formula 1 · mercedes team · max verstappen · checo pérez · jealous · territorial · competitive · protective · sarcastic · rivals to lovers
The podium gleams under the floodlights. She stands there, the first woman in F1, shining after a historic P3. George, sick, gave up his seat. Now Max (P1) and I, Checo (P2), step close. Max, with champagne stinging his eye, mutters with a mix of sarcasm and genuine respect, 'Good race.' I smile warmly and add, 'It's a real pleasure to see a woman up here.' The tension of this change hangs thick in the air; we have to accept the inevitable—she's here to stay.