#f1academy

But, everyone was pretending nothing had changed. Mostly because no one wanted him to feel the pressure. Someone didn't think he could bring it home, he knew that. 

His father was there. He always didn't mention how much was at stake that morning. 

Kimi pulled on his gloves slowly, flexing his fingers once, twice. Same routine. Same rhythm. Nothing new.

That was the point.

Across the grid, George stood surrounded by engineers, calm in that effortless way that came from years of being here. Fighting at the front. Managing expectations. Managing himself.

But he was in the second place box this time. 

Kimi stood next to his car in the first one.

Their eyes met briefly.

George gave him a small nod.

Not as friendly as he used to be. Not cold either. 

Kimi slipped his helmet on. 

This was it. 

Game on.

Kimi knew the Ferraris just behind him and George were better at the starts then them. He was prepared for one of them to try and slice through. He had to fend off three of the best drivers on the grid.

The first red light flashed on. 

He took a deep breath.

The second one blinked. Kimi's hands clutched the steering wheel.

Third red light.

Remember to breathe, race boy.

Lisi's voice cut through the haze. 

Fourth.

He breathed in and out. Closed his eyes for a second. A splash of blonde hair and charcoal flashed behind his lids.

Fifth.

Lights out.

Kimi reacted instantly, clutch biting at exactly the right moment. No wheelspin, no hesitation. The car launched forward like it had been waiting for that exact command all weekend. 

Lewis was better. He slices through like it was the easiest thing ever. 

Charles tried it too. 

Not today.

He slotted back into P3, leading on George in P4.

In turn 1, Kimi hung on P2 like his life depended on it.

The opening laps blurred into precision. Tire temperatures, brake balance, tiny adjustments on the wheel, everything Kimi had drilled into muscle memory. 

When Lap 2 started, Kimi gained on Lewis, using all the mechanical advantage the Mercedes had through turn 13 and regained the lead.

In the following laps, George overtook Charles and Lewis, taking the second place behind Kimi. 

The race played itself out conveniently to Kimi. George never came too close and Kimi led comfortably after the Safety Car restart.

On the last lap, Bono's voice rang into his ears.

“Get in there, Kimi!” 

And just like that, Kimi crossed the finishing line first. 

His first win in F1.

“YES! Yes, man! We did it, we did it!” Kimi laughed in his helmet.

“First win! This one you're going to remember forever!” Bono said back.

The moment he stopped the car, it hit him properly.

He pulled himself out too fast this time, almost stumbling slightly as his legs caught up with everything else.

Then the noise rushed in.

People were shouting. Cheering. He ran to his team. To his dad.

“Kimi!”

“P1!”

“Incredible!”

Hands on his helmet, his shoulders—

He laughed, breathless, overwhelmed, and threw him at them.

When it took his helmet off, it was very clear how emotional he was.

His eyes were glassy already.

He blinked hard, like he didn’t want it to happen here.

Didn’t quite succeed.

He cried when the interviewer asked him the first question. 

When he stepped down from the podium, stinking of champagne, the first thing he did was look for his phone.

It was exploding with texts and calls but he was searching for one name and one name only.

Lisi.

It rang barely twice before Lisi picked up. Her smile and her tear-streaked face filled his screen.

“You're crying.”

“Yeah. Haven't stopped since lap 30.” Lisi's voice faltered. “You are a race winner, Andrea.”

“Draw this one.” Kimi said “Please. I don’t want pictures. I want your hands drawing this. I want you to make this moment eternal. Can you do that for me?” 

Lisi cried a little more at the request.

“Yes, yes. Of course, I'll draw it. I'll draw it a thousand times for you, Andrea. I'm so damn proud of you.” 

“You drew the first time I sat in a F1 car. I want you to draw the first time I win in one too.”

“Stop it” Lisi whispered, drying her eyes on her sleeves.

Kimi leaned back in his chair slightly, still holding the phone close.

“Where are you?” he asked.

“Home,” she said. “I was watching from the couch. I think I scared my neighbors.”

That made him laugh, properly this time.

“Yeah?”

“I screamed when you overtook Lewis. 

Like… actually screamed.”

He shook his head, smiling.

“I wish I was there to celebrate this with you.”

That simple line hit him in a way he didn’t expect.

He looked at her again.

“…yeah.” He nodded. “Me too, Lisi.”

Lisi studied him for a moment, her expression softening as the initial wave of emotion settled.

“You’re different right now,” she said quietly.

Kimi raised an eyebrow slightly.

“Different how?”

She smiled.

“Lighter.”

He exhaled slowly through his nose.

“…maybe.”

“You deserve that,” she added.

He didn’t respond immediately.

Just looked at her.

“Don’t disappear into it,” she said, a little more serious now, though still gentle. “Not the pressure. Not the expectations. Just… stay like this for a bit.”

Kimi nodded slowly.

“I’ll try.”

A small silence followed.

Then Lisi tilted her head, her voice soft again.

“So… champion.”

He let out a quiet breath, almost like he hadn’t allowed himself to think of it that way yet.

“…It's just one race.”

She shook her head, smiling.

“No. Don’t do that.”

He gave a faint, knowing look. 

“You'll make history, Kimi.” Lisi whispered, “You already are.” 

Kimi's eyes stung again.

“You're making me cry again.” He muttered, looking up and blinking quickly.

Lisi laughed, softly, genuinely.

“I can't wait to see you.” She added.

“Me too.” 

“And I'll give you thousands of drawings.”

Kimi laughed too this time.