VIPER || Oscar Piastri

Chapter 93

[ POV: Narrator ]

Whoever decided to bring F1 to the desert clearly had never been to an actual desert before ever.

Qatar was a sensory overload wrapped in a blast furnace. The sun was doing its best to fry every single thing it touched, but beneath that blistering, two people were still out there, hunched over, squinting, talking in low voices.

Plotting. Scheming. Strategising.

Just... not for the race.

For something far more important.

Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz were far from the screaming crowds and official corridors. They were deep in what could generously be called the 'back alley' of the paddock, where trailers sat stacked like giant metal sardine cans, and workers zipped past on golf carts far too occasionally for it to be annoying.

Lando was crouched behind a stack of crates, whispering fiercely, eyes darting around like he was plotting a covert heist. Carlos stood nearby, nodding along, fingers drumming on the side of a crate, clearly invested in whatever ridiculous plan was unfolding.

"Alright, so picture this," Lando began, bringing both his index fingers to his lips, "if we just time it right, I think we can sneak in during the driver's briefing. No one ever checks the side entrance."

Carlos was already rolling his eyes. "Mate, I've already told you. Max said it's a no-go-zone."

Lando got serious. "Where's your fighting spirit? Max can't boss us around all the time. Besides, he's not here now, is he?"

"No, but..." Carlos hesitated. "He's got eyes everywhere."

Lando stood up, lowering his voice further. "Exactly. Which is why we have to be smart. Quick in, quick out."

Carlos snorted. "And then what? Once we get in, we're cooked! It's all open space in there— no place to cover. We're dead."

"Come on! It's the perfect time to get him— he'll never expect us to do it, which is why we have to do it!"

Carlos paused, pretending to mull it over, tapping his chin like he was deep in thought. Then, with a sly movement, he suddenly pulled a bright blue water gun from behind his back.

Lando's eyes widened in betrayal.

"No..."

Carlos gave him a cocky shrug and aimed the water gun right at Lando's chest. "Strategic advantage, mate. Max said he'd fly me home for free."

Before Lando could react, Carlos blasted him with a cold burst. The water splattered everywhere, drenching Lando's shirt and soaking his skin.

Lando gasped, face twisting between shock and outrage. "You snake!"

He lunged forward, grabbing the nearest water bottle from a crate, uncapping it, and spraying Carlos back like a blaster in a sci-fi showdown.

"Betrayal will NOT go un-punished!" Lando shouted, laughing even as he chased Carlos around the trailers.

Carlos tried dodging and weaving, firing quick squirts back.