Love 4 Apex | Lando Norris

🏎 49.4 - British Tensions

As the season progressed, Rose slowly found her rhythm. By the time they reached the European leg of the calendar, she was back on the podium, her confidence visibly restored. Each race brought her closer to her old self—the fierce, determined driver who had once claimed the championship title. Lando watched with pride as she clawed her way back, turning every setback into a stepping stone.

In Silverstone, with the roar of the home crowd behind her, Rose secured her first victory of the season. The British fans erupted in cheers, waving flags adorned with both her and Lando's names. As she stepped out of the car, the relief and joy on her face were unmistakable. Lando was waiting for her in the parc fermé, grinning ear to ear.

"I told you, didn't I?" Lando said as he pulled her into a tight hug, lifting her off her feet. "You never lost it."

"You're right." Rose laughed softly, her eyes shining with emotion. She leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to his lips before pulling back with a playful smile. "And I'm just getting started. Coming for you next, Norris."

And she did. With each race, the championship standings grew tighter. Lando had dominated the first half of the season, but Rose's resurgence was nothing short of spectacular, igniting a fire that turned their rivalry into one of the most captivating battles in F1 history. The media couldn't get enough of it—the clash of the McLaren teammates, each fiercely competitive yet unwaveringly supportive of the other, brought an energy to the season that no one could ignore.

However, behind the scenes, things weren't always smooth. The relentless pressure of the championship fight loomed over them, testing their focus, patience, and even their trust. Their relationship, while filled with love and understanding, wasn't immune to the strain. The high stakes and constant scrutiny magnified every misstep, forcing them to confront whether their bond was strong enough to withstand the battle for glory.

The tension came to a boiling point during a particularly intense race weekend in Monza. Franco Colapinto, now driving for Red Bull, was fiercely challenging both McLarens. In the final laps, Rose was closing in on Lando, fighting for second place, when Franco made an aggressive dive down the inside. The move forced Rose wide, breaking her momentum and giving Lando the breathing room he needed to pull ahead of both cars. Franco capitalized on the situation to move into third, while Rose, recovering from the incident, crossed the line in fourth, just missing the podium.

Frustration etched itself across Rose's face as she climbed out of her car, her fists clenched tightly, barely containing the full force of her anger. By the time she and Lando were alone in the motorhome, weeks of simmering tension finally boiled over.

"You didn't even try to help me out there!" Rose snapped, her voice slicing through the heavy silence as she spun around to face Lando. Her eyes burned with accusation, her tone sharp enough to cut. "You let Franco shove me off the track like it didn't even matter, and then you took advantage of the situation to widen the gap instead of helping me fight back for my position. You knew I needed that podium."

Her frustration echoed in the small space, her words weighted by disappointment and anger. She had fought tooth and nail for that race, and losing the podium—so close yet so far—felt like a betrayal, especially from him.

Lando, still riding the adrenaline high from his podium, turned to her, disbelief flashing across his face. "Are you serious right now? I was fighting for my race, Rose! I can't just back off every time you get into trouble."

"Trouble?" Rose's voice shot up, her frustration spilling over. "You saw what he did! You had the chance to hold him off, but no, you only cared about your own damn race. You let him walk all over me, and I'm supposed to just take it?"