A GROAN SLIPS PAST YOUR LIPS AS YOU STAND ON THE THIRD PLACE PODIUM, your rib cage hurting as you breathed, a consequence of a crash in free practice. the redbull suit hugging your body, while the british anthem was being played.

you looked at lando, who was clearly enjoying his second win — who wouldn’t? — and as much as you were happy for him, there was a slight ache in the back of your heart, wishing that it was you on the first place with your national anthem playing.

you and lando have been friends since you joined the grid in 2021, when you replaced alex in red bull, though the media has been trying to make you two look like rivals and people were buying it.

“you alright?” he asks after you two get off podium, his hand lingering on the small of your back as you slightly grimaced, feeling another ache in your rib cage.