Chapter Text
Lewis broke up with Sergio a quiet night of December, a few days after he just signed with Red Bull Racing for their 2021 and 2022 seasons.
The Monaco stars looked extra brighter from their shared apartment balcony. Sergio was sitting outside drinking some whiskey, something mild while he thought about giving the news to his boyfriend.
Sergio couldn’t contain his smile. He just signed with his first big team in Formula 1. After all the struggles, lost opportunities and years of hard work, he was one step closer to his dream of becoming a world champion. He felt like a kid on Christmas day since Christian called him to tell him Red Bull Racing wanted to sign him immediately after his first win.
He knew things wouldn’t be so easy. His contract stated that his first two missions for the team was helping Max become their next champion and bringing Red Bull back on top of constructors. However, he was a fighter, he knew change in Formula 1 was never easy, so he would fight as many times as he needed to prove that he was a worthy contender for the championship too. He had to.
While he thought about the process of buying an apartment in Milton Keynes, since he would spend the majority of his time there soon, he heard the sliding door behind him open and close as a pair of soft lips kissed his forehead.
“Mind if I join you sir?” Lewis asked, giving him a playful smile, his eyes sparkly from the lights outside their apartment building. Sergio couldn’t help but smile brighter seeing his boyfriend.
“Of course!” Sergio pecked on the lips and Lewis sat in the chair beside him taking his hand. “Did you read my text?”
Lewis nodded and kissed his hand. “You said something about big news? Is it about you finally deciding on which team to sign for next year?”
Sergio nodded happily.
Lewis knew about Sergio’s scarce options after Lawrence Stroll basically fired him from Racing Point, instead going for 4 times world champion Sebastian Vettel. Lewis was there with him when he received the news and held him tight the night he cried his eyes out thinking about pausing his dream in Formula 1.
Sergio wasn’t emotional, but he couldn’t help being heartbroken and betrayed by a team he gave everything for. But, he knew his mechanics and engineers weren’t at fault. They all wanted to keep their jobs and Sergio was happy for them. Perhaps, firing him was a step in the right direction for them to grow as a team.
Yet, Sergio cried for the first time in years after receiving the news. Lewis stood strong behind him and even offered to talk with Toto to see if he could be considered for a seat in Mercedes in 2022, so Sergio could take a year off and clear up his mind. Sergio, of course, refused this because he was a stubborn driver that wanted to prove everyone that he deserved to be in this sport by his own hands.
So, he started getting more and more points as the news about his contract were broken to the world, the season went on and he got offers from teams like Alfa Romeo and Haas. Either way, he kept his options open.
Then, Christian from Red Bull Racing called and he was jumping all around the apartment like a dog off leash.
Even Roscoe was confused that day.
Lewis knew about his talks with Red Bull, even though nothing was settled and Red Bull just told him they were keeping their eyes on him, and he kept telling him that it was his decision and he would support him no matter what team he chose at the end. Therefore, Sergio decided not to tell Lewis about the official offer and his signing, so they could celebrate properly. Maybe even go out in a proper date later in the week.
“So?” Lewis said, tilting his head. “Which team is my boyfriend going to next year?”
“Well…” Sergio took the two glasses of wine he was saving for this occasion and gave Lewis one, him taking it with joy. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot, but Carlos said this is my best option.”
“Alfa?” Lewis tried to guess, then sipped on his wine slowly. Sergio bit his lip, trying to contain his excitement and shook his head.
“Red Bull.” Sergio answered firmly, his smile plastered in his face. Lewis face suddenly dropped and Sergio frowned.
“What?” Lewis asked, leaving his glass of wine on the table.
“Red Bull?” Sergio repeated, confused by Lewis’s reaction. “Christian made me a big offer after Sakhir, so Carlos made the process easier and I signed a week ago.”
“Since Sakhir…” Lewis visibly got more and more upset. Sergio didn’t understand it, shouldn’t he be happy that his boyfriend will finally have a car that could compete for wins? “You knew since Sakhir and you didn’t tell me?”
“I wanted it to be a surprise?” Sergio asked, the frown in his face deepening. “Aren’t you happy for me? I will be in the grid next year and maybe fight against you. Isn’t this what we always wanted, amor?”
Lewis took the glass of wine back, avoiding his eyes and inspecting the glass. Sergio didn’t move his eyes from his face, anger pooling in his gut from his boyfriend’s reaction. “I didn’t think you, out of all people, would sign up for that.”
“Sign up for what?” Sergio was getting more and more frustrated by the minute. What did he mean by that? “Sign for a better team that will actually pay me more and give me a competitive car?”
“Sign up to be Max Verstappen’s second driver and defense.” Lewis spat, words leaving his mouth like poison. “You already know how they screwed up Gasly and Albon, don’t you think they will do the same to you?”
“You mean what Valtteri is to you?” Sergio answered quickly back, not thinking twice about the words that were leaving his mouth. He felt his blood boil. How could Lewis question his decision after everything Mercedes has done to Valtteri?
“It’s different.” Lewis looked into his eyes finally, his eyes watering. Sergio couldn’t believe it. “It’s different and you know it. You don’t know what you’re talking about. Red Bull will destroy you.”
“I’m not a rookie, Lewis! I know what I’m doing and getting into!” Sergio raised his voice suddenly, raising from his chair. “What better options did I have? I’m not a multiple champion like you, so Mercedes will never look my way nor am I a fresh talent like Leclerc, so Ferrari is not an option either. Tell me, what other options did I have? Why would I stay in another midfield team when I can win races?”
“Perhaps because you have better morals than that awful team?” Lewis raised from his seat too, both glasses of wine forgotten on the table and Monaco’s lights framing their faces. He looks beautiful even when he’s angry, Sergio thought. “You and I both know how shitty Horner and Marko can be. The minute they don’t need you, they will toss you aside. Max is their star and you will always be their second thought.”
Sergio closed his mouth and fought the tears wanting to escape his eyes. This is not how he wanted their evening to go.
“Tell me Lewis…” Sergio whispered, choosing his words carefully. “Do you think I have enough talent to challenge Max and be better than him solely on race pace in some circuits?”
Lewis stayed silent, looking at the glasses. Sergio swallowed his pride and decided to ask the question he always wanted to ask since Lewis and him started dating 3 years ago.
“Could I challenge you if we were in equal machinery?” Sergio asked softly. Lewis remained in silence. Sergio felt the anger coming back. “I see.”
“It’s not-“ Lewis spoke up.
Sergio interrupted him and laughed ironically, the feelings of anger, sadness and disappointment all crashing down into him. The last 3 years felt non-existent. “It’s good to know my boyfriend never believed in my abilities.” Sergio smiled at him and took the glasses, his fists white in anger. “Maybe I can prove it to you next year when I help Max become champion and he takes your eighth championship away. Maybe then, you will believe in me.”
Sergio quickly opened the sliding doors, walking into their apartment to the kitchen, Lewis’s angry steps behind him. Sergio felt his eyes burning in his back.
“You know what?” Lewis spat. “You will never do it, you know why? Because neither Max or you are better than Mercedes. You haven’t driven a real fast car in all your career, and even if you did, you will need more than that to beat me.”
Sergio tried to calm down, his hands shaking in anger, but he felt like the apartment was too small, too hot. He left the glasses in the kitchen sink and he looked at Roscoe from where he was standing, laying down in the couch watching them fight. He regulated his breathing. He mouthed “I’m sorry” to Roscoe for what he was about to say to his father.
“I don’t need to beat you, Lewis.” Sergio spoke calmly, his hands on the counter. He looked at Lewis in the eye. “Max will and I will be defending him from you when he does.”
Lewis clenched his jaw. “Is that how it’s going to be?” Sergio crossed his arms and nodded, knowing at this point that this may be the last of their conversations and the next time they will cross paths, he will be dressed in Red Bull colors. “Alright, I don’t need another relationship with a rival, I had enough of that with Nico, so you can be out of my apartment by Monday.”
With those final words, Lewis took the keys to one of his cars and walked out, slamming the front door.
The moment Sergio saw the front door shut, he broke down in tears.
What had he gotten himself into?
In Abu Dhabi 2021, Max Verstappen won the 2021 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship, benefited by the incredible defense of his teammate Sergio Perez against his rival, Lewis Hamilton. The phrase “Checo is a legend” was born.
That same night, Max and Sergio started dating.