For our F1 Driver Max and WAG Influencer Charles AU, Charles gets a partnership with Lululemon and is sent their cropped long-sleeve wrap blouse in a pretty baby pink. He’s so excited because this is his first big partnership (I’m thinking this is like 4 months into his and Max’s relationship, shortly after Charles makes his debut at the Monaco GP) and he wants to do his best so he sets up his Ring Light and spends all afternoon taking photos for the ad. Max comes home right as Charles is wrapping up and he sees his little love all decked out in soft pink, cheeks flushed from running to and fro, setting up props and checking the photos.
But the second he sees Max? Charles eagerly runs over, jumps in Max’s arms and kisses his mouth, his nose, his cheeks—he’s just so excited! You won’t believe it Maxie, Lululemon reached out to me! Here, do you want to see what I have so far? And as Charles tries to slip out of Max’s arms, the Alpha flat out refuses to let him go and instead carries Charles over to his little makeshift photoshoot area. But as Charles is pointing to his laptop, Max watches as the late afternoon sun pours in, bathing the living room with a brilliant golden light. And as the soft haze of amber-gold surrounds them, Max just can’t help it—he holds Charles tighter and buries his face in the crook of his lover’s neck. Inhaling vanilla and sweetness and Charles. He’s so at peace, so wondrously, impossibly happy that he just wants to sink into this moment and never let go.
And right at that moment, the camera goes off and a photo is taken of Max in his workout gear, cradling Charles who’s wrapped around him, legs locked around the Alpha’s waist and arms around his neck. Max’s face is tucked into the crook of the Monaco native’s neck and Charles’s own fingers are tangled in Max’s damp, blond hair. Soft green eyes are closed as he leans his cheek against the top of Max’s head. It’s a picture of perfect bliss and Charles hoards it away, unwilling to share it with the world because it’s theirs—his and Max’s.
Instead Charles posts another photo to his Instagram after his Lululemon carousel, one where Charles is facing a full body mirror and taking a selfie while a tall, imposing figure dressed in dark blue stands behind him, one hand on Charles’s hip. His face is cut off, you can’t see anything besides his thick neck and the collar of his shirt.
The caption from Charles: Baby’s first date night in head to toe @/lululemon 💙
And this one little innocent photo inadvertently sets of fireworks. Because yes, Charles was spotted at Red Bull hospitality during the Monaco GP but he was surrounded by Max’s nephews and niece. Victoria was chatting with Charles the entire time so everyone just assumed Charles was a friend of Max’s sister and no one thought too much of it. But this? This photo? The blue heart emoji? Oh everyone and their mother rushes to Charles’s Instagram, flooding it with likes, follows, and comments. Entire subreddits are created speculating on whether or not the figure in the back of Charles’s selfie is the Max Verstappen and if he is—are they dating? And just who exactly is “Charles Leclerc” and how on earth did he land himself an F1 world champion?
Max’s PR team freak out over the photo because Max, whatever happened to a coordinated rollout of your new partner?? But he hardly cares. Charles wants to post him front and center on his social media? Max is more than okay with it—in fact, he wants it…if only to keep other Alphas from hitting on Charles with Max standing right there 🙊
Oh, and Max’s IG story? A black and white photo of Charles sitting on Max’s lap, facing him with his head thrown back in laughter. You can see Charles’s profile even though it’s slightly blurred. However. Max’s profile is front and center, his hands on Charles’s thighs, an expression of warmth and affection written all over the Alpha’s face. The caption? “My one and only #datenight”
(Gemma has a near conniption after seeing this.)
