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Mark Webber is not Oscar Piastri's father.
Despite what the media and the press says about him, Mark Webber is strictly Oscar’s manager. That’s it. Now it wouldn’t be false to say that during the six years of being Oscar’s manager Mark had developed a paternal-like care for the younger Aussie. Sure Mark would give Oscar advice after tough races, offer him stories of Australia when the younger got homesick, and occasionally give him tight hugs when Oscar needed it. All that being said, Mark Webber is not Oscar Piastri’s father.
But if he was, there's no way he’d approve of Lando Norris
Mark had been hesitant about Oscar joining Mclaren for his F1 debut. Sure it was a million times better than Alpine, as Oscar had generously pointed out about a million times. But Oscar was innocent and naive to the politics of racing. After spending nearly his entire career as the second seat driver, Mark knew a thing or two about team favoritism.
And from the bat it was clear that for Mclaren the sun rose and set with Lando Norris. The first interview Oscar and Mark had attended at the Mclaren headquarters, Zak Brown couldn’t seem to keep Norris’s name out of his mouth. Every sentence was “Lando this” and “Mclaren helped Lando achieve that”. Mark shot Oscar a glance out of the corner of his eye, the older Aussies face wordlessly saying “Can you believe this guy?!”
But Oscar didn’t even notice. The young rookie's face was glued to Zak’s, drinking in every word he spoke of Lando. Mark shook his head in a quiet disbelief that really wasn’t disbelief at all.
Mark Webber may not have been Oscar Piastri’s father, but he knew that kid like the back of his hand. And Oscar Piastri was utterly obsessed with Lando Norris.
Naturally, Mark Webber hated him.
One
2023 Pre-Season Testing dinner. The first Mclaren team event and the whole team was there. Smushed alongside a long table at a high class Bahrain restaurant. Mark Webber found himself letting go of his uptight manager-coach position and slipping into something softer with each sip of expensive wine. Just when he was about to let out a chuckle at whatever Andrea Stella was saying, he caught sight of them.
Them being Mclaren’s golden boy Lando Norris and Webber’s golden boy Oscar Piastri.
Mark leaned just slightly from his spot in the middle of the table to catch a whiff of the younger driver's conversation. Though conversation seemed to be a generous word, since that usually involved two people conversing and this seemed more like Lando singing his own praises to Oscar.
“I’m telling you Oscah, there’s no better feeling than being on the podium in F1” Lando said with a far away smile on his face
“When the crowds going crazy and the champagne spray hits you it’s like-” the brit cut off mid sentence, gesturing wildly with his hands
“Like the world stops spinning for a second, and time itself doesn’t exist. It’s just you and you feel completely and utterly whole, like your entire life is truly worth living.”
Mark scoffs at that. Lando is only 23 years old, what does he know about a life worth living? As a matter of fact, what does he know about winning? He’s been in F1 for four years now and has never seen the top step of the podium despite the entirety of Mclaren backing him.
But one look at Oscar’s awe struck face Mark Webber knew it was a lost cause. The Aussie was looking at Lando as if he hung the moon and the stars, his face shining with all the adoration he carried for Lando since boyhood.
It was almost magnetic, Mark thought. If Oscar adored Lando this much he couldn’t be that bad could he? Oscar had never been one to boot lick, he didn’t suck up to anyone who didn’t deserve it. If Oscar saw something worth seeing in Lando, maybe Mark could warm up to the over ambitious Brit.
The conversation between Lando and Oscar, or Lando’s conversation at Oscar, came to a lull. Then, Mark saw for the first time that night Oscar opened his mouth to say something.
“I mean, in F2-”
“Yeah and don’t even get me started on the circuits-” Lando cut off the Aussie immediately.
Oscar snapped his jaw shut and resumed his role as the delighted listener of Lando stories, appearing more than happy to do so. Mark Webber saw red. Any doubt in his mind that Lando could possibly be more than a self obsessed driver died in his head. Lando was exactly who Mark thought he was, a vain, spoiled, prick who was taking advantage of his younger teammates' adoration.
Mark stood from his seat at the table and made his way toward Oscar and Lando.
“Oscar, we need to discuss driving strategies and adjusting to the car with Andrea and Zak”
“During dinner?” Oscar questioned with a raise of his eyebrow
“Yes” Mark replied sternly.
Oscar gave a sympathetic smile and shrug to Lando
“See you later then mate” The Aussie said while standing up. A glint of something passed through Lando's eyes. A deep care, as if he was truly sad Oscar was leaving. ‘Probably just sad he can’t gloat about himself some more’ Mark decided.
Two
“The team is going to support the more experienced driver”
It was July 4th, just before the race weekend of the 2024 British Grand Prix. The team had asked Oscar to come in for a meeting, and naturally Oscar had asked Mark to accompany him.
Of course, Netflix had somehow gotten wind of the meeting, leaving Mark sitting outside the briefing room watching the conversation unfold over a small recording screen.
“Lando has the best chance to win right now, he is fighting for the championship” Zak Brown said over the table. Lando was watching Oscar’s expression closely, a mix of guilt and hope playing on the brits face.
“Yeah. I understand” Oscar said calmly. His face gave none of his thoughts away.
“As a team it is our responsibility to look out for each other” Andrea added “And we have no doubt that if the time comes Lando would be ready to support you.”
From the corner of the camera Mark saw Lando nod his head, ‘yeah right’ Mark thought. He’d love to see Lando Norris give up a chance at victory for Oscar.
“Whatever I can do to help the team” Oscar wasn’t arguing but he didn’t necessarily look happy about relinquishing priority to Lando.
“Thank you Oscar. We look forward to a great double podium this weekend” Andrea Stella said with a smile. Just like that the room began to disperse as the team made their way out of the briefing room and into the common area where Mark and the camera crew sat.
During the small cluster of chaos Mark Webber missed Lando pulling Oscar back into the briefing room after everyone had left.
“Osc stay here a second”
“If this is about the new team orders you don’t have to say anything. I’ll listen to the race engineers and won’t interfere with the championship-” Oscar started.
“No it’s not about that. Well I mean it’s kinda about that but- I just wanted to say thank you” Lando stuttered out. Oscar raised his eyebrow.
“Not just for being so chill about the whole ‘prioritizing the more experienced driver thing’ but thank you for- god I’m so bad with words- thank you for being you?”
Oscar felt that oh so familiar curl in his stomach. He’d done his best to shake his stupid childhood crush once he became teammates with Lando. And for the most part it seemed to be working. Oscar would avoid Lando when he could, keeping his distance from the elder. But of course, there were moments where they had to be together. Moments in front of the media and the crowds where it would feel like just the two of them. Moments alone in conference rooms and debriefs, where Lando would look at him the way he was now and Oscar would feel a flare of hope.
He squashed that hope down quickly. It was easier to focus on racing, on scoring points, on strategy. Racing might be catapulting at 200 miles per hour but compared to how fast his heart beat when Lando looked at him, like really looked at him, racing seemed like a walk in the park.
“I just mean- I've never met anyone like you before Oscah. People say your boring-”
“Don’t you say I’m boring?” Oscar teased, trying to ease the brits obvious nerves
“Shut up. You know I would never actually think you're boring. You're like the most interesting person I know. Even when your doing things that should be boring like doing Kim’s workouts with me-”
“You mean our job?” Oscar quipped again with a slight smirk
“I’m trying to make an emotional point here!” Lando exclaimed while gesturing angrily with his hands, despite the smile breaking across his face.
“Okay where was I… right! Even when we're doing boring things together it doesn’t feel half as boring or horrible as it did with Danny or Carlos. And I love Danny and Carlos, it's just… different now- in a good way- because it’s you I get to do things with now Osc. That’s part of why I want to win so badly this year. Because it wouldn’t just be winning, it would be winning with you.”
Lando felt a rush of heat surge to his cheeks. He hadn’t meant to drop an entire monologue on his teammate. He just wanted to thank Oscar for always being there. But of course he had somehow managed to screw that up. Lando couldn’t bear to see Oscar’s stiff expression, even though the room was almost completely dark, illuminated only through a shred of light peaking from the door, Lando felt as if Oscar could see right through him. He buried his face into the palm of his hand, willing himself to disappear.
That’s when Lando felt a featherlight touch graze the back of his palm. Oscar guided his hand down from his face, forcing Lando to stare into his teammates dark brown eyes.
Physical touch had never been a problem for Lando. With his previous teammates he’d all but jumped on them. He was quick to shove Danny or embrace Carlos in a friendly hug. But when Oscar joined Mclaren it had been different. The younger was more reserved and kept to himself. Over the 2024 season Lando had prided himself on getting Oscar to let down his walls. The two teammates often found themselves on the floor of Lando’s hotel room playing some stupid video game together or grabbing lunch just the two of them in the Paddock. Lando had of course brushed Oscar’s arm or pushed him away after he beat Lando in mario kart for the 12th time. But it had always been Lando initiating their touch.
Now, in the dark abandoned briefing room it was Oscar who was holding onto Lando’s wrist. It was Oscar who had shortened the distance between them. It was Oscar who was looking at Lando with a hundred different emotions on his face and a hitch in his breath.
Just when Lando was about to say something stupid the door swung open. Mark Webber entered the room, fumbling around for a light switch. By the time the lights flicked on Oscar and Lando were standing halfway across the room from each other.
“Mar- Mr.Webber!” Lando greeted, walking closer to the older Aussie
“It’s great to see you again sir!” Lando said while extending a hand. Mark simply looked down at it and then back up at Oscar.
“Come on Oscar. Netflix wants to talk to you” Mark said sternly.
“Right. See you Lando” Oscar said, practically dragging Mark out of the room with him.
“What did he want?” Mark asked once they were alone in the hallway.
“Just wanted to thank me I guess. For being okay with the team orders and all” Oscar said half hardly a faint blush still lingering on his cheeks.
Mark however was oblivious to Oscar's state.
“It’s bad enough the team ambushed you, now Lando has to go and make a big show of his gratitude” Mark scoffed.
“I don’t think he was making a show” Oscar said
“Trust me kid” Mark stated “I was a number two driver for years at RedBull. The golden boys always feel guilty. Even if they act like they don’t.”
Oscar sighed “Maybe you should just call Vettal. You obviously still have a lot of things to say to him.”
“What-no! This isn’t about Vettal.” Mark defended “This is about Mclaren not realizing you have half the experience as Lando and twice the talent!”
Oscar shook his head, disbelieving but still smiled “Thank you Mark. I don’t know how I'd do this without you.”
Mark felt a strong, totally not parental, okay fine, Mark felt a strong parental feeling come over him.
“It’s my job, kid.” Mark said with a playful smack to Oscar’s shoulder.
“Now get in there and spill all Norris’s dirty secrets to Netflix.”
Three
Mark Webber watched the monstrous Hungarian Grand Prix from his home in Melbourne.
Oscar Piastri’s first win. What had worked for 15 years for. And it was ruined. Soiled and stomped on by Mclaren’s horrible strategy and Lando Norris’s greed.
Part of Mark knew he shouldn’t blame Lando. Lando was in the race for the championship, of course he would want the win, but the win wasn’t his to take. It was Oscar’s. Yet somehow as Oscar stood on the podium without a splash of champagne, Mark knew Lando had taken it from him anyway. Oscar may have been the race winner, but with the stink Lando had dragged for 20 laps, the win was tainted with bitterness.
The sting of betrayal, anger and pride burned in Mark Webber’s chest. He began pacing around his living room, unable to sit still. He was still so proud of Oscar, he thought as he poured himself a drink. Oscar had been leading all weekend, if it wasn’t for McLaren's horrible strategy there would've been no doubt on who deserved the win.
Now there was doubt, it was evident on the faces of the Sky Sports commentators, on the fans' torn faces as they had watched the shit show play out. Worst of all there was doubt in Oscar. Maybe the media couldn’t see it, but Mark could. He could hear it in Oscar’s voice when he apologized over the radio.
He apologized for his first win! He apologized for being the strongest racer all weekend! He apologized for Mclaren’s total fuck up!
Mark’s fist curled at the thought. Strangely, he found that his heart felt more heavy with sorrow than anger. Winning your first grand prix was supposed to be a once in a lifetime experience. It was supposed to be filled with sunshine and champagne and celebration. Oscar didn’t get that and he would never have the chance to get that again. It devastated Mark to know that he could give Oscar the whole world, and he would, but he could never give him back that first race win. He could never give his boy what he needed. And right now, he couldn’t even give his boy a hug.
Mark vaguely wondered if this is what parents feel like when their child is in pain. He wondered if they feel sick, distraught and hopeless like he does right now.
Just then his phone began to ring. The vibrating echo bouncing off the large living room walls. Mark didn’t even check who was calling. He already knew.
“Oscar-”
“I’m sorry”
It was like an alternate version of Oscar was on the other side of the phone. Oscar had always been soft spoken, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have things to say. The Oscar that Mark knew was quick witted, he didn’t take shit from anyone. Oscar knew what he was worth, he wasn’t like Lando where he let the tabloids control him. Oscar had a dry sense of humor but was always unapologetically himself in everything he did. It was one of the reasons Mark saw himself in the younger, Oscar stayed true to himself and his morals and his confidence. This Oscar over the phone sounded like a worn out shell of the one Mark knew. Depleted by the drama of the race.
“You have nothing to be sorry for Oscar. Do you hear me?” Mark said, keeping his voice firm and strong.
“I should have been faster” Oscar’s tone was self deprecating in a way Mark had never heard before “Lando-” Oscar voice hitched on his name, as if that alone was powerful enough to bring back the pain of the race “Lando shouldn't of had to give me the place back”
“He didn’t give you anything that wasn’t already yours” Mark countered “you were leading all weekend Oscar, it was always going to be your win. Don’t let Lando or Mclaren or anybody take that away from you. It was always going to be yours”
Oscar released a breath on the other side of the phone, it sounded as if he was truly breathing for the first time after the race.
“I know. It’s not even about that, not really. I know I was faster than Lando this weekend, I know Mclaren screwed the strategy. I guess the worse part is-” Oscar voice broke off
“I guess the worse part is knowing I disappointed you”
It had been a long time since Mark Webber had felt his heart shatter. That feeling of your stomach dropping and the organs falling into some bottomless pit below. That is what Mark Webber felt because he knew Oscar was crying. The younger Australian wasn’t loud about it. Anybody else on the other end of the phone would've never even guessed. There were no wet sobs, and it wasn't like Mark could see his teary face. No, Mark knew Oscar was crying because it was silent. It was the silent stutter of his breaths, the quiet pitch of his voice. It was as if Oscar was trying to make himself as small as possible. It left Mark shattered.
“You could never disappoint me, Oscar Piastri. Never.” Mark said with a gravely serious tone.
“But- you're my manager. Your job is to make me succeed. And today I did, but I managed to do it in the worst way possible. You spent all these years investing in me and this is how I repay you?” Oscar’s voice was broken.
“I am not disappointed in you Oscar.” Mark let’s it sink in for a second "You've made me the proudest I've ever been this weekend. Watching you in qualifying, getting to tell all my neighbors that my kid is thriving in formula one and it’s only his second year?! Do you know how long it takes some drivers to get acclimated to the car, do you know how long it takes some drivers to even win a grand prix?! And you go and do it your second year?!” Mark takes a breath.
“You are amazing Oscar Piastri. You've made me more proud than anything else in my life. I've known you for seven years and I know you could never, ever, disappoint me”
There’s a beat of silence, Mark can almost see the tears running down Oscar’s face.
“Thank you Mark. Not just for this, but for everything. I never would've been a formula one driver, let alone a grand prix winner without you” Mark swears he can hear a smile in Oscar’s voice.
“You were always gonna be a winner, kid. With or without me, I’m just glad I got to see it happen.”
There’s a pause and Mark can hear movement from the other end of the phone.
“Sorry, I think there’s someone at my door.” Oscar says “Okay, i’m gonna go but thank you Mark. I love you”
“I love you too kid” Mark replies gently as he hangs up the phone.
Screw Lando Norris and screw Mclaren. Oscar Piastri is gonna be fine. Mark knows that now as he sighs and refills his drink. His kid is going to be a world champion one day.
Four
Something had changed between the Mclaren boys after the Hungary grand prix. It was a change no one could have expected.
Where the press had assumed tensions in the team would rise, and the team had assumed the next few races would be awkward. Lando and Oscar proved them both wrong.
Over the next two months the Mclaren boys grew even closer. Wherever Oscar was, you could assume to find Lando Norris trailing behind like a lost puppy. Oscar wasn’t much better. He stared at the brit like he hung all the stars in the sky. The way the two drivers clinged to each other was sorta becoming a PR nightmare, but as long as they weren’t fighting Mclaren couldn’t complain about the new press.
Mclaren couldn’t complain, but Mark Webber sure could. And he did. Constantly.
“He shouldn’t be spending his breaks training in Monaco with Lando. If he wants to train he should do it here. In Australia. With his family.” Mark Webber huffed over dinner at the Piastri’s house. Ever since becoming Oscar’s manager, it was only natural for him to grow close with the other Piastris as well.
“Try telling him that” Mr.Piastri laughed “he’s like a boy with a school crush. Dropping everything to accompany Lando”
“You're his parents!” Mark exclaimed “Why don’t you just order him to come back home. And threaten to tie him to the bed if he doesn’t”
The whole family laughed at that, although Mark didn’t see anything funny about the suggestion.
“Mark, Oscar’s an adult now. He has to make his own decisions. It’s hard to let kids go but that's a part of parenting” Mrs.Piastri scolded with a slight tinge of humor in her tone.
Mark grunted, playing with his dinner like a child.
“Besides we should all be happy for Oscar” Hattie Piastri chimed in “After years of pinning for Lando it seems like he’s the one being chased now”
“What do you mean?” Mark sputtered, nearly choking on his food.
“Come on. Oscar’s been in love with Lando since like forever. But now it’s Lando gazing at him all starry eyed in the interviews. Osc has got to be drinking this up” Hattie said matter of factly in between sips from her cup.
Mark honestly didn’t care if Oscar liked guys. Oscar could like bunny rabbits for all he cared. Sure being gay or bi or whatever would make the sport harder, but it was 2024 and Mark would stand by Oscar through anything. It wasn’t the boy part that made him sick, it was the Lando part.
“LANDO? Oscar has a crush on Lando?!”
Mrs.Piastri shook her head while Mr.Piastri shot her a gaze
“This is gonna be a long night.”
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, September 2024. Oscar had just been released from his media duties as he walked into his driver's room, running a towel through his sweaty hair. This win had been a significant improvement from his last one. He was in full control of the car, no messy team orders, and the podium celebration had actually felt like a celebration. It made Oscar’s heart even happier to know that his manager Mark Webber was in the crowd when he won tonight. He had finally driven a deserving race. And on top of that Lando Norris-
Was pushing him against the wall?
Oscar couldn’t help but let out a stupid giggle as his teammate, now teammate and boyfriend, ran his fingers through Oscar's hair and pressed his lips to his neck. Lando worked diligently kissing every inch of skin he could reach.
“I can’t-” kiss “believe-” kiss “my boyfriend is-” kiss “a two time Grand Prix winner” Lando panted out between kisses
“Lando, what are you doing? Were in my driver's room-” Oscar was cut off by Lando biting down on a particularly sensitive spot, causing a rather embarrassing noise to spill out of the Australians lips.
“I’m doing what I should've done the first time you won a race” Lando said, moving up to kiss Oscar’s jaw.
“Considering we weren't even dating then it may have been a bit weird” Oscar quipped, somehow able to find words through the fog Lando was creating in his brain.
Lando smirked, “Don’t lie. You would've loved it.”
Oscar was tired of the brit kissing everything but his lips. He took Lando's head between his hands and did the job himself, pressing a mind numbingly passionate kiss onto the elders lips.
Lando used to just see kissing as the gateway to sex. It wasn’t like he hated doing it, but for him it was just another mark on the checklist of chasing his own release. However, from the first kiss he shared with Oscar, Lando knew it was gonna be different.
Kissing Oscar Piastri was like nothing Lando had ever experienced before. It was soft and passionate at the same time. The younger always tasted like mint, tim tams and something so undeniable Oscar that Lando couldn’t quite find the words to describe it. More than that, kissing Oscar was addicting. For the first time in his life Lando had found himself getting lost in kisses. Minutes would turn to hours, the boys would find themselves abandoning any task in favor of exploring each other's mouths.
Oscar gasped as the elders tongue explored his open mouth. Not that it was uncommon. When they had first started dating, around a month ago, Oscar was hesitant to touch Lando, not wanting the other to feel smothered by his touch. For so long Oscar had pinned over his teammate. All throughout F3 and F2 he thought his crush on Lando was nothing but a childhood fantasy. Now that it had finally come true, he didn’t want to scare Lando off by being too eager.
However, to Oscar’s surprise it seems the old saying ‘one falls first the other falls harder’ was true. Lando seemed to spend every spare second touching Oscar. Whether it be one of his ridiculously large hands on Oscar’s back, thigh or face, the elder couldn’t seem to get enough of him.
Despite Oscar being the one pushed up against the wall, he slotted his leg between Lando’s, allowing him to grind desperately onto Oscar.
Oscar felt like he was losing his mind. Vaguely he was still aware they were in his drivers room, anyone could walk in. But with the way Lando was sucking on his tongue, rutting against his leg and making these small noises in the back of his throat, all Oscar’s mind could focus on was the chant of Lando’s name.
Oscar moved his hands from Lando’s waist to around the nape of his neck. Completely engulfing the older in his arms as Lando pushed impossibly closer. The shape of their two bodies became one as they kissed as if to consume one another.
Oscar was so wrapped up in the heat of Lando’s mouth and body that he didn’t hear the familiar footsteps of his manager. The blood that wasn’t rushing to Lando’s groin had gone to his ears, painting them a shade of pink and preventing him from hearing the sound of the door creak open.
“Oscar- OH MY GOD” Mark Webber shouted as he threw an arm over his face and slammed the door shut.
The Mclaren boys broke apart with an obnoxious pop. Lando jumped from Oscar’s body as if he’d been burned.
“Please tell me that wasn’t-” Lando started
“It was” Oscar said. There was no emotion on his face but Lando could feel the panic radiating off of him.
“Look, just stay here for one second i’ll be back” Oscar said as he ran to the door.
“But Oscar-”
“Just stay here!”
Lando ran a hand anxiously through his messy curls. Curls that Oscar had just had his fingers through until his manager walked in on them. His manager/mentor that for some ungodly reason hated Lando. The brit bit his nails, this was gonna be fun.
After a few minutes, or what felt like hours to Lando, Oscar walked back in. Dragging a mortified Mark Webber behind him.
“So- err Mark” Oscar started “I guess it’s time to tell you, me and Lando are dating now.”
He could at least try to hide his disappointment, Lando thought. Mark looked as someone had just told him Oscar was being drafted for war.
“Yes! And I'm so so sorry you had to find out this way Mr.Webber” Lando stuttered out, desperate to earn approval “I know what people say about me but I promise you I’m serious about Oscah. I've never felt this way about anyone before and I really don’t want to screw it up.”
Oscar smiled softly and blushed beside Lando. Mark however remained unmoved.
“Who else knows about this?” Mark finally spoke
“Just Lando’s mom and Logan,” Oscar said. “Were going to tell our families after the season.”
Mark's gaze flickered from Oscar to Lando, then back again from Lando to Oscar. He didn’t trust Lando with anything, let alone Oscar’s heart. But there was no denying how happy Oscar had been this past month. Even now as he stood small and exposed, his face was glowing with hope. He hoped Mark would accept him.
“You couldn’t find any other man to make you happy could you?” Mark said while shaking his head. “You know I'll always support you kid, even if I think you could do mountains better.”
Oscar smiled and embraced Mark. Lando stood awkwardly and fiddled with his fingers with a grin on his face.
Mark cursed every god out there for playing such a cruel joke on him.
+1
Mark had somehow managed to keep Lando and Oscar’s secret a secret for four months. Although he wouldn’t doubt it if others knew by now. The entire internet already called Oscar ‘heart eyes Piastri’ and Lando had spent the second half of the season trailing after Oscar like his life depended on it.
It was the first week of January 2025 when Mark got a call from Oscar.
“Lando’s coming to Australia next week” Oscar had said after a few minutes of small talk.
“We want to come out to my parents and… I’d really like you to be there”
Mark choked on his own spit. “Me?”
“Yeah” Oscar’s voice came nervous through the line “I know you don’t exactly have a good relationship with Lando but he’s really important to me and having you there for support would mean a lot.”
Mark Webber could write an itemized list of all the things he’d rather do than sit down and watch Oscar and Lando awkwardly fumble out a confession to the Piastri’s. A long, long list that included getting his finger shoved into a blender, reuniting with Vettel, driving the F1 Ferrari and hitting himself with a cinder block.
But Oscar needed him. Oscar, who had entrusted not only his career but his life in Mark’s hands.
“I’ll be there, kid. I’ll be there”
That’s how Mark Webber found himself sitting in the cozy dining room at the Piastri’s house exactly a week later.
“Lando, we are so glad you could join us” Mr.Piastri said over the clinking sound of silverware.
“Of course, thank you guys again for letting me stay. You have a lovely home” Lando said with a soft smile. To the untrained eye he looked perfectly composed but Mark could see the slight shaking of his nervous leg.
“It’s just so nice that you and Oscar are such good friends” Mrs.Piastri said with a smile “he was so shy growing up, always keeping to himself and his cars, being your teammate has really brought him out of his shell.”
“Thanks for calling me a loser mum” Oscar said with a smile
“I didn’t hear anything but the truth” Hattie smirked
The table broke out into a sibling squabble accompanied by shouts and giggle. After a few moments of bickering, Oscar put down his fork and made nervous eye contact with Mark. The older Aussie just nodded his head as if to say “you're brave. You can do this.”
“Actually Lando isn’t just here to visit, we wanted to tell you all something” Oscar said as he cleared his throat.
“Lando and I are together. As in dating. Together. Each other. We are dating each other" Oscar stuttered out, his face going impossibly red.
Lando shifted his hand on top of Oscars, threading their fingers together.
Mark swore Mr.Piastri’s jaw had hit the ground. Mrs.Piastri’s eyes were as wide as the saucers on the dinner table. Hattie on the other hand didn’t look too shocked. After a moment of silence she spoke up.
“Well about time Osc! For a while there I thought you might have been a nun. Or one of those people with a strange attraction to cars.”
Oscar shot Hattie a small smile, his nerves still clearly playing on his face. Hattie’s words had seemed to break the Piastri’s out of their spell because both of Oscsr’s parents started speaking at once.
“Are you guys serious?! Your teammates, how do you expect this to work?”
“Is this a joke? Some kind of new race strategy?”
Lando looked like he wanted to throw up and Oscar’s stoic face looked about one second away from breaking into tears.
Mark opened his mouth without thinking. “Okay let’s all calm down. This is obviously a lot to take in but Oscar’s trusting us with something that's clearly important.”
Mrs.Piastri took a breath.
“Oscar, honey, I love you” she said as she reached out and cupped Oscasr’s cheek with her palm “Me and your father both do. There’s nothing, nothing, that could ever change that.”
Mr. Piastri nodded before adding, “We're just concerned. For both of you. There's nothing wrong with being gay or queer or whatever you are. It could just be dangourous. You know what some of those countries are like. And you have to spend days there racing.”
“You think we haven’t thought of that?” Oscar replied quietly “It sucks having to fear for our lives because of who we love but that's why we want to keep it quiet. At least for now. I just wanted to tell you guys because my family is my world.”
Tears filled Mrs.Piastri’s eyes.
“Thank you for telling us Oscar. We will support you always. Your our world too-”
Hattie coughed
“-you and your sister are our world. Nothing will change that.”
Mark turned to Oscar and Lando “How do you guys plan on dealing with the upcoming season? I know better than anyone how hard it is to try and be friends with a teammate. To try and be more than that seems impossible.”
Lando spoke up this time
“It did seem impossible at first. Before we started dating I mean, I had a crush on Osc for months but I was too scared to act on it.” Oscar gave Lando’s hand a supportive squeeze and the Brit continued “But once we finally got together and started dating, nothing seemed impossible anymore. I was so happy, I am so happy. The happiest I've been in my entire life. When I'm with Oscar it's- it's like the world stops spinning for a second, and time itself doesn’t exist. I feel completely and utterly whole, like my entire life is truly worth living.”
Lando paused and took a breath
“I didn’t know I could ever feel like that. I try every day to make Oscar feel the way I do too. To make him feel so impossibly deliriously happy that whatever happens on the track stays on the track. So that we can know, trust and love each other not only as racers but as people too.”
Lando turned to Mr and Mrs Piastri, who were listening to him speak with wide smiles on their faces.
“I promise you, if you support our relationship I will spend every day making sure your son knows he’s never alone. Even when the racing is hard and the team makes bad calls, win or lose, I’ll be there.”
Mark Webber leaned back in his chair. Taking in the sights of the soft, happy Piastri’s and the love sick duo of Lando and Oscar.
For the first time, Mark thought to himself “Maybe Lando isn’t so bad”