LANDOSCAR COLLECTION

meltdown

AUTHOR : feelingf1 on ao3
Rating: Not Rated

Summary:
"when it all melts down, i'll be there"

or

lando offers oscar support when he's trying to deal with a dnf and all the alpine drama

"dramatizing the alpine drama...the dates don't match up either...idk if oscar actually likes spa" - feelingf1 notes

⌗⌗⌗

The Belgian Grand Prix. Spa. One of the most famous track in Motorsport.

Oscar couldn't believe he was finally racing here in F1. One of his favourite tracks, and he was finally challenging it with his sometimes trustworthy McLaren car. It was a dream come true for any rookie driver.

And things only got better for Oscar. He got P2 in the sprint.

Sure, it wasn't the win, but when you're up against Max Verstappen and his rocketship car, P2 becomes the new P1. It was just the boost Oscar needed. Yeah, he had a good few successful races lately, but with the season in whole, this P2 was needed to keep his hopes up.

His face glowed with pride as he held the plaque in his hand, posing for photos with Max and Pierre, who had also earned the podium, if you could call it that in a sprint. Oscar looked over to the Alpine mechanics, and he couldn't help but notice the glares he was receiving. Of course there was still tension between Oscar and Alpine. Even Pierre looked uncomfortable when Oscar went over to shake his hand and congratulate him, like a civilized person. Oscar couldn't miss the way Pierre looked at him up and down.

But Oscar didn't care. He had drove better than Pierre, and that was all that mattered. He did his best.

After the picture was taken, he headed over to the papaya crew cheering his name. They engulfed him in the biggest hug Oscar had ever received. He wasn't usually one for hugs, but this one he would gladly allow.

"You stole that P2 from Pierre, Piastri. You're a traitor who doesn't deserve a single chance." A voice said lowly, so low all the McLaren team missed it.

Even with all the cheers of the papaya team, he couldn't miss that comment from the French mechanics stood next to his team. He tried to ignore it, but for whatever reason, that comment, the word "traitor" stuck with him.

Was he a traitor? Was he a bad person for leaving a team that wouldn't provide him with an opportunity to succeed as soon as McLaren did? Was he a traitor for wanting what was best for him?

He wasn't. He knew that. But the comment stayed at the back of his head.

He pushed it back further and decided to enjoy his Saturday. To enjoy the team cheering his name, hugging him, patting him on the back. To enjoy his couple of hours of glory before the race tomorrow. Because surely Sunday would only be better than today.

Oscar couldn't have been more wrong.

As he sat in the car prior to the formation lap, he felt nervous but also excited. Starting in P6 definitely gave him another chance at a podium. A podium at his favourite circuit, well his favourite circuit after Albert Park, of course.

But part of him also wanted that podium for revenge. To give those Alpine mechanics a kick up the ass after their comments yesterday. They were the fuel to Oscar's burning flame.

But no matter how bright Oscar's flame wanted to glow, it quickly burned out. As quick as turn one came.

He had got caught out with Carlos. Neither driver believed they were at fault, naturally. But Oscar suffered damage. So much so that they had to retire Oscar within the first lap.