Brake check- autistic Oscar Piastri, ADHD Lando Norris

7: let us help

Oscar's POV:

Logan had come round to my place in Monaco to hang out. He still wasn't sure what he was doing next year but he knew it wasn't going to be racing with Williams.

"I'm sorry." I said.

"Don't be. I got 2 years that's a lot longer than a lot of others get. I still look back at a bunch of the people we've raced with over the years and I've been one of the lucky ones."

"Still, doesn't feel like you really got a chance to prove yourself?"

"Maybe, maybe not. I'm working through it at my own pace."

"You seeing a therapist?"

"No, why would I?" He seemed offended which I then tried not be offended at.

"Oh, I just, I thought it might be the kind of thing you'd have a therapist for."

"Well maybe for some people, but I'm alright, I don't really need it." I was starting to feel really embarrassed for having a sports psychologist (which was basically acting as my therapist at this point) when things were going so well for me. "How's your one been?"

"Kasper is good. He's nice. He's been helping me learn about being autistic and unmasking."

"Do you still do it online?"

"Yep, it's good cause it means I can do it even when I'm here or at a race."

"Do you use him on race weekends?"

"Not so far but they said I can if I want to. I figured I might want to if quali went really bad or something. It might help with getting back in the right headspace."

"Yea I guess that could be good."

"Mhm."

"Williams don't have anything like that."

"Like at all? I know Kasper is new but McLaren have had like a mental health team since way before I joined." I was quite shocked.

"Nope, there's like a part of HR that are supposed to deal with it but I guess we don't exactly have the budget."

"I guess so, still, you could get support outside of Williams?"

"Not on race weekends like that. It would be a mess to try and organise around different time zones, even if I did do it online like you do."

"Still, don't you could do a midweek one, like when you're at the factory?"

"Maybe." He looked off, out my window and I got the impression that part of our conversation was over. I was worried about the lack of my support my friend was getting. We got so much support for our physical health and so little recognition for the impact our jobs have on our mental health. It felt strange to not to continue to talk about it when I knew he was struggling but he'd made it clear he didn't want to. I picked up my mask again and put it on, asking if he wanted another drink.

Lando's POV:

Filming with Quadrant done, Max and I headed back to the flat. I had to pack before flying out later this evening. As I grabbed a pile of clothes from my wardrobe Max knocked on my open door, leaning on the doorway. "I was just thinking, is there anything we can do to make shoots easier for you?"

"What do you mean?" I asked, picking up a pair of socks that I'd dropped.

"With the ADHD, I've been researching and I wondered if there was anything we can do to make shoots for Quadrant easier, even the gaming videos too. Like I know you're still you, but was there anything today that we could change?"

"Oh," I sat on my bed, clumsily folding some trousers and practically shoving them in the suitcase. "No everything was all good. I, uh sometimes struggled to stay on task a bit, but the chaos works with the video I think."

"It definitely does," he laughed, "but I just wanted you to know that we can change stuff if you wanted to."

"I appreciated that Max but everything is honestly fine."

"Okay, well offer still stands. And is there anything I can do here, or on the trip or-?" I cut him off as soon as he started talking about the trip. As per usual, we were going on a 'lads holiday' during the summer break and it was something I'd looked forward to since last year. It's always a laugh and a chance to get away from everything else. The last thing I wanted was it changing.

"I don't need anything different, I'm still me!"

"You can still be you and have some help." He said quietly before closing the door and leaving me to it. I felt bad for the outburst and knew I needed to apologise. But I wasn't sure I could apologise without getting worked up and shouting at him again. Maybe in a minute.

I just wanted to be me and I wanted everyone to stop treating me like some fragile kid who couldn't do anything for himself. I'm fine and I'm an adult! I opened my door, going to find Max to apologise when I stepped on something. Looking down I noticed one of the fidget toys Max had shown me last week, I picked it up and moved it around in my hands. It ran over the plaster on my finger. Maybe I could still be me without these plasters. Maybe I could still be me but healthy.

Max walked out of his room, looking at me stood there, staring at the toy, "maybe you could just let us help for once Lando."

A/n Hey! Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed!