Chapter Text
November 2023.
Formula one was the most prestigious motorsport in the world. Everybody knew it, the racing championship killed dreams and crushed hopes while providing glory to the one lucky enough to claim it once a year.
To Andrea Kimi Antonelli Formula one and the journey to it was his whole life or at least it had been. He had started karting at the age of six and had steadily worked his way up the ranks from there. By the time he reached the end of his FRECA season late October 2023, Kimi had four junior titles and had won a gold medal at the FIA motorsports games.
It was clear for anyone to see Kimi had the talent and the speed. It was obvious he was destined for greatness and that was exactly why Mercedes had signed him to their junior program back in 2019. Rumours were circling around about his plans for next season especially since he was backed by Prema who were known practically as the greatest team of the junior formula especially F2 and F3.
Not that it was doing him much good now. Kimi knew the rules, knew his time as a driver had been ticking down. Seats were already filled up for Prema in F3 so that wasn't a viable option. His next best thing was to jump straight into F2, a move that was rather risky but Kimi knew he couldn't.
See ever since a young Max Verstappen had shown up in the Formula one paddock and taken the world by storm restrictions were put in place. Max was labelled dangerous and aggressive due to his age and the FIA concluded that teams were no longer allowed to hire teenage drivers instead raising the age limit to drive full-time in Formula one to twenty.
Even now eight years later the rule was still in place which was very problematic for Kimi. He had done the maths, he knew if he got that Formula 2 seat next year and Mercedes rushed to try and get him into their car like they had planned he would be just 19 at the oldest.
There was no guarantee that he would be granted an acception from the age rule either, many drivers had tried and failed countless times.
The sound of footsteps approaching caused Kimi to snap out of his racing thoughts and lift his head up. He had travelled the journey from his hometown of Bologna to Vicenza where the Prema factory was located. René the owner of the racing company and its various teams had called him the day before wanting to talk.
So Kimi sat in the familiar red chair in René's office. He could faintly hear the sounds of engines being fired and smell the lingering scent of car and tyre smoke. His feet tapped impatiently on the floor his nerves practically controlling his body.
The door opened behind him and Kimi snapped his head around to see René entering the room. "Ah Kimi, nice to see you." René greeted as he made his way over to his desk sitting down in his office chair.
"Nice to see you too." Kimi answered back his voice slightly shaky. His hands trembled and he shoved them in his hoodie pockets, this was it.
René sighed and Kimi's anxiety spiked. "Now I called you in today to discuss your future with the team. I trust you understand what a difficult decision this has been?"
Kimi nodded his head his dark brown curls bouncing slightly, "Yes René." he responded automatically.
"Well I am sorry to say but we do not currently have any seats available for you next year. Due to your... age range I've chosen Rafael to step up to Formula 2 instead."
Kimi's heart sunk, it was the answer he had been expecting but also the one he had been dreading the most. He knew deep down it was already too late in the year for him to try and secure a full time driver anywhere else even if he tried F2 and F3.
He nodded once more trying to cover up the disappointment on his face. "Of course, I understand and I know the rules."
René tried to shoot the young teenager a reassuring smile. "We can have you work behind the scenes for us if you like in test and development or I'm sure Mercedes and Toto can sort something out for you."
Kimi didn’t want anything sorted out for him. He wanted to be out there on a racetrack driving at high speed and taking corners like he was born to do. He wanted to battle with other drivers to prove he was the best like he knew he was.
"If you'd let me I'd like to have some time to think about it." Kimi said quietly. He finally raised his gaze from the wood desk looking René in the eyes.
"Of course, take as much time as you need." René smiled softly, "Prema will always be here for you. Perhaps you will be driving for us in Formula 2 next year."
Kimi knew it was a long shot, he had only just turned sixteen four months ago. Still a little bit of hope flared in his chest that he quickly shoved down. He still wouldn't be racing for an entire year and as a junior driver that was a long time. There was no guarantee his skills would be the same when he got back in the car.
"Hopefully." Kimi shot a small smile at René trying to please the man. "I'll let you know what I decide, grazie."
They both stood up and René rounded his desk to give Kimi a hug for what felt like the final time. Kimi tried to enjoy the embrace he usually loved but his mind was racing. René let go of the teenager and led him over to the office door. Kimi stepped out the door and only when it closed behind him did he let out the breath he was holding.
He was officially out of a seat for next year.
His hands shook as he walked down the hallway towards the reception and the front door. He kept his head bowed as he passed a group of mechanics going the other way not interacting like he normally would.
Kimi made it outside the red and white building and stopped a few meters away from the front door leaning back against the wall. He tried to take a few deep breaths, but it was incredibly difficult when he felt like he wanted the universe to swallow him whole. He buried his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking underneath his hoodie.
He was officially out of a seat for next year all because of his age.
It was a cruel twist of fate for the young talented Italian.
Kimi stood there for a long while, his eyes brimming with unshed tears he refused to let fall. He was sixteen he could handle this; he would move on.
Eventually Kimi straightened up and checked the time on his phone. He still had a bus to catch to get back to Bologna (both of his parents too busy to drive him today) and he had at least ten minutes of walking before he reached the bus stop. Kimi wiped a hand over his eyes and ran a hand through his messy curls that desperately needed cutting.
Kimi left the Prema carpark for the last time in his junior career, not even bothering to look back at the factory behind him. He would move onto new things and come back stronger like he always did.
As he walked away from Prema not looking back Kimi failed to notice the tall curly haired brunette that watched him go with a frown.