Work Text:
george russell and max verstappen had been privately together for over a year and only a handful of people knew, their family, alex, lewis, daniel, and kimi. the same people who had watched them go from rivals throwing sharp remarks across the paddock to something much softer behind closed doors.
the rest of the grid had no idea but they knew something was there. no one could figure out whether the tension between max and george was fueled by rivalry or something else entirely. the way they looked at each other for a second too long, or the way they always seemed to find each other in a crowded room, or maybe th eway every argument somehow felt a little too personal.
was it angry or sexual? nobody could tell but they respect the two drivers.
seven races in and it’s been rough for george. rumors had been spreading like wildfire. from sabotage, switching teams, contract renewals, to favoritism, every week there was something new and loud enough to drown out the actual racing. and george was tired.
all george wanted was to focus and go back through the data to understand what went wrong since china gp and to find missing pieces to get back the [points he lost. and if he were being honest, there were moments where his confidence had been shaken. he’s been on edge lately despite a good result from barcelona. but austria was coming and george was determined to come back stronger.
meanwhile, max vertsppen, had his own battles. the four-time world champ has only been in one podium, and it’s P3. and everything else? it’s either his car did not start, did not finish, or parts of his car fell apart… and his temper had been worse than usual.
but despite evrythign happening around them, they have each other. at the end of the day, that was enough. they would sit after races and analyze everything. they would comfort each other, criticize each other on what went wrong, and sometimes, theydid nothing. that was where they felt the most peace.
so when they had a one week break before austria gp, they went home together in their monaco apartment to spend a few days of being normal (or as normal as two f1 drivers privately dating each other could be) before returning to their respective headquarters.
the moment they arrived back at their apartment, max dropped his luggage near the door and immediately walked toward the bedroom while george on the other hand, unpacked his own things first. few minutes later, he found max already lying on the bed. george sighed but smiled.
he took a shower, did his skincare ritual, and only then walked back into their bed. he nudged max’s side gently.
“maxieeee,” george called.
a sleepy hum came from the dutch. “hmm?”
“max, your clothes,“ the british said sweetly. “our bed… please?”
max opened his eyes and pouted. he knew what george meant. george doesn’t want dirty clothes on the bed. every time they came back from traveling, they cleaned themselves up first before touching their bed. max had learned that rule very quickly.
“schat,” he mumbled lovingly, “i’m tired.”
“i know baby…” george replied softly. “but the bed…”
“i’m p4,” max said as if that will make george pity him.
george stared at him. “well, remember monaco and canada?”
that made max laugh. “alright, alright,” he slowly sat up but before george could walk away, max grabbed his wrist and pulled him closer then kissed him… deeply.
“maxiee!” george pushed max softly. “i just showered!”
“so?” max shrugged playfully.
“you’re dirty,” george said flatly.
max gasped dramatically. “i thought you like it when i talk dirty?”
george burst out laughing, “i meant you’re dirty, literally!”
“how about…” max grinned.
“no,” george immediately knew what’s up.
“please?”
“maxie…”
“ehhh, you said you have this new product for skincare…” max said and trying to negotiate. “...and you want me to try it right? why dont you teach me?”
“sure, after you take a bath.”
“you can teach me while taking a bath with me.”
george raised an eyebrow. “you shouldve have asked me that before jumping onto bed and making me shower alone.”
“but–”
“no more buts, go take a bath and i will teach you after.”
max stomped his feet dramatically on the way to the bathroom while george was laughing. after a few seconds, george heard the shower indicating that max started his bath. he looked at max luggage and started unpacking. because if tehre was one thing george loved, it was organizing which clearly not max’s forte. maybe thats why theyre a perfect match.
he separated the clean ones from the ones that needed washing. max who usually wears his red bull team kit now learned to wear other kind of clothes and of course decided to ditch the skinny jeans. george taught him how to wear comfortably but still stylish and not to praise the team kit religiously.
max pack lightly usually so there’s nothing much to organize. after a while, george felt tired from the weekend race and jet lag of course. he decided to lay down for a bit while waiting for max to finish and teach him how to use his new product just like what he promised earlier.
he didnt know how long he was asleep when he felt the bed dip beside him. a hand gently touched his cheek. it was max.
“hey,” george said sleepily, slowly opening his eyes.
“hello, boyfriend,” max said smiling sweetly at george. he leaned closer and kissed george gently. “let’s sleep, ok?”
“but your skincare,” george tried to get up from the bed but max pulled him closer and hugged him tight.
“shhh,” max hushed. “we can do that tomorrow.”
“but you’ll breakout again, your skin is sensitive,” george groaned.
“then i’ll just do this,” max pulled george’s face and rubbed it against his face. “see? the moisture is transferring.”
george laughed softly. “you are so annoying, stooopppp,” he pushed max softly and max giggled in between little kisses and teasing then after a few minutes of being playful he hugged george.
“hmmmmph,” max hummed and got himself comfortable. “you smell so good, schat.”
“i know.”
“i love smelling you, you know that right?”
“yes.”
“makes me calm.”
george hummed softly.
“i love you.”
“i love you, max.”
“always,” they almost said in unison.
“goodnight, love.”
and eventually with the world outside forgotten, they feel asleep as their two hearts bet in sync.
“do you have plans today?” george asked while preparing for his morning workout. nothing intense, just treadmill and a little bit of yoga. he’s still a beginner but it helps him get focused when he meditates. he had been trying to convince max to join him but knowing max, he doubts it.
“yes,” max said.
george looked over, trying to remember if max had said something about having plans today.
“i have plans on doing nothing with you,” max said simply.
“eh?” george tilted his head. that was funny because max verstappen did not know how to do nothing. he can’t literally sit still. he always needs to do something. when he asked max about it earlier in their relationship, max shrugged and just said it makes him sleep at night, being tired and all. but later on, that changed. sleep was easy now and he didnt need to tire his body so much, everything became easy when george came into his life.
max turned to george. “why? do you have any plans today?”
“well, a little workout and… yoga.”
“and the rest of the day?”
george shook his head.
max smiled. “alright, then nothing, i love doing nothing with you,” max smiled and headed to their bedroom to put on his workout clothes to accompany george.
this is how simple their days get by when there’s no race. they usually just sit all day, george would read books or watch documentaries while max played games with his friend. sometimes max streamed and disappeared into his own world with his online gaming friends. then there were days where max went outside for a run or hit the gym. he actually has his own gt3 team. he competes in endurance racing and even made a debut in the revered 24hours of nürburgring. racing was simply part of him and george understood max.
george was more of a homebody. sometimes he would spend time on his yacht whenever max had a gt3 event and watch him on tv. sometimes he cooked… or tried to. he remembered one time when he tried cooking a decent gourmet meal for them.
“fuck it.” george hissed.
max peaked from the living room. “what is it?”
“im trying to cook something for us,” george pouted and raised his index finger.
“why?” max asked.
“well we cant live with tomato soup and cheese sandwich only,” george reasoned while getting frustrated.
max looked at george lovingly, “i’d go for you and tomato soup over anything any day.”
george pouted.
“you dont have to cook for the both of us. okay?” max reassured george.
“but…”
max walked towards george. “schat, we can hire a private chef, really. dont bother okay?”
“i just want to do something sweet for you. for us.”
“babe, just you existing is enough for me.”
george rolled his eyes. “ugh, why do you have to be so understanding?”
“well, that’s on you,” max mumbled.
“what do you mean by that mister?”
“you thought me how to be understanding, schat,” max shrugged and turned away smiling.
and in every george’s whim, there’s max spoiling him.
one thing they both loved doing together was music. karaoke nights became their thing. it started randomly, just like a one boring evening, with a microphone and their questionable singing skills. george discovered that max actually cared about the lyrics. not just the melody but the meaning. and max had learned george loved music beside the moon and the starts. he always hears him sing in the shower.
they rarely go on dates and if they did, it would be very very private but eventually george agreed to small friendly outings with the other drivers. just like before when they werent a couple. and fans will think that they are all just hanging out as friends. they are now back in playing padel and george recently discovered that max really wanted to invite him always in playing padel even before they became a couple but their schedules never match.
sometimes george thought that maybe he’s boring max with his lifestyle but max reassured him that he likes this slow paced life whenever they are together alone. it keeps him grounded and calm, that he didn’t feel for a long time ever since he started racing with all the pressure he got from his father and from himself.
later that day, they ended up on the sofa. george was reading while max was scrolling through something on his phone and slowly, he became quieter. then without a warning, max placed a pillow on top of george’s lap and laid down.
george didnt complain, instead he caressed max’s hair. he looked down at max, overthinking again, he asked, “you cool with this?”
max half asleep, opened on eye. “with what?”
“this,” george said softly. “this is how quiet and boring it gets with me.”
max squinted, shook his head, turned around and hugged george tighter. “you know what,” he said. “i read something somewhere.”
“hmm?” george hummed still carressing max’s hair. “should i be worried?”
“i read that when you’re extra sleepy when youre around your partner, it means youre chemically bonded,” max continued.
“max.”
“im serious.”
“you spend too much time on the internet, love.”
“well, it says there that your body releases hormones like serotonin and dopamine when you're together, which makes you more sleepy..” max explained proudly.
“where did you read it from again?”
“twitter,” max said simply and grinned.
“oh love,” george shook his head and laughed.
max closed his eyes, “but i think it makes sense.”
“hmm?”
“being able to fall asleep next to someone is one of the biggest signs of feeling safe,” max said softly. “your body relaxes instead of always being on guard. that’s peace.”
george stopped laughing and looked at max.
max smiled, eyes still closed. “and i have that with you,” he said as he already falling asleep again.
the british smiled and continued reading because maybe max was right and maybe this was the point. being at peace with each other.
halfway through their one week break, max discovered an online game. which meant george had to accept that his boyfriend had found another way to stay awake at unreasonable hours. sometimes, he would hear max talking with lando and charles while playing. most of the time, it was with his closest friends.
george didn’t mind. he actually liked seeing max relaxed.
one time, he caught max falling asleep while playing. he saw that the computer is still on and the online game is shown on screen. he carefully checked if max is live streaming and whether the camera is on. when he noticed that it’s not, he reached for his phone and dialed someone.
“hey lando quick question.”
“yeah, whats up, g?”
“so, i have a friend playing this game…” george pause.
“uhuh…” lando said.
“he kinda fell asleep,” another paused before he continued again. “and i know he’s breaking a record or something.”
lando laughed. “your friend?”
george ignored the tone. “is it okay to just click save the game or do i need to click something. i dont want to wake him up but i dont want him to loose anything in the game. i mean you know what i mean. you’re a gamer too.”
silence and then, “is this friend of yours, max?”
“lando…”
“alright alright, just click save and it will be okay.”
george sighed with relief. “promise?”
“yes g.”
“thanks mate!” george ended the call
meanwhile on the other line, lando was still laughing and turned toward oscar, who was sitting beside him on the couch, eating timtams (ofcourse)
“osc, will you save my game for me if i fell asleep?
“no.”
“i thought so,” lando nodded.
“was that george?” oscar asked.
“why?” lando glanced over.
“nothing,” oscar shrugged then after a second, “i heard max’s name and whenever there’s max, there’s george.”
“hmm,” lando hummed. “why? you jealous?”
oscar got up from the sofa and threw a pillow on lando’s face.
lando laughed. “oh come on, if you want to stop crushing on george then maybe focus on me yeah?”
“shut the fuck up im going home”
“our date is not over,” lando said firmly.
oscar looked back. “youre just playing a video game there, it’s not a date.”
lando sat up. “you dont want to go out, you wont tell me what you want to do. you said you just want to lounge all day and watch me what i do on a regular thursday. you asked me to help you get over your crush on george and i said yes. you asked for 5 dates to take your mind of off george.”
oscar crossed his arms.
“it’s been 3 dates and we only do is nothing,” lando continued. “i told you i’d take you on a proper date but you wont let me. i dont know mate, i cant help you if you dont want to help yourself too.”
oscar went quiet and then, “fine, lets do something. what do you want?”
a smile slowly appeared on lando’s face.
“nothing stupid, please,” oscar said.
“kiss me,” lando immediately answered.
“good morning,” max said as he kissed george’s forehead.
george only hummed.
“i love you,” max whispered and got up from the bed.
it’s sunday and it’s the day they head back to their own headquarters. george to mercedes and max to red bull. it’s the week for austria gp. max went to bath first and a few minutes later, george went in too.
“i love you too,” george said as he grabbed max’s waist. max immediately rubs the soap to george’s body and started bathing his boyfriend. they had always found comfort in small routines.
“i’m going to miss you by the way,” max said.
“i know,” george shrugged.
“and?” max waiting for an answer.
“well, i think–”
“you think?” max cut in.
“of course i will miss you too, maxiebear.” george said teasingly. “do you have any song for me before we part ways this week?”
max looked at george brightly. “oh yes,” he said. “i was listening the other night and it’s on shuffle. then this song played randomly.”
“hmm, what is it?” george asked.
“it’s brighter than sunshine by aqualung,” max said and started mumbling while humming.
🎶🎵“I didn't have the strength to fight
Suddenly, it seemed so right
Me and you
What a feeling
What a feeling in my soul
Love burns brighter than sunshine
Brighter than sunshine
Let the rain fall, I don't care
I'm yours, and suddenly you're mine
Suddenly, you're mine
And it's brighter than the sun
It's brighter than the sun
It's brighter than the sun, sunshine”🎶🎵
george recognized the song. it’s an early 2000s rock ballad. max has this habit of liking music from the past. he said it feels nostalgic and the lyrics are supposed to be felt.
“how about you, schat?” max asked as he continued to hum the song.
“well, i have this song stuck in my head for a while now and that’s what i’ve been feeling for the past week,” george said.
max waited for his answer then, “damn,” george said suddenly and that startled max.
“wha–”
🎶🎵“I like me better when I'm with you
I like me better when I'm with you
I knew from the first time
I'd stay for a long time 'cause
I like me better when
I like me better when I'm with you”🎶🎵
max started giggling when george sang. “oh georgie.”
austrian gp came like a blur and between simulator sessions, meetings, media duties, and team preparations, george and max barely had time to breathe but somehow, they still found moments for each other. a message before bed, quick call after training, simple “i love you” before going into another long day, because even when everything around them became chaotic, they never forgot to choose each other.
“hey lo–”
“schat, where are you?” max asked over the phone even before george could greet him.
“oh, in a hurry?”
“well?”
“im heading to the dinner, stefano’s. remember?”
“lets meet first.”
george laughed. “we’ll meet at the dinner babe.”
“buuuuuutttt i miss you. i want to see you first!”
“why are you so clingy today?” george raised his brow. “did your team bring upgrades this week?”
max laughed. it was their private joke that whenever one of them gets too clingy, it means that their team is bringing upgrades to the race week and they will definitely have an intense wheel to wheel battle.
“i heard yours did too.”
“we wont use it,” george clarified.
“but you will in the future.”
“maybe.”
“exactly!”
george laughed.
“no, but seriously,” max’s voice softened. “i really miss you. i need to kiss you please. im hungry. im craving for you. please please please…”
and because george was weak when it came to clingy max… “alright alright,” he said.
they meet somewhere private where no one would accidentally walk into. max grabbed george immediately and kissed him passionately.
“i missed you,” max whispered.
“and i love you, so shall we?”
max looked at george and then looked at his shirt. “schat, you ripped my shirt.” (well the make out session got a little intense...)
george laughed. “im sorry! wait lemme–” george put down his bag and looked for a shirt. “here,” george handed max a shirt. “i just arrived when you called earlier so i wasnt able to put down my bag. well, good thing i brought it.”
max accepted the shirt and changed. george reached for his ripped red bull shirt and put it inside his bag.
“you should go, i’ll put my bag in my room first,” george said and turned to max. he fixed max’s hair and removed wrinkled from his shirt.
“go,” george whispered as he tapped max’s shoulders.
“alright, love you, gie.” max said and kissed george again.
“love you, too. see you later.”
they arrived at the dinner three minutes apart, both humming their song of the week respectively. it was going smoothly… or at least it was until lewis leaned closer to george.
“i swear to god i am not going to sit beside you next time,” the seven time world champ said.
“what? why?” george asked.
lewis looked at carlos who is definitely looked scandal on what’s been happening.
“stop giving carlos trauma, look at him!” lewis hissed.
george looked at carlos and he saw carlos’ wide eyed expression as if the world personally betrayed him. “what’s wrong with him and what does it have to do with me?”
“stop playing footsies with max!” lewis whispered so low trying not to catch any attention from the other drvers. “you guys been bumping me and carlos for the past half hour.”
“oh,” george said.
“yes, oh.” lewis rolled his eyes and looked at max who obviously caught on what’s happening between the two british.
“what?” max mouthed.
but before george could even answer, a staff member called them.
“alright everyone, look at the camera for the group photo!”
austria became george’s favorite race weekend so far of the season. after seventy one laps around red bull ring, he crossed the finish line first.
the radio erupted and george shouted, “YABADABADOO!”
finally, a win. as he slowed down, he glanced at the timing screen, P2 - Max Verstappen.
george couldn’t stop smiling. later that evening, after the interviews, after the podium celebrations, after the champagne had dried and the cameras had finally disappeared… he unlocked the door to max's hotel room.
he barely had enough time to put his bag down before max wrapped his arms around him.
"there he is,” max said. "the winner.”
george laughed. “p2 isnt too bad. congratulations, too.”
max shrugged dramatically. "i hate losing."
"there he is," the british laughed so hard.
"what?"
"the verstappen everyone knows."
max smiled. “but the rest of me is only for you."
george leaned into him, and max instinctively held him tighter then pressed a kiss against george's temple.
"i love you."
"i know.”
max pulled away. "...that's it?"
george looked with the smallest grin. "i love you too."
"always?"
"always."
🏁
heyah! i made a playlist for this series.
russtappen boyfriends playlist :)
and here's a few reference in some scenes:
1. the stefano's drivers' drinner 2026 of course
2. what max read on twitter :)
3. the scene where george called lando was actually inspired from a reddit story where his bf was sick and fell asleep and the gf asked on reddit if she could just save the game or something and doesnt want her bf to lose everything in the game. (i forgot where i put the link or a screenshot so i cant find it anymore, it was a long long time ago.)