Chapter Text
Yas Marina Island, Abu Dhabi | Dec 7, 2025
The grandstands in Abu Dhabi stood up in unison as the new champion crossed the checkered flag. The confetti broke into the air, the fireworks filled the sky and David Croft’s voice echoed the arena as he screamed – “And after 24 rounds of hard racing, LANDO NORRIS IS THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD”
McLaren garage erupted as the mechanics ran towards the parc ferme to see their driver. Zak Brown hugged Andrea Stella to death and the Norris family jumped in joy as their son climbed his way out of the car in tears.
Oscar Piastri stood next to his second-place stand wiping his face to hide the tears that were threatening to fall out.
He wasn’t upset that he lost the championship. He had made peace with it a month ago. But he could not ignore the lump in his throat or the burning in his eyes as he took a deep breathe to process what today actually was.
His last day as an F1 driver.
No one knew it. Apart from Mark, his manager, his best friend Logan and his family.
He is retiring today.
At Abu Dhabi, after the last race of 2025 Formula 1 season where his teammate is crowned the champion.
He knew the implications. He knew the headlines that were going to spawn out of the evil journalists.
Piastri leaves McLaren after Norris wins the title.
Unable to accept the fact that he is a second driver, Piastri leaves the sport; How ego can ruin a man – read more.
McLaren in shock as their second driver leaves when the first driver wins.
He knew it all.
He didn’t care.
Because he knew why he was leaving and even if no one other than his immediate circle knew about it, he was sure that the person because of whom he’s leaving will know as well.
Oscar flinched at the sharp pat on his shoulder. He looked to his left to see Max Verstappen smiling at him sympathetically.
“Good race mate. Good season” he said smiling faintly, “So close. No worries, you’ll get it next year”
Next year.
If only Max knew.
He will, in few minutes.
Oscar mustered up a smile and said softly, “Good season Max. But I think next year will be yours”
Max laughed and patted his shoulder before leaving.
Oscar turned to watch Lando.
Lando was hugging his mom who was crying. His dad was next to him standing tall, holding back his tears. His friends – Max Fewtrell and Keagan Palmer – were grinning widely at him. And next to them was Magui – his girlfriend.
Something tightened in his chest as he watched Lando walk up to Magui next. The woman smiled in tears and extended his arms where Lando filled the slot hugging her. He tilted his face and kissed her in the parc ferme, in front of the million cameras pointed at them.
Does she kiss you like I did? An ugly thought came up to his mind.
Oscar shook his head to jerk away his unwanted thoughts and gulped down the water bottle, placed there for drivers to cool down before the interviews, in one go.
He didn’t register the people coming by him, patting his shoulder and muttering fake sympathies. Next year Oscar, everyone said.
There is no next year. He wanted to scream but he didn’t. He’ll say it though, eventually, to the mics pointed at him later during the interviews. But right now, as fellow drivers walked to him, he kept mum and nodded his head thanking them for their kind words.
The commentators were still going on gushing about Lando. Can they just stop? The race is over, celebrations have started. In few minutes they’ll go up to the podium. They can stop the commentary. But they don’t. Oscar took slow steps to his team listening to Crofty.
“And there is our champion walking towards his teammate Oscar Piastri. The man who shares a garage with him and his biggest rival in this entire season. The man who led the title for most of the year and…”
Oscar stopped in his tracks as he heard Crofty’s voice and turned back.
Crofty was right.
Lando was indeed walking towards him.
With that wide smile he knew. There were days when that smile was for him and just for him.
Lando was bubbling with energy as he waltzed towards him.
“Oscar” he breathed in pure excitement and adrenaline, the smile never leaving him.
A part of him wanted to scream the news at him. I’m leaving. I’m retiring. And kind of wanted to see the reaction.
Will his stupid smile fade?
Will he be disappointed?
Will he wonder why?
Will he realize why?
But Oscar wasn’t that cruel. He was though, a bit, because he was planning to break the news in the post-race press conference after the podium and what he has planned for after two hours would entirely break Lando. So, the truth was Oscar is a bit sadistic but he wasn’t that cruel to ruin Lando’s moment here, in this parc ferme, where he became champion for the first time.
“Well done mate” Oscar said mechanically and leaned in to give him a half hug.
There used to be times when they never let go of each other after a hug. In the dim light of their hotel rooms, Oscar would bury his face in those curls he absolutely loved and wrap his arms around the small body of Lando. He used to smile and sigh in content feeling that kiss on the side of his neck and the large fingers curled up on his back and broad shoulders.
But that was before.
He felt Lando patting his back saying thank you and Oscar pulled back.
Lando didn’t wait for any conversation as he ran to the team jumping on them and the team gathered him in their hands throwing him in mid-air.
I hope it was worth it Lando. Oscar heard himself say and he turned back to walk towards the cooldown room.
The cooldown room was less of a room and more like a zoo.
Unlike the usual private room, this one had glass windows and Oscar squirmed in his seat watching the huge crowd outside filming him, Max and Lando for their minute reactions and interactions.
So much for a room meant for cooling down. He scoffed internally.
The podium passed in a blur.
He accepted his trophy, sprayed champagne on Lando like a robot – with his media trained smile plastered on his face – posed for photos and walked with Max to the press conference room while Lando stood on the podium where the champion was interviewed.
Good.
He really didn’t want Lando to be there when he says the news.
And it’s a good thing that it’s Max with him. He doesn’t have to deal with sympathy or ugly emotions. Max would treat it practically and maturely. He would make a dry joke and that will be it.
He took out his phone to send a quick text to Mark.
The thing was McLaren didn’t have an idea about this. Although Oscar has his own reasons to leave, the team was never one of them. And Oscar loved that team. That was the only guilt he had while he walked to the press conference room. He was completely blindsiding the team that took him, believed and invested in him. The team with whom he won races in the sport he had dreamt of since a child. The team for whom he won two constructors titles. And he was going to put them in a spot.
He wanted to them to know beforehand. But he also didn’t want Lando to know before the last race.
He looked down to the thumbs up Mark had sent. He had asked Mark to take the legal documents to Zak while he was in the press conference and Lando was up in the podium. The last thing he wanted was Zak to find out while he’s out in paddock via some journalist.
Max was ranting about next year and how he is clearly not looking forward to it. He was hating on the new regulations even before they hit the tracks and Oscar smiled. He’s going to miss this. The classic Verstappen rants to media, completely raw and unpolished and honest.
“Oscar, congratulations on an incredible season” a voice was directed to him and he sat up in his seat.
“It’s unfortunate how this turned out. You were leading the championship for almost half of the season but lost the grip at the end. How do you evaluate this season performance of yours?”
He twirled the mic in his hand for a second before replying.
“This has been my best season in Formula 1. It was only my third season and I clearly didn’t expect to be in championship contention. But the realization came early when I saw that we have a competitive car. As you said, it’s unfortunate but I’m happy with my performance this season. I have given my absolute best and I’m content with it”
He finished it in one breath and lowered his mic.
The journalist smiled and nodded.
Another one raised their hand.
“Do you think you can fight back next season?”
He took a deep breath.
Here it is.
The moment.
He had played this in his head a million times since Zandvoort, in September. There were a thousand scenarios where he presented this news. Some in his dry tone complimenting to the ice-man narrative the media gave him. Some in his emotional voice, the one he generally hides from everyone. Some in his goofy tone which only his family, and Lando, had the privilege to see.
But as he sat there holding the mic, he felt nothing.
“There won’t be a next season.” he said calmly.
The pause after that was intentional. He gave them all a moment to process it. He could see Max snapping his neck to look at him, so fast that he wondered whether he broke it.
He continued. “Today was my last race for McLaren. As of this moment, I’m officially retiring from Formula 1”
His phone buzzed in his pocket. It was Mark, he knew. It meant that Zak has signed.
It meant that it was over.
He lowered his mic and registered the pin drop silence in the room.
Even Max was holding his breath.
Oscar looked at Max and smiled faintly.
Max didn’t smile back. He was blinking. His entire face pale in shock like he had received a blow he didn’t quite expect.
“I’m sorry Oscar but what do you mean?” a shocked voice of a journalist filled the room.
Oscar turned to look at him and shrugged. He spoke into the mic. “It means I’m leaving the sport.”
He could see Sophie, McLaren’s media rep standing frozen at the sides. He saw the cameras zooming at her and then at him. It was very clear that she didn’t know about this.
He cleared his throat and spoke. “It’s completely my decision. A personal one. I would like it if this decision is treated as it is – a personal decision”
“Has this anything to do with Norris winning this year’s title? Do you think McLaren treated you unfairly and supported Norris?” someone spoke up.
He shook his head in no.
“As I said, this decision is personal and it has nothing to do with the team. I would be really happy if you guys didn’t pound on them regarding this” he said with a smile.
He looked at Max again.
He was still looking at him.
How long had he been looking at him.
“Max, how do you react to this?” someone asked and Max turned to them, finally breaking his gaze from Oscar.
He took his mic and cleared his throat. Giving one final glance to Oscar, he said, “Well, if it isn’t clear from my face, I’m as shocked as you guys are. But that being said…” he paused and looked at Oscar.
He didn’t take away his gaze from the driver as he said, “Oscar is an amazing driver and it was an honour to race against him for the past three years”
Oscar smiled widely and nodded.
Max cleared his throat again and continued, “Whatever you’re planning afterward, I wish you all the success. And I hope one day you’ll come back to the track and hopefully I’m still racing then”
He lowered his mic and leaned sideways to give Oscar a hug.
Oscar hugged him back and patted him.
This is the exact reaction he wanted.
And he knew, Max will be the only one who’ll react this way.
His phone was buzzing in his pocket. Constantly.
The news has broken out. Live.
He wasn’t looking forward to conversations.
The best part was he didn’t have to.
In two hours, he would be dealing with a different set of questions.
Lando had taken a break for himself as he withdrew to his driver’s room.
This was the first moment he got for himself to process it all. To take it all in.
He was a world champion.
Lando let out a laugh in disbelief as he slumped on to the small couch.
The world champion.
His dream since childhood.
Now he gets to live it. To have his name etched in history alongside legends.
That huge trophy will have his name and signature next to Max’s and Lewis’. The trophy that carries the signature of Senna and Schumacher.
Lando Norris. World Driver’s Champion. 2025.
He rubbed his palm across his face in disbelief.
That was when a soft knock broke his thoughts and he groaned.
Side effects of being the champion. Privacy revoked.
“Come in” he muttered and the door opened to Andrea Stella.
He frowned. He had already hugged Andrea and the man had kissed his cheek in happiness. Has he come to congratulate again.
But the look in Andrea’s face told him that it was not congratulations.
Andrea stepped inside the room and closed the door behind him softly.
Lando sat up straight in the couch looking at him expectantly.
“I’m not sure whether you know” Andrea began cautiously, “But Oscar has left the team”
Lando froze.
He felt like he was pushed off the stairs and he hit his head.
Like the numbness you feel for the first few seconds when you receive a blow.
“Lando” Andrea called out slowly and stepped forward to sit next to him.
Lando looked at him.
“He said it’s personal reasons. Mark brought the papers. Looks like it was planned earlier” he said, looking down. He looked up again at Lando and asked, his voice turning dreaded, “Did you…did you know about this?”
No.
No he didn’t.
But Lando couldn’t speak.
No voice came up from his throat.
He swallowed and then gasped for air.
“Do you know what the reason is?” Andrea asked again, this time softer, as if he didn’t want to break something delicate.
Lando shook his head in no, slowly.
Andrea took a deep breath and leaned back on the couch.
“Mark didn’t say anything. I cannot find Oscar after the press conference” the man said looking at the door, and not at Lando, “His driver’s room is empty. He left”
He left?
Just like that?
After everything?
Lando mustered up his voice and cleared his throat to speak when the door of his driver’s room flung open.
Magui walked into the room like she owned it.
“There you are” she cried, “Was looking for you everywhere. Come on champion, we’ve got to celebrate”
Lando looked at her and then at Andrea.
Andrea nodded and stood up. “We’ll talk later. Enjoy the party Lando, you’ve earned it” he said smiling faintly and patted his back. He nodded at Magui who smiled at him as he walked out of the room.
You’ve earned it.
Have you? Earned it? A voice inside mocked him.
“Lan” Magui called out as she looped her arms around his neck, “What’s wrong?”
He looked at his girlfriend and nodded no. “Nothing” he whispered.
“You looked shocked” she tilted her head, her blond hair falling off her shoulder and hanging in the air.
Don’t ask me anything now.
Please.
His insides screamed.
“Are you okay?” she narrowed her eyes.
Lando slid his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. Clutching the curve of her waist, he slid his other hand to her falling hair and grabbed it tilting her face further and kissed her hungrily.
Magui moaned and he swallowed her voice as he nibbled on her bottom lip. She parted her lips in gasp and he took the invitation to sweep his tongue claiming her insides. He could feel her small soft hands grabbing his hair and pulling it. A groan escaped his mouth and he walked her back in the small room till her back hit the wall with a thud.
He pulled back from her lips and bent down to map her jaw and throat. Magui tilted her head backwards with a moan and clutched his hair in her small fists. His hand moved from her hair to her waist and slipped under the McLaren tshirt she wore for this night.
She moaned loudly and he bent down to her ears to whisper, “Shh…keep it down babe. You don’t want people to hear you, do you?”
Her hands slipped from his hair and clutched his shoulders. She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow at him. Biting her lip and jutting it out, she whispered, “Do you think I care Mr. Champion?”
He chuckled dryly and stepped back. He heard the whine that escaped her and the hands that’s grabbing him back.
He crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.
“A champion deserves a treat, doesn’t he?” he smirked.
Magui bit her lip seductively and slowly sank to her knees.
As her hands pulled down his race suit and her soft lips wrapped around his cock, Lando closed his eyes shut and tilted his head back letting himself forget it.
Forget what Andrea said.
His hands grabbed her hair holding her head in place as he rocked in hips back and forth.
Oscar hasn’t left.
Oscar is still here.
Just next door.
He could see him after this.
Oscar would be happy to see him. Happy that he won the championship.
Oscar will pull him inside his room and push him on the couch climbing onto him like a koala.
Just like always.
You were so amazing out there, Lan. Oscar would whisper in his ears.
Lando muffled his moans into his fist as he came hard down her throat.
He could feel a ringing in his ear. Rings clouded his vision as he blinked up at the ceiling. His hold on Magui’s hair loosened and she stood up snaking her arms around his waist.
“As much as I would like to continue this” she whispered pressing herself on him, “We have a concert to attend. I want to meet JP”
She stood on her toes to kiss him and Lando let her.
He nodded as she pulled back.
Yes.
JP.
They have a concert to attend.
It’s not far. It’s right outside in the Yas Marina arena where the race happened.
Magui smiled and fixed herself before she left leaving him to get ready.
They were attending the concert and then going to the club for celebrating the championship. But Lando knows half of his friends would be drunk before the concert is over.
He swallowed the lump at his throat that didn’t quite leave after Andrea said those words to him and turned to his bag to get ready.
Lando was a fan of JP.
The first time he heard one of his songs was last year in 2024, after Brazil race. He hadn’t slept for two days after his pathetic defeat to Max where the latter sealed his title.
His best friend, Max Fewtrell, had been gushing about this new artist who was slowly becoming a sensation. Apparently, his debut album – Falling – was released in May 2024 and was an instant hit. There were seven songs and the world celebrated it.
Lando heard it. At first, he heard the track – Slow Motion. Which was the third track of the album.
Then he listened to the entire album.
To Constellations. To Fever Dream. To Falling. To Yours, May Be. To Echoes of You. To Orbiting.
And after two days of no sleep, Lando finally fell asleep that night.
To Fever Dream.
To Falling.
To JP.
He had tried to get Oscar into JP’s music but he waved it off. Apparently, Oscar was into house music and this slow vibe doesn’t suit him. Which Lando found crazy because nothing in Oscar screamed house music.
Lando sometimes wondered whether he found solace in JP because his soft voice somewhere reminded him of Oscar.
There were times when he listened to the tracks that reminded him of Oscar. The softness in that voice was similar to the way Oscar calls him Lan when he sprawled under him in his bed, totally spent. When Oscar runs his fingers through Lando’s curls and that lopsided smile tugs his lips.
A part of Lando wanted to meet this man.
The amazing singer who sounded somewhere similar to Oscar. Who gravitated the whole world towards his music without even showing his face.
Falling won three Grammys in 2025. JP was the best new artist. Falling was the album of the year. Yours, May Be was the song of the year.
And the world held its breath as they expected JP to walk up to that stage.
Even Lando, who never watched Grammys, tuned in.
But JP didn’t.
Instead, a representative of ThinkMusic Limited accepted the award and said some words on behalf of the artist.
By the end of September 2025, JP released a single – For The Record – and announced that it was part of his second album – Senses – which will be out in February 2026.
Unlike Falling and its songs, For The Record was raw and angry. Falling had a particular softness and vulnerability in it as JP navigated through someone – watching them from far like a constellation, not believing that they’re up close to him, falling for them, realizing that he has fallen and then doubts creeping in.
For The Record was angry. He was hurt. He was telling someone that, for the record, you don’t matter to me. But the rawness in his voice told Lando otherwise.
Whoever it was, he or she mattered to JP.
And today, at Abu Dhabi, JP was performing.
For the first time. Live.
It was announced a month ago from FIA, that JP will be holding a concert at Yas Marina after the final race.
And looking at the grandstands today, Lando wondered whether half of the people out there came for the race or for JP. Because Abu Dhabi was never this packed. Even during 2021 final race, it wasn’t buzzing like this.
This was for JP.
Not for him or the McLaren or the rivalry.
Entirely for JP.
And even Lando, the world champion, couldn’t help but long to meet the voice behind Fever Dream, which had been topping his playlist for a year.
You were lights away
Still somehow, everywhere
Like a constellation
Too far for me to touch
Too close for me to look away
Everybody touched the ground around you
And I just watched
From the orbit, terrified
Half in love with who you might be
Half with the way you caught light
With the way you brought light
Lando didn’t register Magui clinging to him as he watched the dark figure on the stage.
He was singing Constellations.
The entire arena was dark with just the torch lights waving along with the soft voice.
All drivers along with their families and several F1 crew members were scattered around the area which FIA had allocated for them. Closer to stage. Away from fans. Private VIP area for them to watch JP live.
Lando looked at the stage.
There was a huge piano and a figure behind it. The light only lit up the piano and not the man behind it. But Lando saw the pale hands and small fingers that pressed the keys.
Looks like Oscar. A voice inside him screamed.
Please.
Stop with Oscar.
Lando shook his head. He was not ready to accept Andrea’s words and now he was seeing Oscar everywhere.
Even on the stage where JP was performing.
Maybe in another lifetime
We meet before the world gets loud
You look at me like I’m somebody
Not just another face in the crowd
He closed his eyes and moved slowly along with the waves of his voice.
JP performed the entire album.
Right from Constellations to Orbiting, he sang softly into the mic with his hands grazing the piano keys.
And then he paused.
Lando opened his eyes when the arena filled with silence as everyone looked at the stage expectantly.
JP cleared his throat and said, “Today is a special day for me. Today I stepped away from a dream I grew up chasing” he spoke softly, “And for the first time, I get to choose what defines me next”
Few murmurs arose in the crowd as people looked at each other confused at what JP meant.
And then people stilled as they watched JP slowly stand up. The hoodie he was wearing was covering his face, preventing any light to reach him.
Several phones rose up to capture the moment.
Is he going to reveal himself?
Are we seeing JP for the first time?
“I’ve been called a lot of things in my life,” he said softly, “But my favourite name was almost my first.”
The crowd had gone completely silent now.
“My mum fought very hard for it, apparently. Lost the argument in the end and eventually settled for it as my middle name.”
A few quiet laughs rippled through Yas Marina.
“Still calls me that sometimes when it’s just the two of us.”
He stepped away from the shadows slowly, the piano light catching only the outline of him.
“And that’s the name I chose for this. For the part of me that existed when nobody else was watching.”
Another step forward.
“Hi, Yas Marina…”
He reached up, pulling back the hood.
“I’m Jack.”
The spotlight rose gradually onto him.
Gasps broke through the stadium before he could finish.
“Oscar Jack Piastri.”