the IT girl

The Drivers' Roundtable

The energy in the room was electric as the entire grid of F1 drivers took their seats in front of a live audience. Cameras flashed, and fans cheered as the interview kicked off. It wasn't often that every driver sat together for something like this—an informal, fun discussion where they could let their guard down a little.

Lando sat between Charles and Carlos, the trio exchanging smirks as they waited for the first question. It was a rare day off from the intensity of racing, but they all knew the questions would still be flying—this time, just more playful than usual.

The interviewer, grinning widely, looked at the group of drivers with excitement. "Alright, gentlemen! Today's interview is a little different. We're going to start with a fun question. If you could ask any driver one question—anything at all—what would it be? And no holding back!"

Laughter erupted from the drivers. The tension immediately broke, and they exchanged glances, already thinking about who they'd tease.

"I'll go first," Carlos said, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in his eye. "My question is for Lando. Lando, mate, when are you going to tell us who the mystery woman in your Instagram post is? The shoes gave it away!"

The audience burst into laughter as Lando shook his head, feigning annoyance. "Oh, come on, Carlos! I knew this was coming." He paused, playing it cool. "Alright, I'll say this: you'll find out when the time is right. But for now, I'm keeping you all guessing."

"Boo!" Charles chimed in, crossing his arms dramatically. "Not fair. We're all dying to know."

The interviewer laughed, enjoying the banter. "Alright, Lando dodged that one. Who's next?"

Max Verstappen leaned back, grinning. "I've got one. This is for Lewis," he said, shifting his attention to the seven-time world champion. "Lewis, what's your secret to looking so calm all the time, even when the pressure's on? Like, is there a playlist we don't know about?"

Lewis chuckled, shaking his head. "I get asked that a lot. Honestly, it's a mix of meditation, staying focused, and... yeah, a solid playlist helps too. But the calm? That just comes from experience, man. After all these years, you learn to handle it."

The group nodded in understanding, but George Russell jumped in, a sly smile on his face. "I've got a question for everyone here," he said, his voice lighthearted. "Which one of you secretly believes they're the funniest driver on the grid?"

More laughter followed, and drivers immediately began pointing at each other.

"Definitely Daniel," Lando said with a grin, pointing at Daniel Ricciardo, who was known for his humor and wild antics.

Daniel raised his hands in defense, laughing. "Hey, hey, I can't help it if I'm naturally hilarious!"

"Yeah, okay, mate," Pierre Gasly joked, nudging him. "I think you believe it a little too much."

The jokes continued, each driver taking their turn to ask a question, mostly playful or teasing. The camaraderie between them was evident, and the fans loved it, seeing their favorite drivers acting like friends rather than competitors for once.

Finally, the interviewer smiled and leaned forward. "Alright, I've got one last question for all of you. If you could race against any driver in F1 history, who would it be?"

A thoughtful silence fell over the group as the question hung in the air. It was a deeper question, one that had them reflecting on their heroes and legends of the sport.

"I'd race against Ayrton Senna," Charles Leclerc said first, his tone serious. "He was the best, and I'd love to see how I measure up."

Lando nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Senna for sure. His style, his mentality... it would've been incredible to be on the track with him."

"Michael Schumacher," Lewis added quietly. "I've raced him before, but I wish I'd had more opportunities to compete against him when we were both at our peak."

Max grinned. "I think everyone's going to say Senna or Schumacher, but honestly, I'd love to have raced against my dad when he was in F1. That would've been pretty cool."

The conversation carried on, the drivers discussing their dream races and what it would've been like to compete with the legends. It was a rare glimpse into their personal inspirations, a moment where they reflected on the giants whose shadows they followed.

As the interview wrapped up, the host turned to the audience. "Give it up for your 2024 F1 drivers, everyone!"

The crowd roared, the drivers standing up and waving. As they exited the stage, the teasing between them continued, and Lando could still feel Carlos and Charles nudging him about that Instagram post.

"Seriously, mate," Carlos said, slinging an arm around Lando as they headed for the exit. "We're going to figure it out."

Lando just laughed, shaking his head. "Good luck with that, boys. I'm not saying a word."