Chapter Text
The World Champs
₪ Messages and calls are end to end encrypted
Seb
Hey guys, got a question for you all
Nico
Uhh whats the question
Jenson
Hey guys
Lewis
What is this
Seb
Shut up, look I know we haven’t seen each other for ages
But how would you all feel about maybe dinner one night
You know world champs catching up
Jenson
That might be nice actually, all the interviews about Lewis’s move to Ferrari
Have gotten me reminiscing
Nico
Same
Lewis
Reminiscing is for losers
Seb
You only say that because you have nothing to reminisce about
Lewis
Uh, yes I do
Jenson
Yeah like what
You should look to the future anyway with your move to Ferrari
Lewis
I miss being young ill tell you that
Seb
Guys your getting off topic, dinner?
Yes or no
Jenson
Im in
Nico
Yeah I guess
Lewis
You guys are losers
Yes im in
Seb
Let me know when you are all together for a race weekend
And ill fly to you
***
Later on in the year, their schedules aligned, and they all decided on a bar to go to. Seb was the first one to arrive and he was starting to feel weird about the whole situation. He hadn’t seen any of these guys in person for a while and sure he kept in contact with Lewis and kept up to date with Jenson and Nico’s careers, but he felt awkward about the whole situation. Lewis, Nico and Jenson all see brief glimpses of each other working in the paddock but Seb, he was watching from afar in Switzerland.
Jenson was next to arrive, followed soon by Nico. They got to talking with Seb, catching up, gossiping about the newbie drivers on the grid. It was around 15 minutes later when Lewis slowly walked into the establishment, making eye contact with Nico first and ducking his head. He hadn’t really held up a full conversation with Nico for God knows how long.
Lewis was debating if he should even be out with them tonight, they were all friends, but they were all catching up over what used to be their formula one careers. Lewis felt bad he was here with his new shiny contract with Ferrari.
Drinks arrived—Jenson with a craft beer, Nico something non-alcoholic and "recovery-friendly," Sebastian a glass of red wine, and Lewis sticking with his whisky. The table clinked together in a quiet toast.
While Nico and Jenson were bickering about something Lewis turned to Seb who was smiling fondly.
“You’ve missed this, haven’t you”
“Of course I missed it”
Both men knew they were talking not only about the friendship but driving.
“Your doing really good stuff now man”
Sebastian smiled
“Yeah I know, and I love it, but, its hard”
Lewis didn’t know how to help Seb, out of all of them he was the one who was still living the dream, the one who still had a seat in Formula one.
“I think they missed it too” Seb nodded at the pair across from them
“Well enough about this sentimental crap, what are all the drivers really like”
Hearing that Nico and Jenson joined in the conversation. They were commentors after all, gossiping about other drivers was literally their job.
When Nico caught Lewis’s gaze he held it, a silent acknowledgment, they were okay. As the night progressed the four found themselves falling into a familiar pattern. There was a comfortable pause as they took in the moment, four men who once burned rubber as rivals, now bound by time and memories.
“You know,” Jenson said, leaning back, “if someone had told me ten years ago we'd be sitting here peacefully sharing drinks, I’d have laughed them out of the paddock.”
Sebastian grinned. “Speak for yourself. I always liked you.”
“Yeah, but did you like Lewis?” Jenson teased.
Sebastian and Lewis exchanged a glance—there was history there, complex and heavy, but time had done its work. Lewis shrugged, smiling. “He was never boring.”
“Neither were you,” Sebastian replied. “And I think we all know, Formula 1 hasn’t been quite as crazy without us all in it.”
“Speak for yourself,” Nico said, smirking. “I still get recognized everywhere.”
“You film YouTube videos in front of your car collection,” Lewis said dryly.
The table burst out laughing.
The night wasn’t just a chance to catch up and share a drink between old teammates and rivals. It was a quiet celebration of what they had shared—and who they had become.