Starting Again (A Charles Leclerc Fic)

036 : liefje and aien

The electric hum of the crowd filled the circuit as thousands of fans erupted in cheers. The excitement was palpable, the atmosphere charged with anticipation. Today was not just another Formula 1 race—it was a historic moment.

Oliver Bearman, the young British driver, had just made history with Ferrari. At only 18 years old, he became the youngest driver ever to debut for the legendary Maranello-based team. But that wasn't the only milestone. For the first time in history, Ferrari had two FDA (Ferrari Driver Academy) graduates racing together—Charles Leclerc and Ollie, two drivers who had been nurtured within the team's system, now representing the Scuderia on the grid.

Despite always pretending to be jealous of the attention Katrina gave to Ollie, Charles had been nothing but supportive. He had known Ollie for years—ever since the young Brit became teammates with his younger brother, Arthur, in Formula 2. Charles trusted him, knowing that Ferrari was in safe hands. After all, Ollie had been their reserve driver, and there was no doubt about his talent.

-

Free Practice sessions went smoothly for Ferrari and Red Bull. Both teams gathered crucial data about the cars and the track conditions, preparing for what was bound to be an unpredictable race.

When the starting grid was finalized, it was clear that the Grand Prix would be thrilling.

Max Verstappen secured pole position, his dominance undeterred.

Charles lined up alongside him on the front row, determined to take the fight to the reigning champion.

And in his first-ever Formula 1 race, Ollie would start P11, a remarkable position for a debutant.

As the lights went out, the race turned into a breathtaking battle.

Charles and Max reignited their fierce rivalry, mirroring their iconic duels from the 2022 season. They traded positions, pushing each other to the limit, neither willing to back down. Every corner was a game of high-speed chess, every overtake a testament to their skill and determination.

But in the end, only one man could claim victory.

Max Verstappen crossed the finish line first, securing yet another Grand Prix win for Red Bull. Checo followed in P2, making it a Red Bull one-two, while Charles rounded out the podium in third.

-

As soon as the race ended, Mavi and Katrina made their way to Parc Fermé, weaving through the sea of mechanics, engineers, and media personnel. They reached just in time to watch the drivers step out of their cars, exhaustion evident but overshadowed by the adrenaline still coursing through them.

Max, still in his race suit, passed by the two women with a knowing smirk. Katrina playfully narrowed her eyes at him, feigning annoyance.

"Don't give me that look, Liefje," Max teased, his Dutch accent laced with amusement. "You know I'm never going to take it easy on Charles."

She huffed dramatically. "I know, Aein. But don't get too comfortable... because one of these days, Charles is going to beat you."

Max laughed, shaking his head. "I look forward to it."

The use of their nicknames—Liefje and Aein—never failed to amuse them. Dutch for darling and Korean for sweetheart, the playful terms of endearment had started as an inside joke between them. It hadn't bothered Charles at first—until he looked up what they meant.

Now, it was one of his least favorite things.

"Bring it on," Max added with a grin, but then his gaze shifted toward Mavi, who had been standing quietly beside Katrina, observing the interaction. His teasing demeanor softened.

"Mavi, nothing for me?" he asked, tilting his head.

She met his gaze briefly before looking away. "Congrats, Max," she said simply, her tone unreadable.

A knowing smirk crossed his lips, but he didn't press further. Instead, he gave her a lingering look before walking off to celebrate with his Red Bull team.

Katrina frowned slightly, sensing something unspoken between the two, but now wasn't the time to pry.

Instead, she turned her attention to Charles, who had just finished his post-race weight check. He looked exhausted yet content, though there was something else in his expression—something she had seen before.

"My love," he sighed, running a hand through his sweat-dampened hair, "I'm sorry."

She immediately rolled her eyes. "Here we go again, Charles." She crossed her arms. "You don't have to apologize for not winning. I don't love you any less because Max won today."

"But—"

"Your Aein won again," he muttered under his breath, pouting slightly.

Mavi let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. "You're ridiculous, Charles."

Katrina, on the other hand, gasped dramatically before throwing her arms around him. "Charlieeee," she whined, hugging him tightly. "I don't care how many races Max wins. I don't come to watch him or anyone else. I only watch you. The whole race, I had your onboard playing—I even ignored Ollie's debut for you!"

Charles glanced at Mavi for confirmation, still pouting.

She smirked. "It's true. She was literally glued to your onboard."

A small, pleased smile tugged at Charles' lips before he sighed, finally returning her hug. "I just—one of these days, I will win."

She pulled back slightly, cupping his face. "I know you will. And when you do, I'll be right here, waiting to be the first one to congratulate you."

Charles exhaled, his eyes softening. "I love you, Trina."

Her heart swelled at the tenderness in his voice. "I love you too, Charles. So, so much."

No matter what, win or lose, she would always be there for him.

jkhale : Congratulations on your very first podium and the fastest lap this season my love. I can't be more proud of you. I love you Charles always ❤️

charles_leclerc : I love you too mon amour, thank you for always being here

olliebearman : Congratulations Charles!
↳ jkhale : congratulations to you too ollie, you did an amazing job stepping in for Carlos!