The studio was all soft lights, warm tones, and chaotic energy. The sign behind you read “2019 Rookies: Reunited” in sleek lettering, but the energy on set was anything but polished.
Lando Norris had just flicked a piece of paper at George Russell. George was trying to look composed but was clearly biting back a grin. Alex Albon was sipping an iced latte and barely hiding his laughter. And you — the fourth rookie from that unforgettable year — were lounging between them, trying to pretend you weren’t the one who’d started the entire back-and-forth by bringing up “the towel incident” from summer break in 2020.
“Can we not?” George said finally, straightening his shirt. “That was supposed to be a private sauna experience.”
Lando was already laughing too hard to reply, while Alex added, “Pretty sure half the paddock heard about it by the end of that weekend.”
“And all because GPS here couldn’t keep a straight face,” Lando grinned, nudging you with his elbow.
You rolled your eyes. “You guys bring up one wrong turn and it becomes a whole nickname. It wasn’t even that bad!”
Alex nearly choked on his drink. “You walked into the wrong team garage. Twice.”
“Once!” you protested. “The second time was... tactical.”
George raised a brow. “Tactical?”
“Yes,” you said confidently. “I was scouting tyre strategies. And also... they had snacks.”
The interviewer laughed. “Okay, I have to ask. We’ve had Russell the Muscle, Curly Spice over here—” she gestured at Lando, who struck a ridiculous pose— “Stealth Boss for Alex... and then GPS for you. Did these names just happen naturally?”
“Oh yeah,” George said, deadpan. “Very scientific process.”
“We voted,” Lando added. “Well. I voted. In the group chat. Nobody else did.”
“Democracy at its finest,” you mumbled.
“And yet somehow, it stuck,” Alex said. “Even the engineers call them that now.”
“Literally had a mechanic ask me for GPS coordinates once,” you muttered.
The interviewer wiped a tear of laughter. “You all really haven’t changed, have you?”
“Only in height,” Lando said proudly. “I’m taller now.”
“No, you’re just standing on confidence,” you teased.
Alex leaned forward. “To be fair, we all have changed a bit. I mean, back then we were all pretending not to panic during our first media days.”
“You cried when your first race suit arrived,” George said to you suddenly.
You blinked. “I cried because the tailoring was tragic.”
Lando snorted. “It was giving space burrito.”
“Shut up, your helmet design that year looked like it was drawn with a marker.”
“It was!” Lando said proudly. “Fan-submitted, thank you very much!”
The interviewer beamed. “Okay, jokes aside—seriously—what’s it been like growing up in this sport together? Six years later, you’re still here. Still friends. Still clearly a handful.”
There was a moment’s pause. A real one.
George spoke first. “Honestly? I don’t know if I’d have made it through some of those early years without these guys.”
Alex nodded. “We all had moments where it could’ve gone sideways. Bad results, pressure… media madness. But having this group — people who just get it — made a huge difference.”
“Rookie year was like getting thrown into the deep end with bricks tied to your shoes,” Lando added, quieter now. “But at least we were all sinking together.”
You smiled, glancing around the couch. “We learned how to swim. And occasionally set things on fire along the way.”
“Emotionally or literally?” Alex asked.
“Both,” you and Lando replied in unison.
The interviewer laughed. “Well, the fandom definitely loves that the group stuck together. The memes haven’t stopped since 2019.”
“Shoutout to the person who made that GPS x SatNav edit of you,” George said, pointing at you.
The studio filled with laughter again. It felt like home. Like six years had flown by, but nothing important had been lost — just deeper bonds, more stories, and a better sense of humour about all of it.
“So here’s a question for each of you,” she said, smiling. “What’s one thing about each other that the fans don’t know… but definitely should?”