My Brother's Teammate | Lando Norris

Sparkling St Tropez

Alexis stepped off the plane and into the cool, crisp air of London. The familiar hum of the city greeted her, a stark contrast to the fervent excitement of the Belgian Grand Prix. She'd barely had a moment to catch her breath after the whirlwind weekend - supporting Oscar, navigating the charged atmosphere around him, and confronting her own emotions in the process.

Her suitcase seemed to weigh more heavily with every step she took. The memories of the last night in Spa with Lando kept surfacing, unbidden and unwelcome, as she made her way to the flat.

As she unlocked the door, she felt the familiar sense of relief wash over her. It was good to be home, even if it was just for a brief moment before her next adventure. The flat was quiet, and the stillness seemed to accentuate the noise in her mind.

She tossed her bag onto the couch and began to unpack methodically. Shirts, jackets, and McLaren merch were scattered across the floor as she moved. The small, vibrant magnets she had picked up from a stall in Belgium were placed carefully on the counter. Each item was a reminder of the whirlwind weekend, of the highs and lows she had experienced.

Her phone buzzed with a message from Carmen, as they had been chatting about their upcoming trip to St Tropez. Alexis couldn't deny her excitement about the girls' holiday that they had planned during the summer break from F1. Carmen, Lily, and Heidi were her close friends, and their time together was always a source of joy and comfort. Their plan to escape to the sun in St Tropez, and later Santorini, felt like the perfect remedy to the turbulence she'd been through.

Alexis paused, her thoughts drifting back to that moment with Lando in the hotel room. She recalled the way his voice had broken through the haze of his drunken state, and how he had looked at her with a vulnerability she hadn't seen in a long time. It was a reminder of what had once been - a stark contrast to the present reality of their separation.

She shook her head, pushing those thoughts aside as she finished unpacking and began repacking for the upcoming trip, a task that felt oddly therapeutic. As she folded her clothes and chose her swimsuits, her thoughts began to shift. The impending trip with the girls was a chance to reset, a chance to be somewhere different and focus on the positive. The sun, the sea, and the company of friends promised a distraction she desperately needed.

By the time she finished packing, she felt a sense of accomplishment. The thought of being in St Tropez and Santorini with her friends - enjoying the sun, the laughter, and the freedom from the racing world - was comforting. It would be a welcome reprieve from the complicated emotions and memories of Lando.

She took one last look around her flat, ensuring everything was in order before heading to bed. The stillness of the night was soothing, and as she settled under the covers, she allowed herself a moment of quiet reflection.

In the morning, she would head to the airport and soon be basking in the warmth of St Tropez. For now, though, she allowed herself a moment to breathe, to let the weight of the past weekend drift away, and to focus on the promise of what was to come.

The break from the intensity of F1, the laughter with her friends, and the distant memory of Lando's vulnerability would soon be behind her. What lay ahead was a chance to embrace joy, find solace, and perhaps - just perhaps - find clarity amid the sunshine and sea breeze.

———🏎️———

Amid the hum of conversations and the clatter of rolling suitcases, Alexis stood with Carmen, Lily, and Heidi, their excitement palpable as they waited for their flight to St Tropez. Their chatter was a mix of animated plans, fashion discussions, and enthusiastic recounts of previous vacations.