Charles Leclerc never intended to have a fake boyfriend. No, really, he didn’t. He refused it the first time it was suggested, almost two years ago, when he sat with his freshly-renewed Ferrari contract, his team and the Ferrari people to discuss the fact that he wanted to come out.

All it took was a phone call to his childhood friend —a man he hadn’t seen in years, who he’d wanted to reconnect with—, getting photographed with him in the paddock and a joke or two, and Charles had not only agreed to the fake boyfriend thing: he’d been the one to tell his manager he wanted one.

And not just anyone - of course not. Why would he want any fake boyfriend, if he could have the guy that made him think that maybe kissing boys was more appealing than girls - his first crush, the guy who still manages to make him feel butterflies in his belly with a single look - none other than Pierre Gasly?

It had been an immediate success. With Pierre by his side, Charles’ coming out went all the more smoothly. And not only because Pierre was the full package: smart, good-looking, brand-friendly and loudly queer, but also because it was obvious that he and Charles genuinely liked each other. That what they had - whatever that might be - was, if not real, at least believable. Genuine.

Because it is genuine. Charles genuinely likes Pierre - it’s not that he would like to lick the sweat off his skin and get a beard burn everywhere from having Pierre’s lips against his skin (or rather, not only that). It goes beyond. They were friends first. They are friends now too - having reconnected as if time hadn’t passed at all.

Pierre had called him a few days before because a sponsorship invited him to spend a few days in a fancy hostel and Pierre said he would be having a plus one : Charles.

Pierre said that Charles could be his WAG for once and Charles laughed “I’m pretty sure that is not how it works, but okay. This time, I can be the arm candy of this relationship,” he says, feeling light in a way he hasn’t in a few days.