... With you he is always close, and I feel like he hates me cause he isn't like that...like he feels uncomfortable being around me?" His teammate looked at him for a moment.

"He doesn't dislike you. When we first got to know each other, I wanted the two of you to get along. I wanted you to be friends, so I told Carlos to behave around you. I guess he is just trying to do just that. I thought when he knew that you are hesitant about the touching it would be easier for us all." The Briton frowned "But I guess he got a bit overly careful?" Oscar wasn't sure how to react, so he nodded "Ookay?" Lando felt guilty "I'll fix it, promise. Don't think about anymore."

When they met up the next time it got even worse. Carlos was visibly tense what stressed Oscar out. He wasn't good in this kind of situations. It took them all a lot more conversations, where Lando had to play to role of a Mediator, until the air cleared.

But even when Carlos got more relaxed around Oscar, simple touches still sending high voltage tingled through both of their nervous system, the drivers felt unsure about each other.