Chapter Text
The news dropped on a stormy October afternoon in the off week between Baku and Singapore. Charles had been warned that it would be announced, being once again, one of the only people who already knew what this announcement would be about.
This time he hadn't even told Pierre about it.
Because of the news of Lewis moving to Ferrari from two and a half years ago, Charles knew that this could potentially top that once more.
Especially since it somehow had not leaked to any media at all.
Charles glanced at his phone for the third time in 20 minutes. Any moment now the Formula 1 world would be in shambles, again.
“What's up with you today? Usually you're not glued to your phone like that.”
Pierre leaned back on the couch, tossing his controller aside.
“I thought we were playing FIFA here? Instead you look like you're waiting for a call or something.”
Charles looked up from his phone, deliberately putting it away now.
“It's nothing… I'm here, I'm here.”
“Nah, you're not, but you won't tell me what is going on with you. You've been keeping secrets from me since Zandvoort.”
Charles was never good at lying to Pierre, but for this one he kind of wanted to see Pierre's live reaction to this news like everyone else.
“It can't be about your championship lead, neither Lando nor Oscar are anywhere close to you after you schooled them all in Monza and Baku.”
Charles smiled.
“No, it hasn't anything to do with my championship.”
“What then? Will they announce that they crown you king of Italy for real, for real? Cause I don't think anyone has ever won Monza three times in a row in a Ferrari.”
Charles shook his head again, but was distracted by his phone lighting up.
Quickly he grabbed it.
But it was not the news, it was just Max texting him a picture of Lily and Nino goofing around. Charles almost cooed at the picture, quickly replying with the cutest picture of Leo that he had taken in the past day.
It was accompanied by a text asking if he wanted to join Max on his flight to Singapore. An offer which Charles accepted gladly.
They hadn't seen each other on and at the track as much as they would have liked in 2026, with Ferrari - Charles really - finally reserving the top of the podium for himself, while Max' only two podiums this year had been a third place in Monaco and a miraculous win in a rainy Zandvoort.
Otherwise he was mostly in 5th or 6th, battling Lewis for only 5th in the championship as well.
Lewis struggled with the new car and the new regulations. He had told Charles quite early in the season that if his feel for the car didn't come back during the season he'd actually consider retiring. For Max, he'd love the new regulations, but his Redbull just didn't have the pace at all.
In fact it was so little pace, that not even Max Verstappen could create many miracles with it.
All of that led to this stormy afternoon where Charles was anxiously waiting for the news to drop. A news, that even Pierre hadn’t been able to tickle out of him, no matter how much he tried.
Which was revealed to the world right this moment:
Breaking:
Lewis Hamilton announces retirement at the end of the 2026 season.
Breaking:
Max Verstappen to race for Scuderia Ferrari in 2027.
The Dutchman, currently only 5th in the championship, signs a two year contract with the option to extend for another year.
It is yet to be seen who will replace him at the team from Milton Keynes.