Yn glared across the paddock, her eyes locked on Charles Leclerc as he leaned casually against the Ferrari garage, talking to his engineers. His easy smile and effortless charm only made her angrier. Ever since she had joined Mercedes as their new performance analyst, Charles had been a thorn in her side. His success on the track was undeniable, but his smug attitude off it? Infuriating.
From day one, Charles had made it clear he didn’t think much of her. During a strategy meeting weeks earlier, he’d overheard her discussing tire degradation and cooling systems with Mercedes engineers and had interrupted, offering his "expert opinion" with a smirk. She hadn’t forgotten.
“Let’s see how much your ‘expert opinion’ helps you when you’re stuck behind us on the grid,” Yn muttered under her breath as she watched him now.
"You alright?" George Russell’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. He was standing beside her, ready to go over some last-minute adjustments for the weekend’s race in Silverstone.
“Yeah, just fine,” Yn said, forcing a smile. “Just mentally preparing for the race.”
“You’ve been staring daggers at Leclerc for the past minute,” George said with a knowing grin. “Let me guess, he said something to get under your skin again?”
Yn sighed, rolling her eyes. “I don’t get how he’s so relaxed all the time. It’s like he thinks everything revolves around him. I’ve never met someone so... irritating.”
George chuckled. “It’s called being a Ferrari driver. It’s a different world over there.”
“Whatever it is, I can’t stand him,” she muttered. But even as she said it, she couldn’t deny there was something about Charles—something about the way he effortlessly commanded attention, both on and off the track, that made it impossible to ignore him.
---
As the weekend unfolded, tensions between Mercedes and Ferrari grew, with both teams locked in a fierce battle for podium positions. Yn spent her days meticulously analyzing data, searching for ways to give Mercedes the upper hand. Charles, of course, was the key rival to beat.
On Saturday, qualifying was tight. George and Lewis secured strong positions, but Charles, as usual, was right there, competitive as ever. Yn couldn’t stand seeing his smug face every time he clocked in a faster lap time.
The frustration hit its peak during the post-qualifying media scrum. Yn was waiting for George when she heard Charles being interviewed nearby. He was laughing, talking about how Ferrari was looking strong for the race.
"Mercedes is fast, but we’re feeling confident," Charles said with a cocky smile. "I think we’ve got the pace to beat them."
Something snapped inside Yn. Before she knew it, she walked straight up to Charles, catching his attention.
“You really think you can beat us tomorrow?” she challenged, her voice sharp.
Charles raised an eyebrow, surprised by her directness. "I’m sure of it. Why, are you worried?"
Yn crossed her arms. “Not worried, just making sure you understand that overconfidence leads to mistakes. You might want to remember that.”
Charles smirked, tilting his head as he looked her over. “You know, for someone who works behind the scenes, you’ve got a lot of opinions about how things play out on the track.”
“I’ve earned the right to have opinions,” Yn shot back. “And I don’t need to be in a car to know when someone’s talking out of their—”
“Yn!” George called out, waving her over before she could finish.
Charles laughed, stepping closer. “I think you’ve got something against me, Yn. Maybe you just don’t like losing.”
“I don’t lose to people like you,” she replied, holding his gaze.
Charles leaned in slightly, his voice low. “We’ll see about that tomorrow.”
---
Race day came, and the tension in the air was palpable. The battle between Mercedes and Ferrari was set to be fierce, and Yn found herself nervously scanning the data as the race unfolded. George was running second, with Charles hot on his heels in third.
Lap after lap, Charles closed the gap, and Yn’s frustration grew. As much as she wanted to see George hold him off, Charles was driving flawlessly, inching closer with every turn.
Then, in a dramatic late-race move, Charles overtook George with precision. The Ferrari garage erupted in cheers, and Yn’s heart sank as she watched it happen. She clenched her fists, her competitive spirit flaring.
After the race, with Charles finishing second and George third, Yn found herself once again face-to-face with her rival in the paddock. This time, Charles approached her, a glint in his eye.
“Told you,” he said, his tone teasing but not unkind.
Yn narrowed her eyes. “You got lucky.”
Charles laughed softly. “You know, Yn, I think you hate me because you’re just as competitive as I am.”
“I don’t hate you,” Yn retorted, but her voice lacked conviction.
He stepped closer, his smile fading, and his expression softened. “Maybe we’re more alike than you think.”
For a moment, Yn was taken aback. Charles wasn’t mocking her this time—there was something genuine in his voice. She hated to admit it, but maybe he was right. They were both fiercely driven, and maybe that was why they clashed so much.
“I’ve always respected what you do,” Charles continued, surprising her again. “I just like getting under your skin because you’re one of the few people around here who doesn’t treat me like I’m invincible. It’s refreshing.”
Yn stared at him, momentarily speechless. His honesty caught her off guard, and suddenly, the rivalry between them felt different. Less about winning or losing, and more about the fire that pushed both of them to be the best.
“I didn’t expect you to admit that,” she finally said, her voice softening.
Charles shrugged, flashing that same grin that had once infuriated her but now felt oddly charming. “I’m full of surprises.”
They stood in silence for a moment, the usual tension between them shifting into something else. Something unexpected. Yn’s heart raced, and for the first time, it wasn’t out of frustration.
“You’re still irritating,” Yn said, a small smile tugging at her lips.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Charles replied, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Before Yn could respond, Charles took a step closer, his voice lowering. “But I don’t mind if you keep challenging me. I like it.”
Yn felt her cheeks warm, caught off guard by the intensity of his gaze. “I guess I don’t mind either.”
Charles smiled, and for the first time, Yn realized that maybe—just maybe—there was more to him than the arrogance she had seen before. Beneath the rivalry, beneath the competition, there was something else between them. Something real.
As he walked away, Yn couldn’t help but smile to herself. Maybe enemies weren’t always enemies forever. Maybe, sometimes, they were just two people waiting to understand each other.
And maybe, just maybe, there was something exciting about seeing where this new tension could lead.
