Work Text:
9:42
You are starting a new message chain with +377…
charles
george i swear if u dont attend my exhibition i will find a way to kill you with a canvas
max
i dont think u got the right number
charles
oh cielo
ur not george?
max
i am not
he got a new phone?
charles
yes :(
sorry for bother
max
it is fine
but u should not kill george if he misses ur exhibition because he doesn't know avt it
charles
i will find a way to let him know
max
artist?
charles
yes, its like my biggest exhibition later so
sorry.
ill let u sleep or whatever
max
you do not have to.
I'm in a different time zone to monaco
charles
yes?
max
yeah i travel for work
its not that glamorous
well. its p glamorous
charles
ah
a monaco transplant?
max
yes
charles
:*(
max
having said that i do need to collect my coworker from the airport
u would think theyd organise their own travel, but alas.
charles
oh okay
drive safe :)
max
ill drive fast
less time for accidents.
charles
erm…
19:54
max
UGH
home bur i need to rant and ur the only person in my phone that is safe to tell
the plane was late abd then
im like high up jn our industry so hes talking the whole time which
was brill i love talking abt the technical parts and the optimizing n shit
but its a job thats likr
we're on the clock for a long time
charles
so the unwinding time is important?
max
yeaha
and i dont mind like i say
hes a gr8 kid and like
inconvenience is part of human connection
but i landed at home earlier, then drove, picked him up we talked shop for the whole drive and then i walked out to the bit of my job that involves talking to people
and its like
im jetlagged af and give me a break
i could've got some1 else to pick him up tbf
but that seemed mean
and slow
and i did invite him to stay w me
coz works in monaco
so it felt right yk?
charles
yeah
nice of u tho
max
well i love driving
and it wasnt far
charles
yeah
sorryi gotta go
george is round and being a dick
max
🙄
charles
i quite agree
say hi to the prodigal coworker
max
“hey kiddo wrong number says hi”
wont come off as creepy
charles
fair point
8:35
max
how was the exhibition anyway
charles
it was good i think
i dont know
max
did george go in the end
charles
yes
i have his actual number as well now
🥳
max
great
im glad
charles
and the prodigal coworker
max
hes p young
so it was good
charles
not annoying?
max
in comparison to the rest?
he is a dream.
charles
is it a victory by association thing
max
not completely
hes a sweet kid
not that i tell him that
charles
good
keep the ego down
max
precisely
hes rlly talented
lot of potential
charles
you talk about him like i talk about my dog
then again i talk about my dog like most talk abt their kids
max
fr
my cats are the closest things to kids im getting any time soon
charles
cats?
and no photos?
max
u say having not sent pics of ur dog
charles
[a picture of a puppy, golden haired and elegant]
leo :)
max
[a picture of two bengal cats curled around each other]
jimmy and sassy
and little donatello
[a white cat lying on a bed, pawing the camera.]
charles
oh my goodness
they are beautiful
look at baby donot
ello
holy shit
max
baby donot
charles
you are mean
after i showed u my beautiful boy
max
ur right
baby donut is beautiful
charles
i am not talking to u
max
don't be like that
… stranger?
21:42
charles
ru sorry
max
for making fun of you?
never schat
charles
dutch
i would care if u were sorry
max
yeah i know im a transplant
stranger?
23:16
max
fine
u win
im sorry
charles
was that so hard.
max
yes.
impossible.
but u make me do impossible thjngs
charles
like apologising?
max
precisely
charles
you're dutch?
max
yeah
moved around a lot for training when i was little, so
charles
me too
what were u training for
max
karting
dad was big into it
charles
no way me too
max
fuck
thats crazy
charles
yeah
coincidences man
theyll get ya
max
mhm…
coincidences.
this george u speak of
whats his surname
charles
i am not going to tell u that
stranger danger
what if u r a pedophile
max
is george a child
charles
why do you want to know
to pedophile him?
max
no
and i dont think pedophile is a verb
charles
a verb is a doing word, yes?
but i do not think ur mum is a verb
and i do her anyway
max
the george. his surname.
charles
no
max
but if im right
i was wrong when i told u not to kill george if he missed ur exhibition
if its george russell you should kill him always.
charles
…
its… not?
max
mhm
[a selfie of him, revealing his face]
charles
we can all google a photo of max verstappen
that doesn't make us special
max
well who ru
charles
u say that like i believe you
max
reverse image search the photo or smth
jfc
charles
huh
how do i know u didnt take that of him
max
i did take that of me
charles
no
i knew max when he was young
he's a dickhead
not like you
max
we know each other?
charles
dont pmo
max
🙄
im yelling at george russell
he will call when i am done and explain
charles
explain what
max
i sense we have been the victim of russell plotting, leclerc
charles
what tf is a leclerc
max
good question
family of mediocre racers
charles
okay you take that back
GEORGE RUSSELL
23:39
max
hi russell
what did you do with my number
george
haha
so funny story
max
you're so lucky you attended his exhibition or id be killing you right now
george
so i heard you talking about your karting days
and missing the thrill of competing with a certain someone
and i mighta heard a certain someone talking about their karting days
and missing the thrill of racing a certain someone
and purely inchidentally
i knew both
so i got a new sim card
and mighta given your number instead of mine
max
cool
just a question
why did you give CHARLES LECLERC my phone number
i remember him being a dickhead
he was fucking good at karting
thats all
george
well ur mistaken
u thought i was nice at first
and he was fuckinf good at karting
max
so im a poor judge of character
but charles was aggressive on track
did not care for safety at all
george
im screenshotting this
sending it to nico rosberg
lewis says hes still haunted by 2015 max
max
charles was a good driver.
that was a compliment
george
yeah.
max
is he okay
after what happened
george
i dont know
i dont think thats the type of thing people recover from
max
racing huh
cant live with it cant live without it
george
so ur not mad
max
oh no
im fucking livid.
george
oh :(
charles leclerc
23:59
charles
r we killing george
max
perhaps
hi charles
charles
hi max
ur coworker
was that
max
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
hes so talented
he has so much potential
i think he could world champ
charles
yeah.
i miss it sometimes
(This message has been deleted)
max
yeah
i think you couldve
charles
well
a thousand things couldve happened
max
i know
im sorry
i said the wrong thing i know
i do that a lot lol
charles
you did
but it is no catastrophic
it is okay
im here
max
okay
cool
charles
cool
max
ur right tho
its all ifs in racing
charles
u got our dream
minus the ferrari
max
i never dreamed of ferrari
their cars are shit
charles
they have a second driver and everything
max
exactly
would be catastrophic if i had to think about others
charles
same as back in karting then
lol
max
well uve changed
u were a dickhead in karting
charles
hey!
im a dickhead now
im just not rich enough to be a prick
max
eh
google: charles leclerc art
google: charles leclerc
google: heart attack symptoms
charles
what
what does eh mean
max
max
im rich and im not alowed to be a prick
i am, everyone just hates it
charles
the mighty max verstappen
u get away w a LOT
max
ive earned it
i havent been racing anyone willing to go wheel to wheel to wheel w me for a while
charles
well
i havent been racing in a long time
so count ur blessings
max
you know
ur the only man in the world
that would read that sentence and know its a complaint.
charles
sat thru enough maxplaining to know
the money doesnt hurt
but u race because you love racing
max
fucking hell
maybe george was right
charles
of course george was right
he prolly has a fuckin powerpoint about optimising human relationships
max
gonna beef w him as payback
charles
as u should
max
between the two of us
hes one of my better competitors
charles
i figured
the cars good
max
yeah
and the redbull is shit
but hes got the mentality almost
hes not you
charles
we were all brutal at 10
max
too brutal
charles
i know
trust me i know
max
ugh
sorry
i can guess what the crash took from you
and u should never have had to give that up
charles
yeah well.
thats racing.
max
im sorry
im being selfish
charles
yes.
a little
max
god im so sorry
charles
its okay
u can be selfish with me.
max
not at the expense of you
charles
since when was that the arrangement
i will destroy you verstappen
max
promise?
OH
that wasnt meant to be innuendo
i miss being challenged man
im too rich
and too good at karting
and my steak too juicy and my lobster top buttered.
charles
its okay
drinking too much champagne will give u champagne problems
i wanna kill you a bit
but its okay
max
i miss you
(This message was deleted.)
no one else gets it
(This message was deleted.)
i miss the track when it was hard
charles
i miss the track with you
god we had fun
max
well at the time i didnt appreciate the challenge :p
but looking back id kill to have that now.
charles
why? even then u loved the race
max
well dad loved the win.
charles
oh
of course mon cherie
sorry
max
never apologise for that.
never apologise for being good at the fucking race
i loved every second
its not ur fault dad was intense
charles
intense is a kind word
i know hes ur father
max
made me a world champ
charles
sure
well i have more to say
max
yeah
i know
my friends often do
charles
i miss it.
max
call me.
[00:32: incoming phone cal]
Max ruffles his hand through his hair as he picks up the phone. The choice to let Charles call was deliberate, but meant he had had an anxious minute of waiting, and curled in the hotel bed of a foreign country, the alienation only emphasises Max's plight. “Look, Charlie, I… I don't know how much I can replicate, or how much mobility you have in your legs, but… Tell me if you don't want this, but if the speed is what you want- I cannot give you racing back, but I can hurtle a Ferrari at 150 miles an hour around a track with you, if you want.” And Max knows he's rambling, and from Charles's huff of laughter he can tell that the man on the other end of the phone knows too.
“Max, I don't know.”
“Is it not what you want?”
“Non, chéri, the issue is quite the opposite.” Charles said. “Well, it is not what I want. What I want is never to have crashed, to have continued karting til I was old and grey, but you cannot give me that. But the issue is that- that it is too close. It is too much of what I want.”
“I understand.” Max says, and finds that he does understand intimately.
“It is very kind.” Charles says, and Max can hear him running his hand through his hair, as he always did when he was nervous in karting. The Monegasque was always polished, always thought through his words in a way Max never did. “May I think about it?”
“Yes. I don't know that I can get Monaco, by the way, street circuit and all, but… Well, I am partial to Zandvoort.”
“And the Dutch would die for you?” He says, that delightful hint of honey in his voice dripping invitingly. Max can't help but replay the words.
“And that. Think about it of course, schat, it will always be an offer open to you as long as I can get it.”
“Oui. Merci. It was nice to hear your voice, Max.”
“It was nice to hear yours too, Charles.”
And Charles laughs, and laughs, and even after the time that had passed, Max still pronounced Charles's name the Monegasque way. “I have missed- racing you.” Charles says. Max cannot help but hope the hitch in his voice was hesitation, rerouting a sentence.
“I have missed racing you.” Max says, the words feeling like glass butterflies. It's fragile, delicate, soft, ornate - a thousand shards of promises arranged just so, the shattered outline of Max's heart beating out in fauna. It's the roughness of Max's mind filtered through a sieve of his father's expectations, and their shared sentiment sits heavy in the air.
“Is Kimi still at yours?”
“Yeah. Are you coming to the race on Sunday?” Max asked. Charles sighs.
“No, I do not think so. George offered, of course, and so did Arthur, but…”
“It is raw. I understand.”
“Not even that, like… I love art. I love making it, I love people seeing it. It rips my heart out through my hands just like racing did. I do not usually miss racing this fervently, oui? It is not usually, as you say, raw - not even now. It is just that… I don't know. It's everything I wanted, everything I had, and everything that took from me, and… I don't know. Maybe it's still raw.”
“It's okay. You'll figure it out.” Max says, meaning it fully. Seeing shadows shift outside, he sighs, waiting for Kimi's telltale footsteps. “I have to go. Speak soon?”
“Yes.” Charles says, and Max can picture the smile beneath the photos of Charles's goatee. He grins, pressing the red button, and slings a shirt on as he pokes his head through his door.
As expected, Kimi is outside.
1:18
max
sry kimz was anxious
9:12
charles
it is okay!!!
good luck for qualifying
9:42
max
thank you
i will try to win for you
charles
win for you
silly
max
i always win for me
lets make a change
F1: Verstappen achieves poll in Q1, 2 and 3!
BBC: Qualifying off to a success for Redbull as Verstappen is in pole position.
18:38
charles
im guessing ur not partying
byt mamma mia
maybe you should win for me more often cheri
max
it was a motivator
q1 2 and 3 r crazy 😭
charles
good luck for tomorrow
i will take you up on ur offer from last night i think
max
cool
nbd if u pull out at any point
FRED (FERRARI)
19:45
max
i have a favour to ask
fred
yes?
max
i have a friend from karting
whos legs are paralysed
fred
Charles Leclerc? Tragic
max
i mean
it is charles yes
look he always wanted to be a ferrari driver and thats not possible now
i was just wondering
can u get me access to a ferrari, minimum 2 seater, thaf i can drive round zandvoort on like the week of the grand prix
fred
i am not toto, i will not bargain for your employment at ferrari
we can do this for you.
max
thank you.
i appreciate it a lot.
fred
if anyone asks
its for the publicity or something
max
is it not
fred
apparently we were going to offer him a contract before he crashed
i cannot take the man out of racing when they already took the racing from the man.
max
thank you.
ADMIN (ZANDVOORT)
19:47
max
hey
got a weird one for you - can i borrow the track on grand prix week like Monday or Tuesday or smth that won't interfere. not even half an hour but i want to take Charles Leclerc around the track please.
if at all possible i will be v grateful
admin
we'll make it work. somehow.
tuesday is your best bet
max
ty
thats rlly kind ty
charles leclerc
12:07
max
this car
is not good
charles
no
max
but i want number 5
charles
yeah
that makes sense
max
:*(
ru still up for zandvoort next week
charles
yeah
max
ur obviously welcome to come to redbull for the actual race
if you want
i think ive sorted most of it?
charles
that does not make me feel the most confident, cheri
max
no its fineee
oh you can come on my plane if you want but then u r somewhat locked into my travel dates so make ur choice on that
i know tickets will be crazy price and im flying anyway
the track is only free on tuesday
there feels like theres more information you need
uh
u r welcome to my hotel of course
i will get a room i am travelling for free shoutout redbull
and its the same one m*rcedes are staying in so g*orge will be there
charles
u ramble a bit
it all sounds wonderful
thank you very much cheri
max
no i do not need thanks
idiot
charles
what will the press say
they might think u have feelings
max
u r the worst still
charles
u missed this
dont lie
max
but the press might say i have feelings :(
charles
they will never know
itll be our little secret
max
FINE
MAYBE i missed you
charles
oh
i missed you too
dramatic much
max
im not dramatic
charles
yes cheri
im sure thats true
max
it is. so.
charles
yes i agree
you seem defensive
max
whatever
ill pick u up for the airport tmrw?
charles
okay. thank you.
cars lowk stress me out now lol
never very accessible
max
its fine
was gonna have to get george anyway
prick wants a flight together
ill do my best to help?
charles
what a gatecrasher
oicking up the whole of monaco?
ty max 🫶
max
might as well get a minivan atp
but no its just u me george and pilot obvi
lando and oscar both figured it might get too icy for them
george russell lives for drama too much to miss out
charles
yes
im sure thats his motive
max
yep.
nothing to do with you.
charles
nothing to do with us
or georges meddling ways
max
precisely
lando wants to play padel so i gtg
or hell keep blowing up my phone
charles
👍
see you tomorrow
LANDO NORRIS
12:32
lando
padel
max
max
max
max
max
u busy
max
stop texting ur wring number
max
max
max
max
max
padel
with me
now
max
max
mate
wtf
lando
u werent texting back!!!!
max
padel now
max
i might be busy
lando
yeah yeah
pls
max
fine
but know its reluctant
lando
why
were u busy pining
max
i wasnt pining!!!
lando
uh huh
so why werent u texting ME
max
i have other hobbies
lando
i checked ur discord
so what other hobbies dyou have
max
coulda been racing
or skiing
or any number of things
lando
sure. you meeting me at the court
max
yeah
walking now
lando
awesome cya
GEORGE RUSSELL
12:54
george
still good for airmax?
max
yes
george
still good to pick me up?
max
yes
dyou want me to cook ur fuckin meal prep as well or what
george
still on for charles joining us?
and yeah if u could
was thinking deliveroo for the whole thing and whatever my trainer makes me eat but whatever
max
🙄
ur the worst
yes charles is still joining us
george
im like cupid for friendships…
unless im like cupid.
max
u make me feel homicidal
george
yeah
love you too
max
ur infuriating
LANDO NORRIS
12:57
lando
can u get off ur phone
max
why, is oscar not texting u back
lando
he is not :(
max
fine
The next morning, Max is up at a time that started with an 8. Given he's the one that chartered the flight and owned a private jet, he's not really sure why he's the one picking everyone up, and he knows he can't be bothered to be with George Russell alone, so he picks up Charles first. Charles Leclerc has always been beautiful, but it's only increased in person - polished facial hair and messy curls. Fortunately, well, intentionally, Max brought one of his uglier cars, one with a boot and four seats, so he stows Charles's wheelchair in the back after the man levied himself into the seat.
“Hi.” Max says, sliding into the driver's seat again. Charles is studying him, and Max knows that he did the same, so he tries not to let the stare phase him. He puts the car in drive absentmindedly and pulls away. “Hi.” Charles says back. The air is thick with all of the things they could say and the things they haven't said, but with the size of Monaco, they're at George's place in minutes.
GEORGE RUSSELL
8:23
max
were outside
move before i use logic and leave u behind
george
jfc
It doesn't take long for George to slide into the back of the car, glancing at the outside. “Didn't know you owned a car like this.”
“Well, it had to be big enough for you.” Max says right back, and George is smirking. Charles turns around, arm propping himself up as he looks at George. “Hello.” Charles's Monegasque accent is clear, and Max might be a bit obsessed with it. George, meanwhile, just grins, and says, “Good to see you. Has Max already forced you into Redbull hospitality?”
“He has rather emphasised the idea.” Charles confesses. “But he's also got to drive a Ferrari, so I might need to give him some team pride.”
“I've been chain drinking Redbulls as a compromise.” Max says, smirk on his face. “You could do the same, lieverd?”
“Absolutely not.” Charles replies. “That drink, it's a death sentence, non?”
“No.” Max says. “Well… no.”
“Yikes.” Russell inputs.
“Shut the fuck up.” Max says to George, glancing in the rear view mirror. “Please. You're here mostly ornamentally.”
“Only mostly? I knew you loved me!” George says infuriatingly. Max debates the merits of trying to get some poor soul to ram into the side of the car George has slid into. “See what I have to put up with?” He says instead, gesturing with one hand. George grins unrepentantly, but Max doesn't turn his gaze away from the road. It doesn't take long to arrive at the airport, Monaco is a small area and Max knows that he and the other drivers all live close to planes. They could probably have walked. Max doesn't like walking, and he wasn't going to make Charles take luggage while wheeling himself to the airport. Now, Russell, that would've been funny, but George would've driven himself.
Max parks in the airport car park, but bypasses the actual airport. After he grabs Charles's chair from the boot, he also grabs the other man's luggage and pulls it towards the plane. George hovers more as Charles moves to his chair, and a part of Max cannot stand it. As much as Charles is now unable to move his legs, he is still capable - but maybe that's just Max, hoping against hope that he'll never have to face the fact that Charles Leclerc wasn't invincible. It's a hard pill to swallow, so Max doesn't face it. If there's anyone who believes in nothing but Charles's skill, then Max would be the only practitioner of that religion. Then again, if there's anyone who believed in anything apart from Max's skill, it would be Charles, Charles who raced Max and then watched Jos Verstappen tear his son's performance to shreds.
When Charles and George catch up, Max locks the car. “Alright, lover boy. He usually makes me chase him the whole way to the plane.” George says.
“Well, you are deeply insufferable.” Max says in reply, offering a sweet smile. Charles laughs, all honey sweet, and it's nearly enough to make Max forgive George's nature as the most irritating bitch to plague his life if it makes Charles laugh like that. They extend a ramp from the plane for Charles to go up, and Max regrets the height of his jet because it's got to be a long ramp. They slide in nonetheless and take off quickly, which is a perk of having a private jet - it waits. It takes a minute to get clearance, but they get it, and AirMax is in the sky.
George gets out Uno, and they pass the time by playing it until Charles tries to flip the table that's very much bolted down. Max and George laugh so hard they can barely breathe as Charles lets out a string of French that Max is certain are not favourable. Max wins the game that they do play, and George packs it up as Charles continues muttering irritatedly about stupid games, tables and +4s. It's not just because he won that Max is filled with renewed love for competition, but beating anyone hasn't matched up to beating Charles in a while. George pulls out a pack of cards, and they play a game of Bullshit that gets far too loud as George ends up with the majority of the deck, calling out every slight even as Max puts down his entire hand at one point, declaring it “one six” with a shit-eating grin. George, not being gifted with a sense of humour, says, “Bullshit.”
The flight passes eventually, and touching down in the Netherlands always felt a bit like coming home. The fans screamed when Max went near them. There was something about the ego of it all - in the weekend of Zandvoort, Max feels like a god. It's probably why he'sso untouchable on track, because he never doubts the car around the Dutch track and he doubts himself somehow less than the usual number of zero. The point is Zandvoort was a really great weekend, so even as he walks down the ramp, Max feels like he is getting buffs and powerups alike.
“Fucking hell mate, you look like a peacock.” George Russell says. Because George Russell is a dickhead.
“People who leech off of my plane don't get to chat shit.” Max says. “Well, George Russells don't get to chat shit.”
“You know you love it.” George says, still under the disastrous notion that he's endearing. Max scoffs, and descending the ramp with his and Charles's luggage, is unable to flip George off. Instead, he says, “Mate, I would love it if you shut the fuck up once in a while, yeah?”
“He's playing hard to get.” George tells Charles.
“I think that is not true.” Charles says.
“Well, okay, whatever.” George grumps, still dragging his suitcase as he climbs into the car waiting for him. “Thanks Max, bye Charles.” He calls and Max nods, opening the door for Charles and putting the chair in the boot once he lifted himself into the car.
GEORGE RUSSELL
12:42
george
thanks max genuinely
bring this up and ill complain to fia
but i appreciate what ur doing for charles
and me i guess
max
its fine
bring this up and ill crash us both out agaun
george
understood.
charles
12:58
charles
ty for the lift 🫶
and like
everything
and that feels very short because youve done so much with so little reason
but ull be pissed at how much this already is
max
yeah
dont mention it
charles
ur so annoying
i adore you
max
i miss nico rosberg
he never wouldve been nice to me
charles
thats coz u traumatised him
😭
max
u watched the INTERVIEWS?
charles
of course.
i loved karting man
hell i was in f2
at that point u dont get to back away
even if ur forced to
max
:(
ferrari and track tmrw at 2?
ill drive :p
charles
u got a rental?
max
yeah
dont like taxis even back here
taxi drivers freak me out coz they freak oht when they recognise me and so i lie to them and then i have to make sure they dont find out
charles
u seeing ur parents this week?
max
nah
my sister and my nieces and nephews are coming to the race
but beyond that no.
charles
good.
max
yeah probably
charles
sorry ange
i shouldnt pry
max
its fine
if anyone deserves to know its u
charles
not rlly
and no one else deserves to know
max
yeah yeah
ru coming to watch me win ;)
charles
if vicky verstappen id there fuck yeah
i always adored her
max
why
she literally came ti like 3 races
charles
yeah but jos never said shit around her
coz she always fuckin verbally scrapped him
and it put a real damper on a victory if u were gonna get yelled at after
like my dad wanted me successful but he wasnt jos verstappening me abt it
max
weirdly sweet
our specialty
charles
apparently
max
okay
i have to go do some media
wish luck
charles
luck!!!
19:42
max
hate media
landos dragging us for drinks
wish luck
charles
luck!!!
ur gonna get so drunk if george is accurate 😭
max
cant
ive got a hot date tmrw lol
charles
what a coincidence
me too
tuesday
13:35
max
okay im going down now
car park?
charles
👍
max
collcoolcool
Moments later, Max is in the elevator and down at the car park, hopping into his car selection. He's had to be deliberate - a good enough car that he can drive it to the race without questions, but easy to drive Charles in. He ends up with a Porsche 911, and when Charles emergs from the lift and rolls down the ramp, transfers himself into the car, Max puts the chair in the storage at the front of the car. He usually doesn't fuck with electric cars, but this was a good choice of car, and will greenwash his image or something as a byproduct. Then again, he has a hypercar in Monaco, so he's not sure how much it will do.
Charles talks. A lot. Max listens, hums, nods, yesses, and is absorbed in the worlds that Charles creates with his stories. He's talking about his day, and Max has never found a Monegasque accent attractive before, but with Charles's passion and soft adoration for the world around him, Max begins to understand. Having picked a hotel deliberately close to Zandvoort, it doesn't take long for them to arrive, and Max is unfolding the chair from the… frunk… And Max isn't a religious guy, he never really saw the need, but he's fairly certain that “frunk” is a sin bad enough to flood the world for double the time.
Charles laughs, and Max realises he's been glaring at the frunk since he put Charles's chair somewhere the other man could reach. He snaps out of his stupor, locking the car and stowing the keys in his jeans. Charles wheels himself forward and Max follows, sneaking in front to shake Fred Vasseur's hand as Fred hands him the keys to a Ferrari 296 GTB. Max whistles, looking at the sleek red car. “What? Redbull doesn't make cars, and I have eyes.” He grumbles. “I like fast. What's this, 205?”
“Yeah.” Fred says. “She's a beauty. I think you will like it.”
“You're not seducing me, Vasseur.” Max says, but the grin on his face says differently.
“I am not talking to you.” Fred says, sitting down. “Mr Leclerc. I hope you love it.”
“Thank you.” Charles says, smiling softly. His hand is brushing over the panel of the car, and Max rolls his eyes at Fred. “What? Not all of us are Toto, tripping over ourselves to get you. I mean, if you wanted to sign, we could work something out…”
“Not happening this year.” Max says. He zaps the car. “Where d'you want your chair, Charles?”
“Can we just leave it here?” Charles asks, evaluating the car. Fred shrugs. “I will be waiting, I want to know how he finds the car. I will keep it safe.”
“Sure. Probably secure, or I'm telling the media.” Max says softly, but the threat is clear. Fred throws his hands up in surrender, "Peace. Crikey, mistrustful.”
“Uh huh. Let's give it a go, oui?” Charles asks, transferring himself into the car with a grin. Max nods, leaving the chair with Fred and a glare over his shoulder before he climbs into the Ferrari.
Max is not a brand loyalist. He likes fast. He owns Ferraris, so this isn't even news, but the sleek red colour does have an effect. He slips into the driver's seat and puts the key in, listening to the engine. “Oh. Can hear the F1 influence.” He says, and Charles sniffs, and Max does not look over because he's terrified that Charles Leclerc might not be invincible. Max puts the car in drive, and says, “Might not be that quick for the first lap.” He lifts the clutch up, feels first gear, and puts his foot down on the accelerator.
They're flying. Max switches through gears, cycles to fifth quickly, gets it down to fourth round the turn, coasts to Hugenholtzbocht, deals with the turn and then, on the straight, he slams his foot down, brings them up to pace. Charles hoots, so Max knows he's not pushing the acceleration too fast for G force given Charles won't have the tolerance he does (or the neck training). They're hurtling round the track, and Max has always known Zandvoort is special, but he never realised this. This magical spark of something, this community of two. They're flying, and the glass butterflies of Max's mental state are finally flying along as fast as the car.
It is, for thirty minutes, perfect. Charles is the right level of noise - never speaking to him to distract him, but never letting him worry for long. It's fragile, in its pure goodness, and Max is down to a cooldown lap where he lets the car slow down, thankful for the time to not decelerate hard enough to give either of them lasting damage. They park right in front of Fred again, and Fred brings the chair over. Max fishes the keys out of the ignition, letting the Ferrari keychain dangle as he slides out of his door, watching Charles do the same.
Charles grins. “That engine, Vasseur, c'est incroyable!” He says. Max engages all of his French knowledge quickly even as Charles switches back to English. “So fucking good. Thank you, mon cheri.” He says, and Max knows instantly that he is the subject, so gives a gruff, “Don't mention it.” Fred grins.
“Careful, Charles, you might imply Max can feel emotion beyond satisfaction and anger.”
“I can, I just choose not to.” Max bites back. “Thanks, Fred.”
“Anytime. Well, I think this was a one off, but the sentiment stands.” Fred says.
“Can't let me drive some more supercars?”
“Got the SF26?” Fred offers. Max laughs at the audacity and hands the keys back. “Absolutely not. Try again next year.”
“Keep your options open. Fair enough.”
“Seriously, thanks Fred.” Max says.
“Trust me, mon lion, it's not an issue.” Fred says. “Camera guy was around, so… d'you mind?”
“I don't mind.” Charles says.
“No. I guess it's fair.” Max says. “Don't spin a narrative that I'm considering Ferrari. Or that I'm nice.”
“I wouldn't dream of it, but it's hard to make this look cruel.”
“Try.” Max says. “Or don't, I don't actually care.”
“Merci, lion.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Max says. “See you Friday!”
“See you, mon loup. Charles, are you attending the race? Perhaps the Ferrari hospitality?”
“Non. I believe I am at Redbull or Max will kill me. And if not Redbull, Mercedes. But my heart is with Ferrari always.”
“Oui. Fine. You must come as our guest soon, though - perhaps to Monaco?”
“Perhaps.” Charles says, noncommittally as Max unlocks the car. Charles must again transfer himself into it, and Max puts the chair in the bastard frunk even as he wrinkles his nose at the concept of a frunk. Fred waves to them and Charles waves back as Max accelerates towards the road.
“That was fucking beautiful.” Charles says dreamily. “God. I miss it. I also really don't? Like I thought it'd be worse, y'know?”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Like I don't miss the g force, or the back pain, or… well, I miss the leg pain, but that's more because of what it represents.” Charles rambles, as he does when he's passionate. Max loves it. “There's no way you just picked up a car that quickly, though, we were what, 200 on that last lap?”
“Yeah, well, wanted to drive at 200.” He says with a grin. “Don't fret, lieverd.”
“I'm not fretting, I'm impressed! That was cool. Thanks, Max.”
“Seriously, don't mention it.” Max says.
“Mhm.” Charles says. “Sure.”
“I'm serious.”
“Hi serious, I'm Charles.”
Max waits a beat.
“You're kidding.”
“No, I'm Charles.”
Max groans, pulling into the car park.
“Get out.” He says, jumping out to get Charles's chair.
“That would work better if I didn't need your help.” Charles says. Max hums, unfolding it and passing it to Charles. “Tell the media I didn't help, ja?”
“Max, I'm not helping with your one man vs the world schtick.” Charles says. “That was really nice.”
“What?” Max says, covering his ears, and Charles stretches his arms, grabs Max's elbow and tugs it away from his face, dragging his head with it. Suddenly, they're face to face, and Charles looks at Max, curls his fingers in his hair and they're kissing.
A thousand butterflies shatter.
It's not the most masculine image, but neither of this, Max leaning awkwardly to kiss Charles, who is clearly leading. It's not the most masculine, but it is… “Weirdly sweet.” Max says.
“Our specialty.” Charles replies, letting Max adjust his body to be less fucking uncomfortable. Max shrugs, and, crouching, tangles his hair in Charles's curls and kisses him again, hidden from the world as they are. And Charles is laughing, and Max is grinning, and it's perfect.
And the camera flashes, and Max glances at Charles, glances at the camera direction, and says, “I'm not running from you.” but he's running nonetheless, after a pap that's already in a car. Max is an athlete who trains his legs regularly and beyond most human ability, trains his cardio just as much, but the car is faster, so he circles back round to see Charles again. He's barely broken sweat.
“At least they got the less awkward kiss.” Charles says, always optimistic. “Coulda been worse.”
“My management's gonna kill me.” Max says. He's walking, now, and Charles has to move to keep up. “Why? That is stupid.”
“Helmut Marco is stupid.” Max says. “But for, like, Qatar and Abu Dhabi… they will not arrest me, because I'm Max Verstappen, and I will never kiss a man in those countries, but it gets awkward. The FIA gets awkward questions about how they protect their gay athlete, and no one will care that I am not gay-”
“Horrible news, mate.”
“No, like. The second I kiss men, they don't care that I like women too, and… there is a difference. It is important to me, ja?”
“Oh, oui, fair enough.”
“And, I don't know. Dad will call me careless, and I'll get a speech about how I shame him, and I don't know how Vick will react, and I don't want her to find out from the media because my family's important-”
“Max. You said her.”
“What?”
“You don't want her to find out from the media. But Jos?”
“Ah.” Max says. “Huh.”
“Oui. So we can call Vicky, I do adore her, and we can tell her. She will be fine with it, oui? She's been defending you since she was like 10, she can handle one more round.”
“Ja.” Max says. “And mama.”
“Yeah. We can do that. Will she be with Jos?”
“Non. They are not together, that often, now.”
“Huh. Good for her.”
“You hate my father so much.”
“He hurt you.” Charles says. “A lot.”
“Ja. Made me world champion though.”
“Oui. I am not sure it was worth it.”
“No?”
“No. In fact, I don't think it was.”
Max looks at Charles. The physical height difference forces Max to think about the crash, about the awful moments, about the red flag, about being certain someone was dead. He pauses.
“Explain?” He asks. It's not really in Max Verstappen's vocabulary, this second chance of elaboration. Charles swallows. “Well, just, what if it didn't? And there are world champions - Lewis doesn't have as fraught a relationship with his father, George's has gotten… more normal over the years, but no one treated their kid like Jos treated you. He didn't have to.”
“But he did, and I'm probably a top 3 driver on the grid.”
“Max, you're the best. We all know it. But he didn't have to… to treat a 14 year old that way.”
And Max knows instinctively which race Charles is talking about. The 2012 crash on an overtake, with Jos leaving him at a gas station, and staying silent for a week.
“It made me champion.”
“You made you champion. If Jos could drive like you, are we delusional enough to think he wouldn’t have?”
“No. But he didn't have a Jos Verstappen.”
“Course not.” Charles scoffs. “Look, mon ange, I do not want to fight. Especially not about Jos, because it is pointless. Despite it all he is your father, and I cannot take back the hurt he has caused you.” And they're both going towards Max's room, he realises belatedly, but lets it happen anyway. “But I will never forgive him.”
“That's…” Max says, but holds his tongue. “It made me world champion.”
“Yes.”
“That has to be worth it.”
“Oh, mon couer.” Charles says. “I would hug you, but this chair makes it difficult.”
“Hug me inside?” Max offers, opening the door and holding it, grateful that Redbull splurges for expensive rooms for their best driver. It means the hall is roomy enough that Charles can get through beside him.
Charles swings himself onto the bed and Max follows suit, putting the key card in the holder and slipping next to Charles in bed. “Should call Vick.” Max says, chin on Charles's curls entirely naturally. “Are you sure about this?”
“Max, we both whinged about missing karting against each other enough that George Russell decided to give me your number pretending it was his. I've been in love with you long enough.”
“Okay. Just checkin'.” Max says, facetiming Vicky.
Victoria Verstappen picks up. The formidable woman relaces the “lil sis 🫶” that Max has her saved under, and she's opening her mouth before she registers the scene in front of her.
“Goedemidda- oh. Hi, Charles.” She says softly, all the fight drained as she switches from Dutch. “Maxie. How are you?”
“Good, yeah. Got a funny story for you…” Max says.
“I bet.” Vicky says. “You will give me Charles's number later?” She demands, and Max looks at Charles, who is nodding, and he nods in response. “So, might have kissed earlier. Might have seen a paparazzi. Might have chased after him for a bit but lost him. Might be snogging Charles on tomorrow's Times.”
“Oh, Maxie. You are making me crazy. I need to talk to both of you, like, individually. Maxie, you are bisexual?”
“Yeah. How did-”
“Max, being emotionally fucked does not make you subtle. Not to your sister. Not to Charles either, by the look of it. Congratulations. I will run interference with dad.”
“Zusje, you are a miracle.”
“I know. Charles, condolences. Are you dating him?”
“Uh, I dunno, hope so.”
“Oh. Have you been evaluated? Psy- what is the word?”
“Psychologically?” Max suggests.
“Ja. That.”
“I have not. He drove fast, Vicky, I cannot be expected not to fall in love.”
“Mhm. We'll revisit this later when you want to confess how long you've actually been in love. You too, Max.”
“What? Why am I catching-”
“Oh, Vick, Charles overtook me today! He push me off the track, Vick! He is too fast, he is too good at karting-” Vicky mocked. Max gasped. “Betrayal. Of the blood.”
“Ja, ja. Charles, hit him.” She says. Charles does, tapping Max very lightly. “I like him. I will meet him at Zandvoort?”
Max sighs. “Yes, Vick.”
“Good!” Vicky grins. “You will have a horrible time.”
“I don't doubt it. Look, I love you-”
“Ja, ja, you are calling mother. Or George Russell. Don't stop bloody whining.”
“Mama, then my manager. Charles will no doubt have texted Russell by the time I am done.”
“Ja, ja. Love you too, Maxie. Nice to speak, Charles, meet you again soon! Love you. Congrats, Maxie.”
“Yes. Love you.” Max says, hanging up. Charles lets his head fall into the crook of Max's neck as the other man kisses his forehead. Max lifts the phone to his ear and begins speaking in soft German, mouthing an apology at Charles. Charles begins texting George, anyway, and Max reads over his shoulder between sentences.
george
17:22
charles
did smth stupid
george
where ru
do you need me
charles
oh
not that stupid
so me and max went to zandvoort and then i kissed him and then some guy got a pic and then we called vicky verstappen and then i texted u
george
fucking hell charles
im like cupid
you snogged max verstappen???
charles
yeah
[a selfie of charles with max, max still speaking on the phone]
hes taking to his mum
idrk who to tell
george
HI SOPHIE
yelled so she could hear 😇
charles
max says 🖕
if anyones gonna be sophies fav itll be me
or vicky tbh
but me
george
olay??? who???
charles
me?
george
asked.
oh also max is gay?
charles
bi
george
that makes sense
i was wondering how one man could have so many homoerotic relationships w his teammates
charles
oi
that is the most straight man activity of all time.
george
kinda true
i support him as a lgbtqia+ ally but hes still w cunt
charles
thanks
max says 👍
george
tell him to dtop reading
what if i wanted to gossip
charles
max says 🤷
george
cunt
charles
i might love him
george
I know charlie
im sorry they forced u to be public about this btw
they suck
i miss monaco
charles
HEAVY AGREE
MONACO MY LOVE 🇲🇨 🇲🇨 🇲🇨
ANTI PAP LAWS UR MY BBG
george
yhyh
we get it
charles
id hope so
ur claiming our tax benefits
george
what syou mean
we all live there for the….weather
charles
convincing
good pr answer
george
👍
ily and i support u but REALLY?
MAX?
thats a joke hes acc quite cute w u
id he gets aggressive or borderline violent lmk
ill tell the fia
charles
hi its max. u fucking would wouldnt u? ur such a youngest child u prick. snitches get stitches and quite frankly ull be an embroidered tapestry once im fone
oh
having read a line up - yeah mate but also beat me to shit if i hurt charles pls
got ragebaited accidentally my bad. yeah protect him 🙏
george
might be the most max verstappen thing of all time
charles
watch out on the track
fp1 ❌️ russell crashed out
george
keep dreaming
ill show the fia these texts btw
charles
u would
bdibsinpap
hey george its me again ur best friend charles
sry max stole it :p
oh
qait hes actually cute
not 2 u tho lmao
kinda funny of hi.
george
et tu brutus
charles
yeah mate
bool o woh er
george
is that meant to be bottle of water
i was raised in Cambridgeshire mate
i do not speak like a n*rtherner.
charles
bool o woh er
george
whatever
comgrats ur gay or whatevs
charles
yeah yeah
ill cheer for u once on travk
and more if u win
or p3 or p2
george
cool mate
slap out a podium easy as
charles
kay
charles
a couple years later
max
this is a stupid tradition
i cannot see my husband it is stupid
i want to see u
:(
charles
ru texting me at the altar
max
no
have not walked in yet
took a break outside to text u
hurry UP mate
lieverd
i need u
charles
go to the fucking altar
or vicky will have to make u
and im scared
max
good shout
i still think this is stupid as a tradition
i wanna see you now
charles
save it for the vows
idiot
max
schatje 💔
i must go
ily
see y soon
george
george
max is being fucking pathetic
thanks for the invite lad
charles
HE IS?
he was texting me outside 😭
george
jog or hell kick me
charles
yes yes im coming.
INSTAGRAM:
charlesleclerc: got to announce our own news this time. meet mr³ verstappen
[a photo of a beautiful wedding, with Max and Charles in the centre, Max in a black suit and Charles in beige. Beside Max is Victoria Verstappen. Beside Charles is George Russell, clearly holding back tears.. A tiny glass butterfly pokes out of both men's boutonnière. Between the two sits Leo Verstappen, looking very fancy.]
maxverstappen1: forever yours.
[Max has selected a photo of the wedding entirely different. He's sitting in Charles's lap as they cling to each other, rolling down a hill on Charles's wheelchair and picking up speed. Max is cackling and Charles is laughing and they end up in a pile, suits and knees scraped up. the following photo is of them at the wedding reception, with Charles leaning to whisper something to Max and Max laughing.]
vickyverstappen: not to be sappy on the main but my big brother is married and i couldnt be happier for him. @maxverstappen1 this is the best decision of your life. @charlesleclerc… i am glad u r my brother in law but u could do better prolly.
[vicky chose a photo of her fixing Max's boutonnière, centring the butterfly as Max looks at her with a smile. He's clearly nervous and overjoyed in equal measure, buttoning his suit jacket again. She also selected a photo of her, Charles and Max from the portraits, with Max and Charles sat together and her sat by her brother as Max rests a hand on her shoulder as Charles grins at both of them.]
fernando alonso: this will be great for me. he has a husband and dog at home.
[fernando has picked an image of the whole grid together at max and Charles's wedding, stood next to george russell and near max.]
fredvasseur: knew id get them in a ferrari one day. didnt expect to do it twice
[a pic of charles reaching out of the car, a dark red ferrari, towards max, as if to pull him inside. Max grins, taking his hand. It's clearly a selfie of Fred, who is grinning proudly in front.]
totowolff: Is this a bad time to offer him a seat at Mercedes?
[a pic of toto shaking hands with max and charles, crouched slightly to be eye level with charles. both are still in beautiful suits, hair done perfectly.]
georgerussell: yeah mate call me cupid
[a pic of george fixing his own hair, clearly posed as charles, half dressed and shirtless, looks at him like what the fuck. another picture shows george and lando at the reception, clearly drunk as they try and tell charles that he can do better.]