#fa14

No greeting.

No hesitation.

Just up.

Seb nearly drops a tablet.

“Kleine Maus— wait—”

Too late.

Kimi looks down at the tiny human tugging on his race suit.

“…Okay.”

He picks you up.

Just like that.

And apparently that decision seals his fate forever.

The Shadow Begins

From that day forward, the paddock notices something strange.

Wherever Kimi goes…

There is a very small Vettel following him.

He walks toward the motorhome.

Tiny footsteps behind him.

He heads to the drivers’ briefing.

Little voice calling:

“Kimi! Wait!”

He tries to grab a coffee.

A tiny hand grabs his sleeve.

“Up again.”

And Kimi—who barely talks to grown adults—just sighs and lifts you onto his hip like it’s completely normal.

The Grid Finds Out

The other drivers notice immediately.

Daniel nearly chokes laughing the first time he sees it.

“Mate,” he says to Seb, pointing.

“Your kid’s got a crush.”

Seb groans.

“She’s two.”

Daniel shrugs.

“Still counts.”

Lewis crouches beside you once.

“Hey, you wanna come say hi?”

You shake your head firmly.

“Kimi.”

Lewis laughs.

“Fair enough.”

Kimi’s New Job

Kimi pretends not to care.

But the paddock starts noticing things.

Like how he automatically slows his walking speed when you follow him.

Or how he lifts you up before you even ask now.

Or how he lets you sit in his lap during quiet garage moments while he drinks coffee.

You play with the zipper of his suit.

“Kimi car fast?”

“Yes.”

“Vroom?”

“Yes.”

Conversation over.

You are thrilled.

Sebastian’s Confusion

Sebastian watches this whole situation with increasing disbelief.

One afternoon he kneels beside you.

“You know Papa drives a race car too, right?”

You nod.

“Kimi faster.”

Seb sputters.

“Excuse me?”

Across the garage, Kimi smirks just slightly.

The Drivers Tease Him

The grid absolutely refuses to let this go.

Daniel: “She’s chosen her favorite uncle.”

Lewis: “You’ve been replaced, Seb.”

Even Fernando laughs.

“You cannot compete with the Iceman.”

Seb sighs dramatically.

“I carried her for nine months.”

Daniel corrects him.

“…Your wife did.”

Seb points accusingly at Kimi.

“You did nothing!”

Kimi shrugs.

“She likes me.”

The Famous Lap Walk

One Sunday before a race, the drivers walk the track.

Kimi is halfway down the straight when he hears the familiar tiny voice behind him.

“Kimi wait!”

You’re waddling across the asphalt in your little sneakers.

Seb is jogging behind you, completely defeated.

Kimi stops.

Turns around.

And automatically crouches so you can climb into his arms.

You point down the track.

“Walk!”

So now Kimi Räikkönen—world champion, professional racing driver—is carrying a toddler around the circuit while the rest of the grid laughs behind him.

The Purest Moment

After one race, Kimi climbs out of his car and heads toward the garage.

You’re already there.

Waiting.

The second you see him you sprint (as much as a toddler can sprint).

“KIMI!”

He kneels just in time to catch you.

You wrap your tiny arms around his neck.

“I watched!”

He nods.

“Good.”

Then you whisper proudly:

“Kimi best.”

Behind you, Sebastian clutches his chest dramatically.

“I’m right here!”

You wave at him.

“Hi Papa.”

Then go back to hugging Kimi.

The entire Ferrari garage erupts in laughter.

The Unspoken Truth

Kimi will never admit it.

But everyone sees it.

The quiet patience.

The tiny smiles when you ramble.

The way he always makes sure you’re safe before handing you back to Seb.

And whenever someone jokes about your little crush…

Kimi just shrugs.

“She’s good company.”

Which, coming from Kimi Räikkönen, is basically the highest compliment in the world.

The Legend of the Tiny Shadow

For the rest of those seasons on the grid, the paddock gets used to the sight.

A legendary Formula 1 driver.

And the tiny Vettel who decided he was her favorite person.

No one questions it anymore.

Because honestly?

The Iceman having a tiny, giggling shadow everywhere he goes might be the cutest thing the paddock has ever seen. 🏁

End.