Yn stood at the edge of the Haas garage, arms crossed as the team buzzed around her. It was her first season working as a race engineer, and it was no secret that she had a lot to prove. Especially to Kevin Magnussen, Haas’ star driver. He was tough, blunt, and had little patience for anything—or anyone—that didn’t immediately meet his high expectations.
Kevin had been skeptical of her from the start. He was fiercely protective of his race setup and didn’t seem keen on taking direction from someone new. Yn had felt the weight of his judgment from day one, but she didn’t let it deter her. She had fought hard to get this position, and she wasn’t going to let one stubborn driver get in her way.
“Hey, Yn,” Kevin’s gruff voice interrupted her thoughts as he appeared beside her. He was in his race suit, helmet under his arm, his expression as unreadable as ever. “Ready for this?”
She met his eyes and nodded. “I’ve been ready. Just need you to follow the strategy, and we’ll be fine.”
Kevin raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing but with an edge. “We’ll see about that. You know I don’t like sticking to plans when the race changes.”
“You say that every weekend,” she shot back, holding his gaze. “But if you’d actually listen, you might finish higher.”
Kevin smirked, the corner of his mouth twitching. “And here I thought I was supposed to be the difficult one.”
Yn rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips. Kevin’s stubbornness was notorious, but under all that tough exterior, she had glimpsed something more. He was fiercely competitive, sure, but he was also protective of his team, always pushing to get the best out of them. That intensity was something she could relate to.
---
The race in Hungary was set to be a tough one. Haas had struggled in qualifying, and Kevin was starting from P13. The track was unforgiving, and the weather forecasts predicted scattered rain, making strategy calls even more crucial. Yn had spent the night before analyzing data, preparing for every possible scenario.
As the race got underway, the first few laps were a mess. Several cars ahead tangled in Turn 2, causing debris to scatter across the track. Kevin managed to avoid the chaos, but with the race settling down, it was clear they would need something special to climb up the order.
“Box this lap, Kev,” Yn called over the radio after a few laps, calculating a pit stop that would give him fresh tires ahead of the coming rain.
“Are you sure about that? The rain hasn’t hit yet,” Kevin’s voice crackled through the comms, doubt lacing his words.
“Yes, I’m sure. Trust me,” Yn replied firmly, though she could feel the tension in her shoulders. This was the gamble.
He didn’t respond right away, but after a moment, she saw him peel into the pit lane. The crew worked quickly, sending him back out on a set of intermediates just as the first few drops of rain began to hit the track.
The gamble paid off. As other drivers struggled to pit for the right tires, Kevin shot up the grid, gaining position after position. Yn kept a close watch on the conditions, guiding him through the tricky track as the rain intensified.
“Keep pushing, Kev. P7 is yours if you hold off Ricciardo behind you,” she said, her voice calm despite the chaos unfolding on the track.
“Got it,” Kevin grunted, fully focused.
Lap after lap, Yn watched the screens, her heart pounding. Kevin’s driving was flawless, and despite the mounting pressure from behind, he held his position. When he crossed the finish line in P7, it felt like a victory, even if it wasn’t the podium.
“Well done, Kevin. That was solid,” Yn said into the radio, unable to hide the pride in her voice.
“Good call on the tires, Yn,” Kevin replied, his tone softer than usual. “I’ll give you that.”
She allowed herself a small smile. Kevin wasn’t one to hand out compliments easily, so that simple acknowledgment meant more than he probably realized.
---
After the race, the paddock had quieted down, and Yn found herself alone in the garage, going over the race data one last time. She was deep in thought when she heard footsteps behind her. Turning, she saw Kevin walking toward her, a bottle of water in hand.
“You staying late again?” he asked, leaning against the counter next to her.
“Just making sure everything’s set for tomorrow’s debrief,” she replied, shutting down the data on her tablet. “I like to be prepared.”
Kevin nodded, glancing at her. “You know, I didn’t expect you to handle all this so well.”
Yn raised an eyebrow, surprised by his sudden candor. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He shrugged, his usual gruffness replaced by something almost... thoughtful. “I’ve been tough on you. I know that. I didn’t think anyone new could come in and really understand what I need out there. But you’ve proven me wrong.”
Yn was silent for a moment, caught off guard by his honesty. She had spent months trying to break through his walls, never expecting him to actually acknowledge it.
“Thanks,” she said quietly, unsure of what else to say. “I didn’t think you’d ever admit that.”
Kevin chuckled, a rare sound from him. “Yeah, well, don’t get used to it. I’m still going to complain when things don’t go my way.”
Yn laughed, shaking her head. “Wouldn’t expect anything less.”
For a moment, they stood in companionable silence, the weight of the day easing off their shoulders. Yn realized that, somewhere along the way, the tension between them had shifted. What had once been a battle of wills had turned into something more—mutual respect, maybe even a hint of admiration.
“I don’t say this often,” Kevin said, breaking the silence. “But I’m glad you’re part of this team. You’ve got guts.”
Yn smiled, her heart warming at the unexpected compliment. “You’re not so bad yourself, Magnussen.”
Kevin gave her a sideways glance, his lips twitching into that familiar smirk. “Careful, Yn. If you keep being nice to me, I might start thinking we’re friends.”
“We’ll see,” she teased, leaning back against the counter. “But don’t get your hopes up.”
Kevin laughed again, and Yn couldn’t help but feel that, despite the tough start, they had finally found common ground. It wasn’t just about winning races anymore—it was about trust, respect, and the shared drive to push each other to be better.
Maybe, just maybe, they were no longer just driver and engineer, but something more.
