#carlando things

[gejahhf]

😳 vs ☺️

Pookies snugly packed into in their helmets and cars

[the-toasted-teacake]

If Lando and Carlos get asked about Brazil in the Qatar press conferences, I'm assuming it's going to go something like this 🤷‍♀️

-----

"Carlos, moving on to you." Tom turns his attention to Carlos, who's been absentmindedly picking at a thread in the knee of his jeans. "Last weekend you were up here with Lando telling us about your golfing escapades, but it all went a bit wrong on Sunday. The fans are worried about Carlando, so tell us—have you sorted it all out?"

"Ah, yes." Carlos gives a wry smile and shakes his head. "I have seen a lot on social media this week. 'Carlando had a big argument' and 'Carlos made Lando cry'. People asking 'Did Carlando get a divorce?' But we alr-"

"Divorce?" Valtteri asks from his right. His tone is deadpan but he's smirking as he says, "I didn't know you and Lando were married. I wasn't invited to the wedding."

"Ah, well," Carlos shrugs, a spark of mischief igniting in his eyes. "We have not actually had the wedding yet."

Valtteri raises an eyebrow. "Oh? When is it?"

There's a ripple of amusement from the journalists assembled behind the camera.

"Next summer break. Somewhere warm," Carlos says, keeping his expression straight even as his eyes twinkle. "Look out for your invitation. For Tiffany too, of course."

"Nice. Free bar?"

"Of course." Carlos nods seriously, but the corner of his lip is twitching. "What do you take me for?"

"I'll be there."

"Right." Tom interrupts. He just about manages to keep the quiver of laughter out of his voice, ever the professional. "So it's safe to say the bromance lives to fight another day."

Carlos finally grins. "Carlando is going strong."

"And are we all invited to the free bar at the wedding?"

"No."

-----

"Lando, starting with you. Disappointing weekend in São Paulo for you and the team after your collision with Carlos. How do you bounce back for Qatar, and do you think you can still take the fight to Ferrari for P3 in the constructors’?"

"Yeah, so, uh, obviously last weekend wasn't ideal in the end." Lando shrugs, smiling sheepishly and rubbing at the back of his neck. "And, especially after we were looking good after the sprint qualifying, but I-"

"Did you kiss and make up?"

"What?" Lando blinks at Seb, who's grinning where he's leaning back in the other seat, one ankle resting on the opposite knee.

"You and Carlos. It's better if you kiss and make up, after your little crash."

"I mean, well," Lando fumbles over his words, cheeks colouring. "We're fine. Still friends."

Seb raises his eyebrows sceptically. "I've had a few on track incidents over the years, and let me tell you from personal experience," he leans in conspiratorially, grin turning devilish. "It's always better to kiss and make up."

Lando laughs nervously and sinks further into his jacket collar

"Kiss on track, kiss off track," Seb says. “That’s the rule.”

"Well. We already made up. So."

"Good job." Seb gives Lando a thumbs up and a wink.

Tom watches Lando, now a shade of pink that clashes horribly with his jacket, splutter for a moment before joining in with the teasing.

"Yes, we've just been hearing from your ex-teammate about your tussle. But he reassured us that you aren't getting a divorce."

"Oh." Lando sounds surprised. "He said what?" He nods slowly to himself then shrugs again, cheeks still burning. "Well, yeah. Technically that's true, I guess? Anyway—we're fine."

"You should still kiss," Seb adds. "Even if you don't need to make up."

Tom bites back his laugh as Lando slides down in his chair and finally takes pity on him. "Moving on to the battle with Ferrari…"

-----

"Did you seriously tell the world about our wedding in your press conference?"

Lando's rucksack hits the floor with a thump as he arrives back to the hotel room, starting to peel off his layers of McLaren wear.

"It's fine." Carlos grins up at him from the bed, laptop propped up on his outstretched legs. "They all thought I was joking."

"If a bunch of press show up looking for free drinks I'm blaming you."

Lando flops face first onto the bed with a groan, face ending up somewhere near Carlos' hip. His left cheek is smushed into the duvet.

"Ay, chill out." The laptop is quickly put aside, freeing Carlos' hands to slide into Lando's hair. "Anyway, I saw the video—you told them we kissed and made out."

"Made up, and no I didn't. Seb said we should kiss."

Carlos only chuckles and slides down the bed until he's face to face with Lando.

"I've always liked Seb."

It turns out Seb gives very, very good advice.

-----

Thank you @talksaboutracing for the press conference spreadsheet!

[gejahhf]

Carlando morning rituals

[gejahhf]

That carlando connection

[gejahhf]

So alpine stars protects while sparco has the power of performance...😏

[gejahhf]

Just the boys playing golf. At very similar looking courts...

[gejahhf]

This Carlos and That Lando l 👀 king at each other like that...🙂‍↕️🫠

[gejahhf]

The way Carlos speaks about this Lando championship in the media really moves me. It's almost like it's a personal win for Carlos, that you c a n be a champion and also be a g o o d human being. Stay yourself, and not be some expected version of what people think a champion should be. I feel this is something that has followed him around his whole career. From "bite or get bitten" to your competitors are not your friends to him not even daring to call people friends. And now he is vindicated in his believe you don't have to be that way.

I really hope this empowers him to do the same on his Willians journey.

Do it your way!