*A Farewell to a Champion*
The day of Y/N’s funeral was overcast, the skies mirroring the somber mood of everyone who had gathered to say their final goodbyes. The service was held in a quiet chapel, away from the noise and chaos of the racetracks, a place where her loved ones could find a moment of peace amidst the overwhelming grief.
The chapel was filled with flowers and photos of Y/N, capturing her at her happiest—smiling in her racing suit, laughing with her friends, and standing on the podium, victorious. Her McLaren helmet sat at the front, a symbol of the career she had poured her heart and soul into.
Friends, family, and the entire Formula 1 community had come together to honor her memory. The drivers, who had shared the track with her, now stood together in mourning, their faces reflecting the loss of someone who had meant so much to them.
The service began with a quiet, reflective atmosphere. The first song played was "Fix You" by Coldplay, a song that had always resonated with Y/N, and now took on a deeper, more poignant meaning. As the melody filled the room, many in the chapel bowed their heads, letting the tears fall freely.
Kimi Räikkönen, her older brother, was the first to speak. Known for his stoicism, he stood at the podium, his expression as unreadable as ever, but his voice carried the weight of his loss.
"Y/N was more than just my sister," Kimi began, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "She was my friend, my teammate in life, and someone I was incredibly proud of. She had a fire in her, a passion for racing that was unstoppable. But beyond that, she had a heart full of kindness. She cared about people, about her friends, about her family. She was always there when I needed her, even if I didn’t say it out loud. That’s who she was. I will miss her every day."
Kimi paused, looking out at the gathered crowd, many of whom were struggling to hold back tears. "She left us too soon, but she lived her life with no regrets. She did what she loved, and she was surrounded by people who loved her. That’s all anyone can ask for."
When Kimi stepped down, the next person to speak was Daniel Ricciardo. His usual infectious smile was absent, replaced by an expression of deep sorrow. He took a deep breath before he began.
"Y/N was my best friend," Daniel said, his voice breaking. "We shared so many laughs, so many good times. She had this way of making everything better, of lighting up any room she walked into. I don’t know how I’m going to move on without her, but I know she wouldn’t want us to be sad. She’d want us to remember the good times, to keep racing, to keep living. That’s what she did—she lived life to the fullest."
Daniel looked at the photos of Y/N, his eyes glistening with tears. "I’m going to miss you, mate. More than I can put into words. But I’ll carry you with me, every time I get in that car. You’ll always be with us, always."
Next, it was Lando Norris’s turn to speak. He stood in front of the crowd, visibly shaken. Y/N had been like a sister to him, and the pain of losing her was almost too much to bear.
"Y/N was... she was everything to me," Lando began, his voice trembling. "She was the one who always believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. She pushed me to be better, to be stronger. She was my big sister in every way that mattered. I can’t imagine coming to the track and not seeing her there, not hearing her voice on the radio. It’s going to be so hard without her."
Lando paused to collect himself, wiping his eyes. "But I know she’d want us to keep going. She loved this sport more than anything. She’d want us to race, to keep pushing, to keep fighting. So that’s what we’ll do. We’ll do it for her."
Max Verstappen and George Russell spoke next, each sharing their own memories of Y/N, their voices filled with admiration and love. Max, usually so composed, let the tears fall as he spoke of their late-night talks, their shared passion for racing, and the connection that had gone beyond the track. George, always thoughtful, talked about how Y/N had taken him under her wing, guiding him through the challenges of F1 with patience and wisdom.
After the drivers spoke, the final song played was "The Scientist" by Coldplay, a hauntingly beautiful song that echoed through the chapel, its lyrics a poignant reflection on the pain of loss and the search for understanding. It was one of Y/N’s favorite songs, and now, it served as a final goodbye.
As the service came to a close, the pallbearers—Kimi, Daniel, Lando, Max, George, and Alex—gathered to carry Y/N’s coffin out of the chapel. It was draped in a McLaren flag, a tribute to the team she had loved so dearly. The procession was silent, the only sound the soft footsteps of those who followed behind, their hearts heavy with grief.
Outside the chapel, the sun had begun to set, casting a golden glow over the gathered mourners. As Y/N was laid to rest, a final tribute was paid: a flyover of F1 cars, their engines roaring in a deafening salute, a fitting farewell to a woman who had lived and died for the sport she loved.
Kimi stood at the graveside long after the service had ended, his hand resting on the cold stone marker that now bore her name. His expression was as unreadable as ever, but his heart was breaking. He had lost his sister, his teammate in life, and he knew that nothing would ever be the same.
But as he stood there, surrounded by the silence of the fading day, Kimi made a silent vow. He would carry on, as Y/N would have wanted. He would keep racing, keep pushing, keep fighting, not just for himself, but for her. Her memory would live on in every race, every lap, every moment on the track. She would never be forgotten.
The drivers, the team, the entire F1 community left the funeral with heavy hearts, but also with a sense of purpose. Y/N had been a light in their lives, and they would honor her memory by continuing to shine, by living life as fully as she had.
Y/N Räikkönen was gone, but her legacy would endure. In the hearts of those who loved her, in the roar of the engines, in the thrill of the race—she would always be there, a part of the sport she had given everything for.
And as the night fell over the chapel, the world carried on, forever changed by the loss of one of its brightest stars.
