So beautiful. And the fact that he actually gives long explanation on it is really touching

祝日 / Permanent Vacation
let's talk about Bridgerton tea, my ask is open
Keni
Stranger Things
occasionally subtle

Discoholic 🪩
Show & Tell
DEAR READER

JBB: An Artblog!
dirt enthusiast
No title available
Cosimo Galluzzi
styofa doing anything
almost home
Peter Solarz

★
Xuebing Du
RMH
YOU ARE THE REASON
Lint Roller? I Barely Know Her
seen from Italy
seen from United States
seen from United Kingdom

seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
seen from United States

seen from Türkiye

seen from Finland
seen from United Kingdom

seen from United States

seen from Singapore

seen from United States

seen from Brazil

seen from Austria
seen from Serbia

seen from Malaysia
seen from Switzerland

seen from Portugal

seen from Malaysia

seen from Japan
@celellken
So beautiful. And the fact that he actually gives long explanation on it is really touching
Lando's helmet design and support for the Race Against Dementia Charity for the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix means quite a lot to me. My father suffers from Alzheimer's and dementia. His decline has been a long and heartbreaking journey. However, even through hallucinations and fading memory, he has remained an exceptionally kind and gentle person. I have learned so much about his character and his integrity even in disease. Through my mother, who cares for him, I have learned so much about strength and commitment and what it means to truly love someone.
In 2025, I wrote a few F1 fan fictions. Two of them I wrote largely to process my own grief. One of my fan fictions features a character suffering from dementia, and another character struggling with how it feels to live far away from loved ones who are suffering.
What a strange and beautiful full circle moment. If you are so inclined, this is truly a meaningful cause.
Race Against Dementia is driven to raise money to fund breakthrough and innovative dementia research. 1 in 3 people born today will die with
Chicane
(lando/oscar, wip, slice-of-life, showjumping au)
Andrea sighs and begins walking back toward the barn. His pace is slightly more brisk than his normal tempo. Lando falls into step beside him. “If you miss that badly, there is no purpose in continuing. You’ll only spook the horse or crash through the oxer.”
Lando sighs too. “Yes, sir,” he repeats, and he can’t help the way his frustration curls around the edges of the words. He knows this. He wasn’t trying to ride like shit. And he especially wasn’t trying to ride Oscar’s horse like shit. Yet, here he is riding Oscar’s young Grand Prix prospect like an exceptionally expensive bulldozer. Jesus fucking Christ.
(Alternatively: Lando and Oscar ride horses and compete against each other. What happens when they have to hold both ambition and admiration at the same time?)
Read here :)
Chapter 2: Work
They usually don’t teach in the same arena at the same time. It’s hard to yell on top of each other. But they’re taking the students to a show the next weekend, and both of their riders need to practice jumping. So they’re both out in the cold, steam rising from their mugs.
“You’ve got chocolate on your face,” Lando teases lightly as he steps past Oscar to set his mug down next to one of the jumps in the arena. Their riders are walking on a loose rein on the rail, waiting for Lando and Oscar to start giving direction.
Oscar grins, then scrubs his parka sleeve across his face. The fleck of chocolate disappears. “And you’ve got what? Your entire wardrobe on?”
(Alternatively: Lando and Oscar move through daily life as horse trainers.)
Chapter 3: Alone
There have been so many points in his career where Lando’s questioned it. Not the riding part. That part has always made sense. He loves the horses. He always has. But a career with horses wasn’t cheap. So many people had to sacrifice so much for him to be where he’s at. His mum drove him to and from the barn almost every day growing up. All the early show mornings, and exhausting travel. His first horse, and all the boots, helmets, and show clothes they bought him. And he’s not even that good. All that sacrifice, and he’s probably too far from where he should be.
(Alternatively: What if Lando's doing the thing he's meant to do, the thing that he's good at, but for some reason, he feels strangely alone. What if Oscar is there too. Always quiet, and competent, and understanding.)
I think what makes being a fan of F1 so fun for me is the ownership I have over my experience. F1 is so broad and expansive, I feel like there’s something for everybody to be a fan of. I love watching the races, I love listening to F1 podcasts, I love coming across F1 TikToks, I love going down YouTube rabbit holes about the engineering and physics of F1. And I love being a 481 fan.
I find the pairing of Oscar and Lando so interesting, fun, and compelling. I also understand that not everyone does. I totally get only being a fan of Lando or Oscar. I even understand disliking one driver or the other.
What I don’t understand is how being hypercritical, dismissive, and willfully misinterpreting another driver’s words contributes anything to the community. In my opinion, putting another driver down never elevates the other.
The way Lando and Oscar answer questions is a difference in personality, not a discrepancy of character.
Lando controls the narrative by being open and specific. He leaves very little up to interpretation, and lists his struggles and opinions plainly. Oscar controls the narrative by being general and measured. He speaks broadly, offering little that can be sensationalized while never talking down about himself or others.
Chicane
(lando/oscar, wip, slice-of-life, showjumping au)
Andrea sighs and begins walking back toward the barn. His pace is slightly more brisk than his normal tempo. Lando falls into step beside him. “If you miss that badly, there is no purpose in continuing. You’ll only spook the horse or crash through the oxer.”
Lando sighs too. “Yes, sir,” he repeats, and he can’t help the way his frustration curls around the edges of the words. He knows this. He wasn’t trying to ride like shit. And he especially wasn’t trying to ride Oscar’s horse like shit. Yet, here he is riding Oscar’s young Grand Prix prospect like an exceptionally expensive bulldozer. Jesus fucking Christ.
(Alternatively: Lando and Oscar ride horses and compete against each other. What happens when they have to hold both ambition and admiration at the same time?)
Read here :)
Chapter 2: Work
They usually don’t teach in the same arena at the same time. It’s hard to yell on top of each other. But they’re taking the students to a show the next weekend, and both of their riders need to practice jumping. So they’re both out in the cold, steam rising from their mugs.
“You’ve got chocolate on your face,” Lando teases lightly as he steps past Oscar to set his mug down next to one of the jumps in the arena. Their riders are walking on a loose rein on the rail, waiting for Lando and Oscar to start giving direction.
Oscar grins, then scrubs his parka sleeve across his face. The fleck of chocolate disappears. “And you’ve got what? Your entire wardrobe on?”
(Alternatively: Lando and Oscar move through daily life as horse trainers.)
Chicane
(lando/oscar, wip, slice-of-life, showjumping au)
Andrea sighs and begins walking back toward the barn. His pace is slightly more brisk than his normal tempo. Lando falls into step beside him. “If you miss that badly, there is no purpose in continuing. You’ll only spook the horse or crash through the oxer.”
Lando sighs too. “Yes, sir,” he repeats, and he can’t help the way his frustration curls around the edges of the words. He knows this. He wasn’t trying to ride like shit. And he especially wasn’t trying to ride Oscar’s horse like shit. Yet, here he is riding Oscar’s young Grand Prix prospect like an exceptionally expensive bulldozer. Jesus fucking Christ.
(Alternatively: Lando and Oscar ride horses and compete against each other. What happens when they have to hold both ambition and admiration at the same time?)
Read here :)
landoscar fic recs vol. 5
for christmas i give you beautiful people the gift of gay fan fiction. please enjoy, its what jesus would have wanted
vol. 1 , vol. 2 , vol. 3 , vol. 4
rope you in - @brokenthoughts814
60k | 10/10 | college au | student!lando/student!oscar | E
"Can I suck you off?" The question came out of the blue, a breathy plea more than anything, dripping from wet, parted lips like honey. Oscar wasn't sure how to respond, he stared down at the man in disbelief. Was Lando being serious? They met two minutes ago, Lando had no idea who he was, and still, he was propositioning Oscar? Just like that?
a story about falling in love with the first guy who matches your freak
we all reach out - fishergrams
58.3k | 15/15 | a/b/o | omega!lando/alpha!oscar | E
“Nah,” Lando says, almost wanting to laugh, the concept is so fucking ridiculous. “Nah, there’s no way. I’m on the pill.” “Yeah you’re on it,” Oscar says slowly. “With all the love in the world though, d’you always remember to take it?”
this fic moved me so much it got me to read mpreg.
starboy - mclrnshtposting
28.3k | 17/17 | non-driver au | streamer!lando/driver!oscar | E
It’s like this: Oscar has never thought of himself as superstitious, but a string of disastrous losses leaves him desperate. Enter Lando Norris: beautiful, charming and undeniably lucky. Oscar doesn’t mean to fall for him. He really doesn’t. In which Oscar Piastri is a driver in need of a good luck charm, and Lando Norris is a streamer who needs cash to achieve his dreams. The contract seems mutually beneficial at first. Who knew that sleeping together would make things so complicated?
breaking news: falling in love with the guy you're paying to be a good luck charm at races will cause issues in your life.
drastic measures - @strwbrrymchii
25k | 3/3 | a/b/o | omega!lando/alpha!oscar | E
The rest of that day's doctor's visit was the most mortifying ordeal Lando's ever been through in his entire life. He was basically told to get fucked (literally) and given a pamphlet on how to get fucked good. Lando will never be able to look his doctor in the eye ever again.
whiny alpha oscar is unbelievably serious to me.
maybe in another life - @celellken
24.9k | 1/1 | small town au | community organizer!lando/fire fighter!oscar | T
“Here’s your receipt. Tracking number at the bottom. It should get to Melbourne in ten days.” George hands him his receipt, and Oscar folds it with the flyer Lando gave him. “Thanks,” he says. “No problem, see you around, Oscar.” George and Lando are both wearing matching grins. Their eyes slightly too bright, their postures angled towards each other. Oscar is almost certain, he will be their next topic of conversation. So he tips his head, and gives a small close lipped smile. Ready to leave them to it. As he steps outside the post office into the cool afternoon air, he just catches Lando’s question to George before the door closes behind him. “Wait—like, Melbourne, Australia?” (Alternatively: What if Mark Webber was never Oscar's manager? What if he never made it to F1? What if he wound up in a small town with strange locals after unceremoniously fizzling out of a career in motor sport?)
change is so horrible but also the best thing in the world.
push and pull - snakeprincessnicole
23.7k | 1/1 | restaurant au | waiter!lando/cook!oscar | NR
Lando thought there was nothing good waiting for him in life anymore, then Oscar came along.
ive never met a resteraunt au i didnt like and this one is no exception
closer than you think - oscarina
18.1k | 4/4 | canon divergence | driver!lando/driver!oscar | G
Zak folded his hands and leaned back. “We can’t promise you number one. But we can guarantee it’s not a number two seat.” “Besides,” he added, his voice taking on a lighter tone again, “I know you and Lando hit it off. You’re good friends. You’d make great teammates.” Or… in 2017 Christian Horner spotted Oscar Piastri when he was competing for British F4 and signed him for the Red Bull Junior Program the year after. Seven years later Oscar was stuck in Red Bull’s second seat purgatory while Max Verstappen dominated. Then came the offer.
what if there was a light at the end of the red bull machine tunnel and that light was lando norris. happened to my good friend oscar piastri.
looks could kill (and ive got high beams) - @fivelightstime
16.9k | 1/1 | tv au | driver!lando/contractor!oscar | M
Oscar Piastri will never understand the draw of reality TV. But he is drawn to Lando Norris, a larger-than-life F1 driver with an empty house in need of renovating. Together, they're going to tear the whole place down. Or: Lando guest stars in Oscar's home reno show.
home renovation? more like homo renovation am i right!
under my skin - @lellabellas
16.8k | 3/3 | serial killer au | serial killer!lando/serial killer!oscar | M
"Do you usually take walks in the middle of the night?" "Helps me clear my head." "Mmm." The mystery man takes another drag of his cigarette, eyes still fixed on Oscar. "Thought you might be dumping a body down there. Good place for it." Oscar chuckles like it's a casual joke. Because of course it is. He's just a normal man out for a normal walk in a normal part of town. "I'm not that interesting, I'm afraid." "Ohh, I don't think that's true."
i am in shock to learn this has not be in a past rec list. this fic made me so sad i almost threw up and passed out. its perfect.
keep you close - anon
10.2k | 2/2 | bdsm au | sub!lando/dom!oscar | M
Variety is the spice of life, and trying new things is fun. Especially in the bedroom.
this entire series is sooo good but wow. something abt this one.......
see me, feel me - oscarshourglass
9.3k | 1/1 | pwp | driver!lando/driver!oscar | E
“I’m going to help you,” Lando declares. “You know I like to do a bit of photography myself. We’ll have ourselves a little mock photoshoot. Get you comfortable.” The finality in Lando’s voice leaves Oscar no other choice but to nod in agreement. Lando’s grin is blinding, getting up to head out. “It’s a date.” With that, Lando’s out of sight, and Oscar tries his hardest to get him out of mind as well. OR Oscar signs with a modeling agency and gets an offer from Calvin Klein. He doesn't know how to pose in his underwear, so Lando teaches him.
bro what if i took pics of you in your underwear. in a bro way tho.
my boys a winner - @passengerprincipessa
8.5k | 1/1 | crack treated srs | driver!lando/several world champions | E
The first time, with Jenson, it isn't really a thing. Or: Lando only fucks winners.
had to wait until lando won the wdc to read this without being irrationally angry but this is top 5 lando characterizations of all time. hes everything.
thriller night - @fastcarpisces
7k | 1/1 | pwp | driver!lando/driver!oscar | E
Oscar smiles pleasantly, but Lando sees – senses! – the tightening of his jaw. All polite and inoffensive, like he is when he’s talking to a reporter he doesn’t particularly want to be talking to. “Oh, there were outtakes of the photoshoot?” Oscar asks. “So many! Some were too risqué for us to post, no? But he ended up looking cute.” Pietra fishes out her phone and swipes through the ones even she thought were too much for him to post. Lando on all fours, ass in the air, back arched. Lando blowing a kiss on the helmet’s crown, staring at the camera, the brief glimpse of his tongue. Oscar is all smiles. “Yes, please do send them over,” he tells Pietra. “They’re certainly memorable, no?” Or: Lando whoreposts on main for Halloween. Oscar has feelings about it.
a round of applause for lando and his useless big dick
sein blut ist mein blut - @noctis-ibis
6.7k | 1/1 | vampire au | vampire!lando/human!oscar | E
"Look at you," Lando murmured, so close to his lips and yet not close enough. "so desperate." Oscar tried to break the distance and lock their lips again, but Lando moved his head down to his neck and pressed his lips there instead. His cold nose dug into the flesh and muscle there and Oscar could feel him inhale deeply, while his big hands were cradling Oscar's shoulder blade and the back of his head, pulling on the strands of hair with no force. "You smell so fucking good," Lando spoke into his neck, muffled yet audible enough for Oscar to hear. "so sweet. All mine." "All yours," Oscar parroted. or: In which Oscar ends up in the famous Berghain club and meets a cute guy who only got one thing on his mind.
save me slutty vampire lando in berghain...save me....
its your birthday, make a wish - @ro4d-rge
6.3k |1/1 | time travel au | future!lando/present!oscar | E
Oscar observes the group from afar. They cheer and clap and sing Happy Birthday to Lando, and when they're finally done, Lando bends over, pursing his lips to blow out the flame. A girl with mousy brown hair stops him with a hand on his shoulder before he can. "Wait! You have to make a wish first," she says, and everyone else mutters in agreement. Lando seems to consider it for a moment, and then his eyes flicker to Oscar from under his lashes. It's the briefest of glances, saying nothing and everything at the same time, but it glitters with the candle's glow, and Oscar's the fool reaching out to touch the flame, longing for the burn. Lando blows out the candle. - Or: it might be Lando's birthday, but it's Oscar who gets his wish.
lando makes sure oscar gets to fuck that old man if its the last thing he does
suck the poison out - @lellabellas
5.7k | 2/2 | sex magic | driver!lando/driver!oscar | E
"Okay, run me through the list one more time," Lando asks. Well, Oscar asks. In Lando's body. That's one bullet point of the tremendously fucked up list. Lando puts his head—Oscar's head—in his hands and feels the longer fingernails dig into his forehead. He's scratched himself at least three times since waking up this morning and realizing he wasn't in his own bed. He might trim Oscar's nails if he has the chance. Especially if he needs them for… Right, the list. (Lando can't stop getting cursed. Oscar gives him a hand, and other things.)
i looooove a curse of obedience . love love loved this.
sunsetters - debrief
5.2k | 1/1 | werewolf au | werewolf!lando/hunter!oscar | T
At the onset of winter, Oscar finds a werewolf caught in an animal trap.
snowed in forced proximity with an injured werewolf and a guy who kills werewolves. need i say more.
hung up - lexruls
4k | 1/1 | pwp | driver!lando/driver!oscar | E
Lando just needs something to snap him out of his delusions, he thinks– To banish those twisted misconceptions to where he can lock them back up and throw away the key, because if he hears any more of Oscar sounding like that without a proper explanation, he might start to lose his mind. “Oscar..” Lando starts, hesitant to ask the question he’s scared he already knows the answer to, “What’re you doing right now?” “I’m, mmph– I’m touching myself.”
2023 landoscar always gonna move me.
you know im a forgiver - eiightyone
3.9k | 1/1 | vampire au | human!lando/vampire!oscar | E
“I’m sorry, Lando,” the thing scrapes out, showing off a set of horrifyingly sharp and lengthy canines as it speaks, smiles, like it’s not sorry at all. “I’m just so hungry.”
I LOVE WEIRD VAMPIRE PORN!!!!! EVERYONE WRITE MORE WEIRD VAMPIRE PORN!!!! (yes there r two vampire fics on this list. yes i read a lot of these in october.)
i feel stupid and contagious - @sexydeath42
1.6k | 1/1 | pwp | student!lando/student!oscar | E
“I’ve never kissed a guy before,” Oscar admits. Lando blinks, and takes the bag back from him. Haphazardly, he sets it on the floor. “Yeah?” Humming, Lando crosses his legs under him, absently picking at his duvet. “Why tell me?” Oscar only shrugs, flopping back against Lando’s pillows. They're so soft under him, against his hoodie that rides up his abdomen. The ceiling buzzes, and Oscar can’t help but track it as it wiggles. - Or, in which they do ket and they kiss.
ive never done ket but i do know that this was super fucking good. dont do drugs but sometimes its fun!
my last fic rec list of the year!! it has been so fun sharing my love for fan fiction with all of you, i hope to make even more next year :) thank you to all the incredible landoscar authors on this list and on ao3!!! you make the world go round <3
2025 WORLD CHAMPION
As an athlete whose openness was exploited and whose mentality was criticized, Lando Norris has an excellent understanding of reality.
Lando realized a childhood dream and proceeded to profusely thank his family, his team, and, most notably, even his rivals.
His heartfelt and grounded response speaks of an athlete who knows that no one achieves anything alone. Relentless pursuit of a dream involves more than just a single individual.
Lando’s emotional intelligence makes him an exceptional champion.
McLaren Failed on Their Commitment to ‘Never Stop Racing’ This Season
I’ve always liked the way McLaren go racing. (I know. I KNOW. Stick with me here.) I like the fact that they want two exceptional drivers. I like that they are trying not to interfere. I believe that is the heart of racing. Pure competition with two equally matched drivers. But of course it’s not perfect. Of course they make mistakes. Mistakes that, as of late, leave my heart aching and my stomach churning. McLaren have a lot to learn and a lot to improve. I will be disappointed if we see the same mistakes next season.
After the double DSQ in Vegas, I saw a lot of comments about Andrea and the team’s response. Or rather, the lack of response. Fans of the drivers were upset about the lack of accountability from the team principal and the team, and disappointed that the drivers were most likely going to be the ones responsible for answering the most blunt and brutal media questions.
For me, it was the lack of authenticity that was most disappointing. One of the reasons I love Oscar and Lando so much is their authenticity. The fierce competitiveness paired with wholeheartedness that seems to come naturally to both of them, albeit in slightly different ways. We’ve had it confirmed this season from every possible source and even the drivers themselves, that their relationship is good. Better, even, as we’ve progressed through this season. It makes me so proud to support this talented and passionate pair, and I think it’s time McLaren learned a lesson or two from their drivers.
I don’t think it would have been appropriate for Andrea to berate the team in front of the media for the Vegas DSQs. And I highly doubt that Andrea dismissed the issue and didn’t address it with the team. In this area, I believe McLaren do a good job of dealing with sensitive issues internally. However, in my opinion, a few sterile paragraphs after a major disappointment was not enough.
I don’t pretend to know exactly how the finances, sponsorships, and partnerships for McLaren work. I don’t pretend to know the extent to which mistakes are dissected and discussed at McLaren, and I don’t know what the PR strategy was behind simply releasing a few short paragraphs. But it felt like a deviation from the heart of racing and a deviation from McLaren’s philosophy to ‘never stop racing.’ It felt as though, the support of the fans, who sat in the rain and stuck with the team through all the messy calls this season, were not important to McLaren. At best, it felt placating and insincere.
And now with the mistakes made at Qatar, it stings a little bit more. In the 2024 season, Andrea actually impressed me with his leadership. He seemed like someone who was not afraid to acknowledge mistakes and shoulder responsibility. In the words of their drivers, Andrea and McLaren seemed like a team that simply kept their heads down and focused on their own performances. But now, in the 2025 season as the stakes have risen, it seems less like McLaren are keeping their heads down in focus and more that their heads are down in fear. Now I know these are strong claims about McLaren’s intent and identity, of which I cannot truly know, and I must trust these two exceptional drivers and their commitment to this team. But I think that is my whole point. In the midst of high stakes and mistakes, we are left guessing what it truly means to go racing as a fan of McLaren.
I hope in the 2026 season, McLaren are bold and brave in their overtakes like Oscar. I hope they manage their tires meticulously and save something for the end like Lando. I hope they are sincere and forthright like both of their drivers. And I hope, just like Lando and Oscar, their desire to improve never stops.
McLaren failed on their commitment to ‘never stop racing’ this season. But I believe, with Lando and Oscar at the wheel, we might still get to root for a team that truly embodies the best of the sport.
Dust yourself off McLaren. Heads down, but chins up. There’s one more race to go.
The concept of Lando being in San Francisco right now which is like 45 minutes away from the town i loosely based maybe in another life off of is sending me into a spiral ngl 😭😭
Fine Margins, My Circus, and True 481s
I am, first and foremost, a 481 fan, but I am also (somewhat begrudgingly) a McLaren fan. I find their narrative compelling even when they are unable to execute it perfectly. Two outstanding drivers with no preference or prioritization between them, and a commitment to preserve the heart of the sport. A commitment to “Never Stop Racing.” However, with the fine margins this season, I think we’ve witnessed McLaren try and fail to truly and fully uphold this concept.
We began the 2025 season with the slogan “Never Stop Racing,” and on lap twenty-nine of the Australian Grand Prix, the very first race of the season and Oscar’s home race, we got the first call for team orders. McLaren asked Oscar to hold position behind Lando. Yes, the wet/dry conditions were tricky. Yes, it was only for a lap or two until they cleared backmarkers. However, it was the first violation of the idea to “Never Stop Racing.” It was the first glimpse of the competitive, complicated, and nuanced season ahead.
At the beginning of the season, we watched Lando struggle with the car as Oscar flourished. Oscar ended the 2024 season with the goal to improve his qualifying performance, and he delivered. Not only that, seemingly every aspect of his racing took a step forward. His overtakes and wheel to wheel racing were clean and decisive. His starts were faultless. After reversing out of the grass in Melbourne with a twenty-three point deficit, he took the lead of World Driver’s Championship only four races later.
Oscar maintained form throughout the entire first half of the season as Lando trailed slightly behind inconsistently finding his own form, and this is where things get interesting. Solo Piastri fans, in my opinion, have a right to be upset with some of the contentious calls that came during the middle of the season. Races like Imola and Hungary, where the car behind was given a riskier strategy that ultimately paid off. Silverstone, when Oscar was given a harsh penalty that the team, as far as I know, did not contest, allowing Lando to claim victory. Certainly Monza, where Oscar was asked to give his rival and teammate a tow in Q1, and then asked to swap positions after the other car’s unlucky pitstop.
Many of these calls were seemingly born out of caution and McLaren prioritizing a team performance over any individual driver. They were protecting the car ahead, Oscar in most cases, with a safer strategy, and trying to achieve the best result for the car behind. In many ways, this too felt like a failure to “Never Stop Racing.” In the middle of the season, it felt like McLaren were trying not to lose instead of trying to win. All the while, acting as their own governing body over their drivers. Meddling, admittedly less than other teams might have, but meddling nonetheless. Deciding if and when certain maneuvers should be punished or publicly addressed over the radio.
As a 481 fan and a McLaren fan, this is my circus and… Yep. Those are my monkeys. Most races this season have left me split in two. On any given race weekend, I am excited and nervous, happy and sad, angry and content. Holding pride and disappointment in my chest. Everything at once. And through it all, I still support both drivers and the team.
Lando and Oscar are each a testament to the talent of the other. Mirrors of the other’s greatness in many ways. Any proof of one driver’s prowess also speaks to the other’s. The same Oscar who was dominating at the beginning of the season, is now unable to match Lando’s current form. The same Lando who is now delivering perfect race weekends, was struggling behind his teammate at the start of the season.
And despite McLaren’s messiness, their mistakes, their failure to sometimes uphold the heart of the sport, I also recognize something else. They are trying. When was the last time we saw a team with no clear number one driver? Have we ever? When have we seen a team attempt to back two drivers in their fight for the championship? When have we seen a team turn their car around in the way McLaren have?
The way Lando and Oscar both praise the team, the respect they have for each other, and the success of two constructors championships in a row all points to a team that is functioning efficiently at every level. And just as their drivers have made huge improvements throughout this season, I hope McLaren continue to make improvements. As a 481, I believe in having two equally matched drivers whose individual success acts as the catalyst for the other’s progress. I believe in protecting the heart of the sport. Without throwing caution to the wind, I truly hope McLaren are able to take more risks, interfere less, and “Never Stop Racing.”
There are three races to go this season, and we’ve seen it all. Anything can happen. Oscar’s prior achievements are not erased by his latest results. Lando’s current form does not guarantee his success. I am compelled by how much passion is evident in Oscar’s restraint, and I am moved by the strength Lando wields with his openness. And I support a team that, in a season of fine margins, still makes me believe in the heart of racing.
See you all in Las Vegas. Never. Stop. Racing.
HOP1UM
Post-WCC celebrations | Singapore Grand Prix 2025
i remain convinced that defining our sportswatching experience by who exhibits dominance/competence versus who fails/makes mistakes rather than by who shows courage or beauty or loyalty or intellect or hope or humor or defiance or hard work or panache or endurance is conceding ground to the “championship mentality” guys that we just don’t need to concede lmao. like it’s just not a way to frame heroism that leads to very long conversations and that’s why i don’t really have conversations with those guys
the contenders