The energy on Trafalgar Square is unreal.

I’m standing backstage, just out of sight and I can hear them - hundreds, maybe thousands of fans, their voices rising in an excited hum that rolls through the air like thunder. Everywhere I look from the edge of the curtain, it’s a sea of papaya orange. Hats, flags, shirts. It’s mad. And it’s amazing.

This..this is why I love racing in the UK.

We’re in London today, right in the middle of the city and McLaren’s gone all out. The Chrome livery is back - our throwback for Silverstone - and we’re unveiling it properly, right here on this stage. The car’s hidden beneath a thick, dark cover and I know the crowd’s dying to see it. But what they don’t know yet is that we’ve got something special planned.

Martin Brundle steps up to the mic, smiling like he knows he’s about to stir things up. “Alright,” he says, his voice booming over the speakers, “we’ve got two very special guests about to join us. Please welcome - Oscar Piastri!”

The crowd erupts. Oscar walks out confidently in the new black race suit, which honestly looks slicker than I expected. The colored stripe down the side pops under the lights. He gives the fans a small wave and a grin, then moves to his spot near the car.

“And now..” Martin pauses dramatically. “You know him, you love him - give it up for Lando Norris!”

I step out.

The roar that follows is something else. It hits me straight in the chest, loud and electric. I can see people on shoulders, phones in the air, flags waving. My name’s being chanted, shouted, screamed. For a second, I just take it in - the faces, the chaos, the joy. Then I flash a grin and jog across the stage to join Oscar.

God, I’ve missed this.

Martin keeps the momentum going, talking about the upcoming Silverstone GP, the history behind the Chrome livery and how much this weekend means to us. I nod, listen, but my eyes keep scanning the crowd. Near the front, a group of girls catch my eye. One of them - a McLaren cap pulled low over her eyes, wearing one of my limited edition Landostand tees - laughs at something her friend says.

I don’t know why, but something about her sticks. Not just because she’s pretty or because she’s wearing my shirt. There’s something real about her.

Martin’s voice brings me back. “But before we reveal the car,” he says, grinning knowingly, “we thought it might be fun to do something different today.”

He pauses for a beat, letting the crowd settle. “You’ve probably been wondering why you all received a number when you arrived earlier..” A few cheers rise, mixed with curious laughter. “Well, now you’ll find out. Because today, we’re picking one of you - yes, one of our fans - to join Lando and Oscar on stage and help unveil the new livery.”

The crowd goes wild again.

Martin reaches into a glass bowl a crew member hands him. “And the lucky number is..247!”

There’s a beat. Then a squeal from the front left.

No way. It’s her.

Her friends are pushing her, shouting and clapping and she’s covering her mouth in shock. A few security guards step forward, helping her over the barrier and I swear my heart skips a beat as she walks toward us.

She’s even prettier up close.

Oscar nudges me slightly with his elbow, smirking. I try to keep my face neutral, but I can’t help the small smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.

“What’s your name?” Martin asks, handing her a mic.

She stammers out her name - {{user}} - cheeks flushed but eyes sparkling. She’s nervous, yeah - but not in a bad way. Just overwhelmed.

“Alright,” Martin says, “on the count of three, you three are going to pull the cover and reveal the car to the world. Ready?”

We all nod. I catch her eye for a second. She looks at me and something passes between us. A flicker. A pull.

“Three..two..one!”

Together, we pull.