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When Max decided that he was going to date Charles and Alex, he kind of forgot that they had fans of their own. Well, he didn’t forget, it just slipped his mind a lot of the time.
He didn’t really expect for people to like him too??? He’s not fashionable at all like most of the other drivers' girlfriends (and lord did Alex try), he also doesn’t really post that much; just occasionally on instagram and that’s it. When he does end up posting it’s usually just random photo dumps; stuff like food and maybe Alex or Charles depending on the day.
So it’s weird when people recognize him when he’s out and actually seem to like him. Now don’t get him wrong, Max doesn’t have nearly as many admirers as Charles (obviously) or Alex do. It’s just crazy to get stopped on the streets when people know him. He guesses it has something to do with him un-privating his instagram; randoms can see what he posts now. He can only guess though.
The most notable time for him was when he and Alex were out and about for something; Charles was working so it was just Alex and Max for the day. Max was driving, because he always drives these days. Even when Charles is with them, Max is the one who drives. As soon as he'd parked the car (one of Charles’s fancy ones that Max would have only dreamed of driving before), these three girls came up to them.
Max immediately put his arm around Alex, not sure what their intentions were. He knows that most people aren’t inherently terrible, but it doesn’t hurt to be cautious with this kind of thing.
The girls had been a little shy though, so Max decided they probably weren’t evil masterminds.
“Hi,” One of them said, “We’re actually pretty big fans of you guys.” Max raises an eyebrow at them, he’s really not used to this.
Alex responds to her; she actually knows what to say in this situation. “Hello, it is nice to meet you.” She says, it’s almost like she does this a lot.
This time it’s a different girl that speaks up. “We were wondering if we could maybe get a picture? Or maybe an autograph?” Alex is already saying yes before he can even register what the question was.
He’d just assumed they meant with Alex, since she’s the influencer of the two of them. He didn’t question when one of the girls was shoving a phone into his hand and having him take the picture. After he takes a few to make sure they get a good one, he’s handing the phone back over. But the girl just looks at him with a smile, “You too?”
So Max ends up taking a picture with the three girls, who are apparently fans of his. He’s shit at posing so one of the girls makes him put up a peace sign, it’s pretty silly so it’s fun. He knows he’s super awkward, but they didn’t seem to mind. In fact they were giggling the whole time he was chatting with them, it was kind of odd.
After they had said their goodbyes Alex had linked their arms together, she also had a pout on her face. He didn’t know what that was about, “What’s up? You didn’t like meeting them? You can say no to pictures you know.”
She heaves a big sigh, “That’s not it. Those girls were all over you.” She rolls her eyes after she says it.
Max is pretty confused; he didn’t think that was true? “Were they? It didn’t seem like it to me?”
That has her annoyed all over again, “Max, they were all giggling every time you spoke. I thought that Charles was the only one I had to deal with when it came to attention from other women, now it’s you too!” Max may or may not have laughed at her.
“Maybe I’m just hilarious, ever think of that?” He asks, just to be a bitch.
“Nope. You’re actually the most unfunny person ever.” She says with a roll of her eyes. He definitely does laugh at her that time.
-
Max has no idea how it happens, seriously he doesn’t, but someone has roped him into a silly interview and he doesn’t want to look like a bitch and walk away. He’s seen the worst of what that can do from his fellow ‘wags’. He knows it’s not so bad with him; he’s not a woman. He’s learned from them though.
So here he is; camera in his face, microphone on his shirt.
He was just in the paddock like any normal race weekend that he decides to show up at. Of course the one time him and Alex aren’t attached at the hip he gets wrangled into answering questions. Of course if he really didn’t want to then he wouldn’t, but he would have felt bad since they were respectful about asking him.
The interviewer, he forgot the name of, first starts the questions with something simple. “So, Max. How has your time been this weekend?” It’s easy; an ice-breaker he’s sure.
“It’s been good. Charles doing good adds to that, of course.” Max wasn’t even joking, Charles had been fastest in the first two free practices. Now when they’re waiting for the third to wrap up, Max is sure it will stay the same.
The interviewer must be good at her job, she uses that as the perfect segway. “Speaking of Charles, how did the three of you meet?” He sucks on his teeth and thinks of the answer. He doesn’t really know if he should say; if it would be odd to say.
“I was working.” He doesn’t give anymore than that; she doesn’t ask for more. He’s sure that people know of his job by now; it’s not secret information or something like that. Though, if someone didn’t know, they may think he’s a sex worker or something…
“Alright. What about Formula 1? I assume that you were a fan before getting together with Charles, considering your dad being a driver.” That makes him snort out a laugh.
“Actually the only reason I started to look into the sport was because of Charles. When we became friends I felt bad for not knowing much about something that is such a big deal to him and Alex.” If not for Charles Max would surely not care a single cent for the sport.
“Wow, this is surprising news. I take it you’re a fan of the sport now?” No shit. He wouldn’t show up to so many of these races if he wasn’t a fan, no matter how much he loves his boyfriend.
“Oh, yes. I have grown to love it. One of my friends back home was the one who actually gave me all of her knowledge.” And oh how Linnet did drill him on it. He still shivers with dread at the thought of the ‘pop quizzes’ she used to give him when he was still learning everything.
“So Max, we have to ask. Who is your favorite driver?” The interviewer asks with a mischievous look on her face. “Don’t worry, we won’t tell Charles.” She adds, as if this won’t be blasted to social media.
“Hmmm, I guess it depends.” He says, trying to really think about his answer.
“Depends on what?”
“Are we talking only about the current grid or all time favorite?” He asks with his head tilted and a hand on his chin.
The interviewer looked almost curious about what he would say. “How about both?”
“Well Charles would be my favorite on the grid right now, of course.” He says without hesitation. He would never like to watch anyone other than Charles win. All other current drivers are just boring to watch if he’s honest with himself.
“So what about your favorite driver ever?” She leans forward a little when she asks it, like his answer is actually something interesting.
“Well personally I would have loved to watch Sebastian Vettel in a Red Bull. The way he drives the car really intrigues me, if I watch any older races they usually have to do with him. It’s really a shame I got into the sport only after he retired.” He really does wish that he could have been a Seb fanboy. He would have been the most annoying person in the world about him.
“Huh, very interesting. Does Charles know about this?” The interviewer asks with an amused look on her face.
“Well…Not exactly. We can keep it between us, yeah?” He says with a nervous laugh, he already knows that Charles is about to make a huge deal about this.
“Sure we can.” She says with a wink. He doesn’t believe one bit of that.
Before he can answer the next question he sees that Alex is walking their way; free practice must be wrapping up. He’s being whisked away before he can even blink. He at least waves apologetically at the interviewer, she had been nice enough about her questions.
When he and Alex are back in the garage she looks at him with an eyebrow raised. “What was that? You know you can say no to that kind of thing.”
“Yeah I know. She wasn’t too weird or anything though, so I said yes.” He’ll probably not say yes to anymore though.
“Okay, as long as you weren’t bullied into it.” As if he would let anyone do that.
-
Charles does great the rest of the weekend, of course. Max was glad to see that the interview he had didn’t get posted until afterward, when people wouldn’t be asking Charles about it before or after the race.
Unfortunately it does get posted on that next Tuesday, so Charles does end up seeing it eventually. Max knows as soon as he sees it too, with the dramatic gasping and offended “Max!” he hears from the other room. Charles bursts into the living room where Alex and Max had been relaxing; a betrayed look on his face. “Sebastian?! Over me?!”
Max runs a hand down his face; he should have just never said anything. Alex is looking between the two of them with a confused expression on her face. “What’s this about?”
Before Max can even begin to open his mouth, Charles is already pointing a finger at him. “Max said that I’m not his favorite driver in that stupid interview he did!” Instead of what Charles probably wanted from her, Alex just hides a laugh in her hand.
“Are you serious? That’s so funny.” Alex the fucking instigator.
“It is not funny! Now people are gonna think I'm ass at driving! My own boyfriend doesn't even think I'm good enough to be his favorite.” Charles says with a pout on his face.
Max rolls his eyes at the silly theatrics, “I literally said that you’re my favorite current driver though.” Which should really be enough in Max’s opinion, he could have said Alonso was his favorite.
“That means nothing when you prefer Seb over me. He’s just some blond german! I’m your amazing, beautiful boyfriend!” Max sighs, knowing he’s in for a long conversation.
“Well obviously I wouldn’t date him over you. I don’t see what the big deal is anyway? Don’t you like Seb?” That just seems to rile Charles up even more. Max really doesn’t know what to do to make this up to Charles.
“Well sure I like him. That doesn’t mean you’re allowed to like him!” Then he’s storming away to sulk in their room.
Max just heaves an exasperated sigh and lets him simmer in his emotions, he doesn’t want to go in there too early and just have the same conversation over again.
-
Later, when Max deems it time, he gets up from his place on the couch and heads over to their door. Alex sends him off with a good luck; expression more amused than anything.
Max opens the door slowly to see Charles on the bed with his face way too close to his phone. “Charles?” He looks over at Max with a sigh and puts his phone down.
“What.”
“Are you ready to talk about this yet?” Max asks, he really doesn’t want this to be a thing.
“I guess.”
Max goes and sits with him on the bed; Charles crosses his arms like a disappointed mom.
It’s obvious that Max will have to start the conversation. “What’s got you so upset about everything? I wouldn’t have said it if I had known it would upset you so much.” He says seriously, he doesn’t want there to be any miscommunication about this whole thing.
“I guess I’m just being stupid.” Charles answers with a pout on his face, “Do you seriously think that Seb is a better driver than me?”
Max sighs, if this is some self deprecating shit Max won’t have any of that. “How about this Charlie, Seb is the driver I would like to watch the most that I haven't seen drive yet, you’re the driver that I would like to watch drive the most at all times.” It’s mostly the truth. Max wouldn’t even like the sport if it weren't for Charles, so he’ll always associate races with him.
“Ughh fine. I guess you’re forgiven.”
-
Later when the interview gets more traction Charles forces Max to post a picture of Alex and Charles with the caption ‘My favorites ever<3’.
Max doesn’t mind at all, of course. It’s the truth after all.
-
When other F1 drivers visit the restaurant he actually recognizes them these days. He doesn’t think some of them actually recognize him either way, but he’s fine with that. The only other driver that he actually talks to regularly is Pierre and that’s for obvious Charles related reasons. Every other driver is just kind of there for him.
They will still get seated in his section though, even if he’s one of the biggest F1 fans in the building these days (only behind Linnet of course). But he will still treat them like he would any other customer.
It does get interesting when the drivers do end up recognizing him though, especially when he had not personally met them beforehand.
Like right now, Lando Norris is at one of his tables with Oscar Piastri. He didn’t know that teammates were close like that; eating dinner together just the two of them seems pretty intimate, Max will not be judging though.
As soon as he had gotten to their table Lando was looking at him with recognition. “Oh shit, you’re Charles’ boyfriend!” Max raises an eyebrow at him.
“Apparently so. Is there anything I can get you to drink?” He definitely prefers when they don’t recognize him; then they don't have to do the awkward ‘I know you’ chat. They seem to understand, both ordering their own cocktails. Max nods and heads over to the bar to have them made.
The next time he’s back at their table to give them their drinks it’s odd. They both look at him with bug eyes, then Oscar is speaking. “Did you know that Charles adopted me? That makes me your child too technically.” What the hell is this kid even saying? Is he forcing parenthood onto Max?
“Oh really? Then what can I get you for dinner, can’t have my baby starving on me.” Max says it sweetly to play along. They seem to love it though, so he counts it as a win.
He puts their orders in and gets pulled to the side by Linnet. “So Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, eh?”
“Yup. Apparently I’m one of Oscar’s parents?” He says with an eyebrow raised at her. She’s the one who knows most of that stuff; he really doesn’t care much for the drama surrounding the actual drivers.
“Oh, yeah. It was this whole thing on twitter about Oscar being adopted by Charles so that he could have Monaco as his home race or something." She explains with this amused look on her face. Sometimes Max feels like she’s just always laughing at him and his naivety in these situations.
“Oh. I guess I will have a child now then.” She laughs at him as he goes to tend to his tables.
Max thinks that he is good at his job. He has never really gotten any complaints about his actual service; just the occasional entitled customer. So when these F1 drivers decide to hog him from his job he always gets a little antsy. First Charles and Alex did this when they decided they liked him, now these two Mclaren drivers keep trying to have a conversation.
“Max, you should come see us one weekend. It would be a shame for you to be with Ferrari every weekend.” Lando is saying as Max goes to take their money. “Visit your Son and all.”
Max raises his eyebrow at him; these kids. “You’ll have to take that up with Charles. And Alex for that matter.”
“Maybe I will.” Oscar says with a smug look on his face.
Max knows that this will likely end in disaster.
-
That night when he gets home he ends up giving Charles a heads up.
“I met Oscar and Lando at the restaurant today.”
Charles is immediately groaning in despair for some reason. “Oh my god, those little assholes. Oscar has been begging to meet you forever, something about a second adopted dad. I don’t know but there is no way they were just there for innocent restaurant eating reasons.”
Max raises his eyebrow at him. “Well don’t be surprised when I’m being invited to Mclaren hospitality.” Charles looks very offended at that, almost like just the words would put him out of commission.
“Don’t even joke like that. They already want you in their ranks?!”
“I guess I just have that effect on Formula 1 drivers.” Max replies with a smirk; he knows Charles will be so annoyed with that response.
He’s right, Charles scoffs rather loudly before saying, “Don’t even!”
-
Apparently they were not joking when Lando and Oscar said they wanted him around the Mclarens. As soon as he showed to the paddock the next time he had an Australian on his tail.
“Charles said it was fine.” Max knows for a fact that is a lie. He follows along either way; he’s curious to see where this is going. Alex waves goodbye to him as he’s dragged off, she doesn’t seem too upset about it. She actually seems more amused than anything.
So there Max finds himself; surrounded by Mclaren. A sin to Ferrari if he’s not mistaken, good thing he actually only cares about the team because of Charles. Though, he can’t see himself caring much about Mclaren either.
“Max, you’re from the Netherlands right?” Oscar asks him once they’ve gone up to Oscar’s’ driver's room. It’s a lot cleaner than he was expecting, though maybe he should have; considering what he knows about this kid.
“Mmm, I guess I’m more from Belgium than the Netherlands, I lived in both. I prefer to just say I’m Dutch though.” He likes both countries, of course.
“So hypothetically,” Max raises his eyebrow at where this is going. “If I were to be your child, which I am, that would mean that Spa and Zandvoort would technically be my home races.” Oscar says it with a cheeky grin on his face. And now Max gets it; it’s kind of funny really.
“I guess so.” Max says with exasperation. Oscar is already on his phone, typing away at some twitter post Max is sure he will be mentioned in.
-
Max is back to Ferrari before any racing begins and giggles with Alex about the whole thing.
Charles whines about the whole thing; claiming blasphemy. Max kissed it better.
-
After that weekend he actually gets closer with Oscar, it’s silly; their dynamic. Oscar basically blasted to the world that Max is officially one of his parents, therefore making him add two new home races to his roster. So now Max is just his surrogate parent. He even gets along with Oscar’s mom?? Max has no idea how he ended up here but it’s nice so he doesn’t mind it too much.
Max hears from Linnet all about how the general public are reacting to it. Apparently they’re saying that he needs to get Alex as an adopted mom now so that Oscar has the whole set. It’s quite funny really.
The whole thing has really gotten other drivers to actually acknowledge his existence now? Like many drivers that he never talked to are suddenly talking to him. It’s kind of odd, but he doesn’t mind too much. It’s not like anyone is disrespectful or anything.
So yeah. That’s how things have been for a while now.
Sometimes he still wakes up and wonders just how he ended up like this; with a little too many people following his instagram, and an adopted son that isn’t actually that much younger than him.
He loves it though, and wouldn’t trade it for anything.