Formula 1 | One Shots

Where's The Love? | Max Verstappen

Authors Note: This storyline was requested by user: RachelN1008

Done in 3rd person POV. 

⚠️ Warning for mentions of depression.
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Max Verstappen had never really known what it was like to be unconditionally loved by his father. He learned at a young age that his father, Jos, wasn't the easiest person to please. From a young age, Max wanted nothing more than to make his father, proud. Racing was their entire world, everything Max did was to gain his father's approval. As a kid, he watched his dad's every move, absorbing every lesson, hoping that if he worked hard enough, raced fast enough, and won enough, Jos would look at him with pride. 

All Max wanted was to be loved and accepted by his father. The long hours spent at the karting tracks, the endless practice sessions, and the sacrifices weren't just about becoming the best racer in the world, they were about earning Jos's approval. Max thrived on the moments when his dad smiled or patted him on the back, those rare moments of affection that pushed him through the hard times. 

But that approval came with pressure. Jos was tough, tougher than most parents. He pushed Max to the edge, demanding nothing less than perfection. Jos was tough, but Max knew his father loved him, at least, he had always believed that. 

Mistakes weren't just mistakes, they were failures. Max took it all in stride because in the back of his mind, he believed that if he kept pushing, kept winning, his dad would love him unconditionally. As Max grew older and climbed the ranks to F1, the dream of making his father proud stayed with him. 

Every podium finish, every win, he always looked for Jos in the crowd, hoping for that nod of approval, that small sign that he had done enough. Racing wasn't just about winning for Max, it was about earning his father's love, something he had been chasing his entire life. 

But one day, out of the blue, everything changed. After Max had lost the win in Australia to Ferrari, Jos stopped answering his calls, stopped texting him back, and Max was left in the dark. At first, he thought it was just a busy week. Maybe Jos was traveling or had something else on his mind. But as days turned into weeks, the silence became deafening. 

Max tried calling over and over again, each time hoping his dad would answer. He sent message after message, asking if everything was okay, if he had done something wrong. But all he got was nothing, just radio silence. It tore Max apart. He couldn't focus on anything, not even racing, the one thing that had always made sense. 

He spent nights lying awake, staring at the ceiling, replaying every conversation he'd had with his dad, every moment they had shared. What had he done? Where had he gone wrong? He couldn't figure it out. He began to sink into a deep depression. Racing didn't feel the same without hearing his dad's voice, his advice, even his harsh criticism. It felt like a part of him was missing. 

The paddock wasn't the same either. His teammates noticed the change in him. He wasn't smiling as much, wasn't joking around. Max was quieter, more distant. The worst part was that Max felt like he couldn't talk to anyone about it. He had always been taught to be strong, to keep his emotions in check. But this...this was breaking him. He actually missed his dad. He missed the man who had pushed him to be the best but had also been there to celebrate every victory, every podium. 

Max kept trying to figure it out. He racked his brain, searching for anything that could have triggered this sudden silence. He wondered if he had said something, done something that crossed the line. Maybe it was something he didn't even realize. But no matter how hard he thought, he came up empty.