[asterikks]

very niche but i love the red dashed stripes that red bull used to put on the sides of their racesuits like those ate so bad. the current ford blue is by no means shabby but it just doesnt fuck as heavy

[asterikks]

my red-winged blackbird #myredwingedblackbird

[k1ttenstappen]

If I may, the red stripes of the 2025 suit are the second best thing to come out of Red Bull after Max Verstappen himself

Like cmon surely this is an occupational hazard

[caprifiles]

racingnews365 said "one man army"

[jup1t33r]

hiiiii i'm here on the first day of Week 16: Road Trip for the gbb prompts to do something mildly insane

welcome to the road trip! you are joining max. the journey will take a week, and who knows what will happen on the way! i certainly don't--the paths taken will be up to YOU.

enjoy the first part, and make good choices! there's no going back.

---

Max watches the van disappear down the road, black tyres on black asphalt, far faster than he could go even if his father had left him his kart.

His father hasn't left him anything, though, except the race suit that's still damp with Max's sweat in the small of his back, and his racing boots that don't quite offer the support needed to walk down the side of the road all the way back to a hotel.

Not that he could do that anyway—they didn't book a hotel. Max's father is heading all the way back to Belgium without him, and even with the sturdiest shoes in the world, Max wouldn't be able to walk there. Not from Italy.

He looks around the small fuel station where he's been left, trying to tamp down his steadily growing panic by taking stock and trying to formulate a plan.

There's one car fueling at the pump, and one car pulled into a parking space, its owner presumably in the little shop, grabbing a snack or taking a piss. Max has the fleeting thought that he could probably hotwire the car and steal it—he's never done it before, but he knows enough about cars that he could probably figure it out, and, once he's started it, he knows how to drive exceptionally well. He might be able to just get himself home by trailing the exhaust fumes of his father's van.

The door to the fueling car slams, making Max jump and snapping him into reality. Far, far too many things could go wrong with that plan. Even if he miraculously doesn't get caught and arrested right here and now, he could still be in trouble later on. And that's not even taking into consideration the fact he wouldn't have enough gas to get him home, which could leave him stranded yet again in the middle of Europe, possibly in an even worse place.

He turns his attention to the little store instead. He doesn't have any money—doesn't even have any pockets—so he can't buy anything. But maybe there will be a phone inside that he can use. He could ask, and then call... whom? Call his father, beg him to come back? Hope beyond hope that he will? Call his mother, who is all the way back home? Who might not be able to help even if she wanted to?

Or maybe... Max has never shoplifted before, but maybe...

He doesn't know. He can't think too far ahead—can't panic, can't freeze. He doesn't know what to do, but he can't think about that, because then he'll just be stuck doing nothing. He needs to do something. The sun is still up, but it won't be forever. He's a little bit hungry, and that will only get worse. He doesn't know exactly what to do, but he has to do something, so he puts one foot in front of the other.

The shop—unsurprisingly—is nearly empty. The shopkeeper greets Max in Italian as he enters, and the only other person Max can see is a woman staring intensely at a shelf of snacks. The parked car must belong to her.

Max keeps his feet moving and finds himself in the middle of an aisle, hidden from view from the others, breathing unsteady. What should he do?

What should Max do?

Ask the shopkeeper for a phone to call his father.

Ask the shopkeeper for a phone to call his mother.

Stuff some snacks into his race suit and go back outside to hotwire the car.

ADMIN USE ONLY*

Remaining time: 17 hours 48 minutes

*this is for me to be able to check on the results. please don't use!!!

[maxcore]

the concept of toto making max a shitty contract offer and capitalistappen refusing him .... funniest timeline

[thissying]

I spoke to someone at Le Mans who was very close to [Max's] GT program on the Nordschleife and he said: "He's a freak." He goes all the way to extract every last bit from the people, the technology, the shock absorbers. He brought in a box of absorbers he got from a guy he knows in France: "These are the absorbers we're driving with." So AMG's completely pissed off: 'We don't want that because we've got, I don't know, Bilstein as German absorber manufacturer.'

But well, he's just like his dad. You could also call him on the Friday of a kart-race weekend and say: "In the south of Italy they've got a carburettor that's half a tenth faster," and Jos would get in the car in the middle of the night to go pick up that carburettor. And that's how Max is too. That's a family thing: get everything out of it. - Renger van der Zande, Ziggo Race Café De Stamtafel

[countingstars-17]

max ❤️

[k1ttenstappen]

Not a single driver in Max’s generation is worth jackshit btw

[otterducks]

'tis the damn season, maxiel

[grogumaximus]

[lost-in-fandoms]

Companion piece to this max/rico arranged marriage thing I wrote. About 1.4k.

The countryside blooms green and golden to both sides of the road, chirping birds accompanying the sounds of the horse hooves trotting along.

It has been a very pleasant ride so far, and Rico is glad he had decided to take the long way around his county and then through his uncle's before riding to their destination. The rain from the night before has left the road a bit muddy, big puddles reflecting the now blue sky, but it has also made the warmth of the late spring sun more bearable, a breeze softening its early bite.

The Verstappen county is different from Rico's, wedged as it is between the river and the marsh in the west, but just as pretty, fields dotted with farmhouses and trees. It might be just the trepidation of finally being almost there, but it looks actually better than all the territories they had been riding through in the past week, colorful flowers adorning windows and ditches alike.

"They're doing well," Piet says, eyes sweeping the view, steady on Rico's right.

Rico nods, glad to see that his intel on the Verstappens county had been indeed correct. Fortune is not why this wedding has been arranged, after all. Rico's family, through either relation or marriage, owns four of the five counties surrounding the Verstappens, and with the talks of the King falling ill and the discord between his children it's always better to find new allies than trust the river to be enough to save you.

Rico hadn't been surprised when the letter had arrived, even if he knew the Verstappens had good field and better soldiers, but he had been surprised about being offered not Lord Jos young daughter but his eldest son. It was unusual since it would not only bind their counties together but effectively make them into one after his death.

Rico had said yes.

Now, after a month of letters and intel gathering, he has a clear agreement with Jos and even better knowledge of Max who, according to his information, is kind, smart and steady. He is excited to meet him.

The sun is past its highest point by the time the single tower of the Verstappen estate rises above a thicket of trees, the severe grey walls of the house hidden in the grove, and Rico finds himself urging his horse to go faster, suddenly tired of the wait.

Lord Jos himself greets them in the front courtyard, a pretty young lady by his side that Rico identifies as Lady Victoria even before they get introduced, and he extends his hand to Rico with surety but without a smile.

"Welcome," he says, focusing on him and ignoring the rest of his entourage, "I hope the ride was decent."

"It was pleasant," Rico replies, bowing at Victoria, who blushes as she curtsies, blue eyes shining. "Your county is very pretty."

Victoria blushes harder, but Jos ignores her, turning around and guiding Rico inside, already talking about crops and harvests.

It's only when they're taken to sit at a long table, heavy oak hidden under a beautiful embroidered tablecloth, that Rico finally dares to interrupt Jos with anything other than polite questions.

"Is Sir Max not around?"

Jos immediately stiffens, gesturing sharply to his right, towards a woman who hastly retreats towards what Rico assumes might be the kitchens.

"He'll be here," Jos says, the steel in his voice implying a or else that Rico doesn't really like. His words are followed by the sharp cry of a bell, echoing in the room and then expanding outside, bouncing underneath the arches of the back patio.

Rico can see Victoria shift in her seat, her shoulders moving like she's fidgeting with her fingers hidden in her lap, and can feel the tension rise in the room as Jos sits a little straighter, forcefully trying to resume the earlier conversation.

Wine gets poured in their glasses, something rich and high quality from its aroma alone, but Max doesn't show up.

"Excuse me," Jos says, pushing his chair back and marching towards the kitchens, Victoria's wide eyes following him anxiously before she seems to remember her role as lady of the house, gently asking Rico about their journey.

Rico smiles at her, but doesn't have time to answer before the bell is ringing again, this time sharper and louder, an order more than a call. Victoria barely hides her wince under an apologetic smile.

"Where is your brother?" Rico dares to ask, even knowing it's not polite.

"Probably in the stables," Victoria whispers in a rush, glancing at the kitchens door, "or in the greenhouses."

"Did he not..." Rico doesn't have time to finish his question before Jos is back, a flush high on his cheeks, mouth pursed into a displeased scowl.

"I apologize for Max's rudeness," he tells the table, stiff and angry, "it will not happen again."

His expression, and Victoria's eyes, tell Rico it is not an empty threat.

Well, if his future husband can be rude, then maybe Rico can be too, and maybe Max's punishment will be lighter. He doubts it, but he also doesn't want to sit at this table any longer, not when the main reason why he's come all this way is hiding somewhere else. So, ignoring Piet's warning expression, he stands up, smiling steadily.

"There's no need to apologize," he tells Jos, a small part of him enjoying the way the red on his cheeks deepens in shame, "but if you don't mind I will go looking for him myself. You can continue with dinner, of course, don't stay hungry on our behalf."

He doesn't wait for a reply before he's walking out, back from the way they had come from, mentally apologizing to Piet for leaving him to deal with the consequences.

He finds himself in the front courtyard again, then turns towards the right, where he had seen some servants disappear with their horses earlier, following the path around the house. It takes him a minute to find what looks to be the stables, but he's not in any rush to go back inside, especially not when there will be an offended Lord Jos waiting for him. And the estate really is quite pretty, he doesn't mind a little walk.

A few people give him looks, but nobody bothers to try and stop him, giving him a wide berth, probably wanting to maintain deniability in case Jos questions them about helping Rico walking around his house.

The stables are bigger than Rico was expecting, well maintained and clean, the smooth cobblestone having clearly been swept recently. His soft boots don't make noise on it, and he enters quietly, following the familiar sound of a mane being brushed to the back of the building.

Max, because he clearly is Max, so similar to his sister there would be no doubts even if Rico had not been given descriptions before, looks lost in the action, and he doesn't notice Rico coming in, so that he has a moment to just look at him. He's cuter than Rico had been told, with soft looking hair, even if with hay in it, and broad shoulders, a pink mouth and gentle hands.

“That’s a nice horse.”

Max startles at the sound of Rico's voice, making him smile. He knows, because he's been told, that Max is a good fighter, a proper soldier, but he must have left his guard down in his own home, in a place where he feels safe. He can see the same guard come back up, the blue of his eyes growing cold and wary, shoulders stiffening.

He's still so pretty Rico almost can't believe it, hay and all.

He also doesn't show any sign of recognizing Rico, and again Rico must wonder how much of this marriage was a decision that Jos had taken alone. Had he talked to Max about him? Had Max asked? Had Max been gathering information about him like Rico had been? Had Max been curious about the shape of Rico's mouth like Rico had been about Max's since someone had describe it to him? Had Max wanted this at all?

Rico hopes that at least Max will come to want this because as he watches Max calm down his horse with one single gesture, more kindness in his one hand than in Jos whole body, he knows he wants this to work. And not only politically.

[k1ttenstappen]

Leclerc cant be driving like that in his EIGHTH season in f1 with Ferrari no less and hope for a wdc.

[anemptyflask]

I hate to say it, but at this point I’m not even hopeful that Max will decide to walk away from Red Bull at the end of this season. Not because I think the team will start showing real promise, because if we’re being real they probably won’t. But a lot of Verstappies are just clinging to the possibility of Max leaving for greener pastures to get through the rest of whatever disasterclass this year has been, and icl with the way things have gone lately, it feels like it’s just manifesting more disappointment.

Max isn't leaving Red Bull. He just doesn't have it in him. I hope I'm wrong but fear I'm not. However this is not going to stop me speculating about it lol

My dream is he buys a share, buys GP out of his contract, and replaced Laurent with GP. This is a fantasy I know. It will never happen. But it's the perfect situation to me.

[grogumaximus]

[maxcore]

PIERRE GOT P3 BACK

[supremesanada]

this is so fucking funny

[grogumaximus]

[jup1t33r]

where/when did max say that? 🥹🥹

i'm assuming this is in reference to this post of mine

well, lovely anon, i'm delighted to tell you that it was an interview done right before silverstone 2021! :D. they talk about a few things in this interview, including how if max wins silverstone he's practically got the championship in the bag (well, at least that's what lewis has been saying... max says that of course things can always change). and how it is important to max to enjoy himself in the car and try his best, and how even if he would have liked to have a championship contending car before this year, that was not in his control.

anyway, i clipped the most painful part of this interview where not only does he say the quote about nothing being worse than what he experienced back then, but he also mentions a time his father left him behind at a racetrack :D. and how now he is thankful for how harsh his father was even though at the time he thought it was pretty tough :D