In the scenic south of Italy, political adviser Ana escapes her demanding career for a much-needed vacation. In a quaint village, she meets Lando, a charming and energetic F1 driver who is also seeking respite from his fast-paced life. Their encount...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
landonorris: team .jpg, oi
Lando's POV:
The heat in Singapore is brutal today. The humidity is clinging to every part of me, soaking my shirt before I even take my first swing. But it's kind of fun being out here—especially with Ana trying her hand at golf for the first time. Carlos, Daniel, Max, Ana, and I are out at the course, just enjoying the day after a hectic weekend. The laughter and banter flowing between us keep things light, even as we struggle through the heavy air.
I watch Ana grip the club a bit too tightly, her brow furrowed in concentration. It's endearing, honestly. She looks at me for reassurance, and I move closer, adjusting her stance.
"Relax your hands a bit," I say softly, nudging her to loosen her grip. "It's all about the swing—don't overthink it."
Ana lets out an exasperated laugh. "Easy for you to say, Norris."
Carlos grins, walking over with his club resting on his shoulder. "Maybe Lando isn't that great of a teacher, Ana. I mean, he's better at driving cars than driving golf balls."
"Hey!" I retort, pretending to be offended, which earns a chuckle from everyone. "I'll have you know I'm decent at this!"
Ana smiles, attempting her swing again, and this time, the ball actually lifts off the ground. It doesn't go far, but it's a start. I give her an encouraging nod, and she beams, clearly proud of herself.
"You'll get the hang of it," I assure her. "Just takes a bit of practice."
As we continue playing, Daniel and I find ourselves walking side by side. The sun is blazing down, making the air almost unbearable, but we've gotten used to pushing through worse conditions. Daniel looks contemplative, his eyes squinting against the sun.
"Been a crazy season, huh?" he says, more to himself than to me. "Never thought I'd be sweating it out in Singapore again like this."
"Yeah, it's been a wild ride," I agree, sensing something beneath his words. I glance over at him. "You alright, mate?"
Daniel pauses, then gives me a small, almost resigned smile. "You know me, Lando. I'm always gonna roll with the punches. But, uh... this might be my last one."
I stop, blinking at him. "What do you mean?"
He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "This is probably gonna be my last Grand Prix. After the fall break... I'm not coming back."
The words hit me harder than I expect. I knew things had been uncertain for Daniel, but hearing it out loud, here on the golf course, makes it real. I swallow, trying to find the right thing to say.
"Mate..." I start, but he shakes his head, giving me that classic Daniel grin—one that doesn't quite reach his eyes.
"Don't get all sappy on me, mate," he says, nudging my shoulder. "I've had my time, and I'm grateful for it. But, you know, everything has its season. It's just time for a new chapter."
I nod, still processing. "It's just... weird, you know? Not having you around. You've always been one of the constants."
Daniel's smile softens. "Yeah, I get it. Trust me, it's weird for me too. But it's not like I'm dropping off the face of the earth. I'll still be around—just not in the paddock every weekend."
I can feel the weight of his words settle between us, and I can't help but feel a pang of sadness. "It's not gonna be the same without you," I admit.
He chuckles, a bit more genuinely this time. "Nah, it won't be. But hey, you're gonna keep killing it. And I'll be cheering you on from wherever I am."
We walk in silence for a moment, the sounds of the others laughing in the distance reaching us. I look over at Daniel, the guy who's been my teammate, my mentor, and one of my closest friends in the paddock. It's hard to imagine racing without him around, his infectious energy lighting up every room he steps into.
"Just know," I say, my voice quieter, "you've made this whole crazy F1 world a better place. For me, and for a lot of us."
Daniel gives me a sidelong glance, his eyes glistening just a bit. "Thanks, mate. That means more than you know."
After a beat, he shakes off the seriousness, putting on a grin. "Now, enough of this emotional shit. Let's go see if Carlos has managed to lose another ball in the bunker."
I laugh, the heaviness lifting just a bit. We make our way back to the group, and I decide then and there that I'm gonna make sure these last moments count. After the game wraps up, I turn to the guys, a smirk on my face.
"Alright, dinner's on me tonight. But honestly Max, you should be the one treating us since you're the race leader and all."
I grin, adding, "Besides, I've got style points to maintain, mate. I can't be spending all my money on you guys when I could be buying some sharp new jackets."
Ana laughs at my comment, shaking her head.
Max raises an eyebrow, smirking. "More style huh? Very questionable at best. Next one is on me."
We all head off the course, the sun beginning to dip, the air still thick with humidity. But despite the heat, despite the news Daniel just dropped, there's something about moments like this—being with friends, sharing these experiences—that makes everything else worth it. I look at Daniel and I can't help but think back on all the memories we've shared—on and off the track. He's not just a teammate; he's a good friend. And while I know things are changing, I also know that those memories will always stay with me, no matter what's next.
