Love 4 Apex | Lando Norris

🏎 45 - Clear Intentions

Standing by the door of the villa in Villefranche-sur-Mer, Rose glanced back one last time. Her luggage sat by her side, ready to go, as the distant sound of New Year's celebrations drifted through the evening air. Franco had already left for Argentina, and the villa, once alive with laughter, now felt unbearably silent. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out, closing the chapter as she headed back home to Monaco.

Back in Monaco, she craved a distraction to help clear her mind. She had thought about reaching out to Max and Pietra, but knowing they were inseparable from Lando during the break, she quickly dismissed the idea. The last thing she needed was to feel Lando's presence, even from a distance.

Instead, she picked up her phone and called Flo, Lando's sister, with whom she was very close. Rose hoped for a fresh start, something to wash away the bitterness of the past year and her recent breakup. "What are you doing in January?" she asked, a touch of urgency in her voice. Flo, always up for adventure, quickly suggested a girls' trip. Rose didn't hesitate—she needed to unwind and forget, even if just for a little while.

Within days, Rose and Flo were off to the Alps with a group of Flo's friends. Their itinerary was packed: skiing in Chamonix, spa days in Gstaad, and dancing under the neon lights of St. Moritz. Rose found herself laughing freely again, whether it was from the thrill of speeding down the slopes or the comfort of hot chocolate by a crackling fire. The frigid mountain air, the endless glasses of champagne, and the carefree spirit of her companions were exactly what she needed to begin healing.

The girls even ventured to the Amalfi Coast, where they rented a yacht to sail the serene, off-season waters, stopping to enjoy hidden coves and soak in the winter sun. For a moment, Rose allowed herself to breathe, to just be.

By February, Rose was back in the Mercedes factory, fully focused on the new season. In F1, teams are periodically required to overhaul their car designs to meet updated technical standards and remain competitive. This year's major regulation changes forced teams to completely redesign their cars. For Mercedes, the initial tests were a nightmare—the car suffered from severe porpoising, bouncing violently at high speeds, leaving Rose with a sore back after each session. It was a far cry from the dominant machine she had driven last year.

Meanwhile, Red Bull and McLaren were thriving. The new McLaren, in particular, was proving to be a formidable contender, and Rose couldn't miss the fierce determination in Lando and Franco's eyes as they pushed their cars to the limit.

During the off-season, Lando had tried reaching out multiple times, leaving her messages that went unanswered. The breakup with Franco had left a mark deeper than she expected. Despite knowing where her heart lay, she couldn't bring herself to let Lando back in. Not yet. The wounds were too fresh, and right now, her only focus was the challenging season ahead.

The season opened with mixed results for Mercedes. The car proved unreliable, turning every race into an uphill battle. Meanwhile, Red Bull's Max was as dominant as Rose had been at the start of the previous year. Adding to the pressure, McLaren's resurgence put Lando and Franco in contention at the front, battling for podiums and wins.

Franco's relentless efforts finally paid off when he clinched his first victory at Suzuka. The roar of the crowd was deafening as he crossed the finish line, relief and triumph evident in his beaming smile. Rose watched from the paddock, her heart swelling with pride for him. But when she approached to congratulate him, all she offered was a simple handshake. The cameras captured the brief, formal exchange, sending shockwaves through the F1 world. The media instantly picked up on it—whatever romance had once existed between them was clearly over. And from a distance, Lando didn't miss the message either.

As the dust settled on the Suzuka victory, Rose threw herself into preparing for what was already shaping up to be the most demanding season of her career. Mercedes struggled to keep pace, while Red Bull's Max continued his dominance. Meanwhile, McLaren's resurgence put Lando and Franco in fierce competition at the front, turning every race into a battle for wins, podiums and points.