Chapter Text
It was the end of the triple header. Except for the weekend in Baku, it was mostly only good for the trash for George. Car issues and then having to serve a penalty in a track where it’s hell to overtake the following week. Yeah, the Brit had seen better for sure.
But now as he came back at his hotel to take some good rest before his flight to Monaco, he looked up at his phone, more specifically on Instagram where on the official F1 page was a new post, old of only 23 minutes.
George read twice the text, but it wouldn’t change the words.
Breaking: Andrea Kimi Antonelli to be disqualified of 2026 season.
To say George was shocked was an understatement. He was in utter disbelief. Maybe it was a bit shameful to admit but before feeling sorry for his young teammate... Well, his heart filled with hope.
The post was attached with a link sending to a 10 pages document that George wouldn’t have read at all if it wasn’t the second chance for his championship title.
To make it short, it stated how external people investigated inside the FIA to find corrupted stewards, illegal engine and components, lighter car and more. The money spend on all of that was absurd but at least George knew where his Singapore cooling jacket went.
The article also stated that they were now investigating on George’s side of the garage. He didn’t know what they were investigating on honestly because it was obvious that George wasn’t as advantaged as Kimi, but who was he to stop the investigation?
There were also the new driver and constructor championship now, updated with the lack of Italian kid.
Driver championship:
Lewis Hamilton: 285 points
George Russell: 272 points
Charles Leclerc: 251 points
Max Verstappen: 249 points
Lando Norris: 230 points
Oscar Piastri: 171 points
Isack Hadjar: 115 points
Liam Lawson: 98 points
Pierre Gasly: 57 points
Arvid Lindblad: 55 points
Franco Colapinto: 38 points
Oliver Bearman: 33 points
Nico Hulkenberg: 27 points
Gabriel Bortoleto: 18 points
Esteban Ocon: 14 points
Carlos Sainz: 12 points
Fernando Alonso: 12 points
Alexander Albon: 10 points
Yuki Tsunoda: 3 points
Lance Stroll: 0 point
Sergio Perez: 0 point
Valterri Bottas: 0 point
Constructor:
Ferrari: 536 points
McLaren: 401 points
RedBull: 382 points
Russell Racing: 272 points
Racing Bulls: 138 points
Alpine: 95 points
Haas: 47 points
Audi: 45 points
Williams: 22 points
Aston Martin: 12 points
Cadillac: 0 point
Well, expect for the good old Cadillac, there was quite the change. George honestly hoped the person who did the new standing made a mistake somewhere because there was no way that George was still second. At only 13 points maybe... But still!
At least now George had a second chance, and he wasn’t going to let go of it so easily. He already disappointed the team (even if it seems they didn’t really want him to win), his fans but mostly him. He couldn’t lose again.
If he wins, his fans will believe in life and destiny again. And if he doesn’t... Well at least F1 artists would have a new wave of inspiration to take from.
But he also knew he wasn’t the only one who wanted this title. Lewis was finally close to an eight and the Tifosi waited 18 years for it. But honestly with 150 points available, everyone down to Piastri had their shoot, even if some needed to give a godlike performance for it.
Suddenly the “all to drive for” had much more meaning to George.
He stared for minutes at the blank wall in front of him, while he couldn’t quite believe he was still very much in the title fight. A small smile creeped on his lips.
His phone rang, scattering his thoughts away.
He quickly picked up, not even reading the number and quickly hoping it wasn’t a scam even if quite frankly nothing in this moment couldn’t dull his spark.
-” George?”; asked a small voice with a recognizable accent as soon as he answered the call.
-” Kimi? Why are you calling me at this hour”, he asked confused on why his Mercedes teammate would call him.
-” Have you seen the news?”, he whispered, tears in his voice.
Ok maybe there was something that could dull his mood right now.
-” I may... Are you okay?”
-” No, can I come crying at your place?”
George nodded before realising Kimi couldn’t see him.
-” Sure, I think my door is open but knock if it isn’t”
Less than 2 minutes later, red-eyes Kimi was ugly crying in his arms and George could only but understood the feeling of helplessness the young man was probably feeling.
-” I-I didn’t even know!”, The Italian stuttered between two sniffing, “I should have pieced it all together. The missing penalty for track limits, the difference in our performances... It was so painfully obvious... I’m such an idiot to have believed I could have won the championship in my second year”
-” Don’t say that Kimi, okay? You’re full of talents and even if you did find out, what could you have done? It isn’t your fault, It’s Toto’s!”
Saying that made him realise he needed to talk to his team principal.
-” I no more can’t race this season; they’re talking about giving my seat to Fred or Doriane for the end races.”
-” Don’t worry, Toto already signed you for next year, no? Obviously, you’re not behind the wheel right now but it isn’t going to last forever”
-” Well Toto’s not here anymore so I don’t know if my contract is still good”
-” Wait? Toto’s not the principal anymore?”, George exclaimed as Kimi rubbed one of his cheeks to stop the tears from rolling.
-” Well yeah... With that big Kimigate like they call it, he’s banned for life from Formula 1”
For life... If it’s a Briatore type of for life ban, he's going to see the Austrian in a short time, not that George was really looking out for it.
-” So, who’s the new team principal now?”
-” We still don’t know, it’s total chaos at Mercedes right now”
George didn’t respond, lost in his wonderings. The other teams are probably going to pick them up if they don’t wake up quickly enough. The Brit felt like the captain of a sinking boat in waters full of sharks.
Finally, Kimi calmed down and was so exhausted he couldn’t even go back to his room next door and George didn’t have the strength to carry him, so he just let him take the other side of his white bed.
He was pouring himself a glass of water, still thoughtful when someone else knocked at the door.
Curious on who might come visit as such late hours, he opened the door cautiously.
-” Oh Russell! Perfect, you aren’t sleeping yet”, said the newcomer as he slides inside past him.
-” Verstappen? What are you doing here?!”, whisper-shouted George annoyed by his sudden appearance.
-” What’s Kimi doing here?”, the Dutch asked, frowning and pretty much ignoring the question.
-” Well, he had some rights to feel devasted, so he came here”
-” He should’ve grabbed a drink and left you alone”, he commented almost disappointed, “Much more effective if you want to know”
-” I don’t want him to be alcoholic like you”, he said as he rolled his eyes.
-” You’re treating him like a baby. You know he’s a fully grown man, right?”
-” This fully grown man just had all his hopes for his childhood dreams crushed in one evening so please let him be”
-” Were you also crying like a baby when your championship dreams were gone the first time?”, said Max in fake pity, “Will you need me to comfort you when I’ll win this season?”
-” Win? You’re more than a win away. Don’t get too cocky Verstappen, I won’t let you do so easily”
-” I’m really looking forward to our title fight”
-” My title fight is with Lewis. Focus on beating Leclerc first, darling”
-” Don’t worry I totally will. I never lie.”
-” This last sentence in itself is already a lie. I’ll believe what I see and it would be embarrassing to not see you in front of me after all those beautiful words”
Max smirked but added nothing and left the room like he came.
When it was empty again, except for the still asleep or really good actor Kimi, George wondered why Verstappen even came in for in first place.
Did he really enter his bedroom just to talk shit like that? Typical Verstappen honestly.
He finally drank this glass of water who he left on the table earlier. As he checked his phone, he saw almost hundreds of notifications from the 2019 rookies group chat.
°°°
@land1to: OMGGG GUYS I4M GOINGF TR WIN THIS FCKING BAKC 2 BAKC CHAMPIONBSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Regina_George: Stop talking like you don’t know I’m here.
@Albono: I’m super happy for you both <3
@land1to: Didn’t u double ur points tho ????
@Albono: Yup and I’m still behind Papy Fernando, sucks honestly.
@land1to: I’ll win this chapionsjop 4 u
@Regina_George: Could’ve been emotional if he learned how to type
@land1to: Fuck u
@Albono: Anyway, it’s not that I don’t like you both, but I need to go to sleep
@: good night <3
@Regina_George: Good night, Alex <3
@: I should go to bed too, bye
@land1to: boring old people going tp ned so earlu... imma talkj wuth Oscariño