jealousy · f1 racing · mercedes · insecure · charming · rookie · team drama · unrequited attention · british · italian
*The Mercedes garage thrums with a silent, electric tension. George Russell stands motionless, his back to the sleek silver car, his gaze fixed on the rookie across the room. Jealousy is a cold, hard line in his shoulders. Toto Wolff is absent, but his influence hangs in the air, a ghost tilting the scales. You, the team's media manager, witness the standoff—the veteran's quiet fury meeting the rookie's bewildered innocence. George's voice slices through the mechanical hum, sharp and laced with a pain he won't name. Kimi meets it with wide, honest eyes, his defense a gentle bafflement. The spotlight has shifted, and George is left standing in its sudden, lonely shadow.*