“Seriously though, how do we talk to her?” Oscar asked, voice dropping like it was some kind of covert operation. “You guys know her better than we do.”

Kimi looked up. “…Just ask her about biology or something.”

“…what.”

“No, he’s right,” Ollie said with a little grin. “Y/N’s in the middle of her human biology degree. She’s got like, anatomy flashcards in her driver room. She helped me understand what the liver does for like twenty minutes yesterday.”

Carlos blinked. “What does the liver do?” “Carlos.” “What?! I drive cars, not bodies.”

✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦

The next day, during the Silverstone GP weekend, Lando spotted Y/N walking toward the motorhome, head down, earbuds in, probably watching a video lecture about something way too smart for 9 AM.

He put on his friendliest smile and approached.

“Y/N!” She froze like a startled cat. “Don’t run, I swear I’m not gonna make you do a TikTok,” he held up his hands.

That got a tiny smile. “…Hi,” she said, soft, clutching her iPad a little tighter.

“So uh,” Lando scratched his neck, clearly reaching into the deepest depths of his brain, “I’ve been having this…weird pain. In like—my lower back? Maybe it’s the way I sit in the car? Or like—do kidneys go there?”

Y/N blinked. Her brow furrowed just slightly. “Lower back pain? Does it hurt when you wake up, or only after driving?” “I mean, kind of both?” “Could be postural. Or a psoas imbalance. Or dehydration. Have you been drinking enough water?”

He blinked. “Like…maybe? Not really?” She sighed like a disappointed professor. “Muscles get tighter when you’re low on fluids. You probably need to stretch and hydrate better. Could be causing referred pain.”

“…Referred pain?”

Y/N blinked again. “Pain that’s felt somewhere other than where it originates.” “Oh.”

Lando stood there, stunned. Y/N shifted awkwardly. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to—” “No, that was actually… super helpful?” She smiled again—this time for real. “You’re welcome.”

✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦

Later that day:

“Bro, it worked. I asked her about my kidneys and she actually stayed.” Oscar nearly dropped his water bottle. “What did she say?” “Apparently I’m dying from dehydration.” “…you are,” Kimi said flatly.

Suddenly, Y/N was in high demand.

Carlos complained about a shoulder spasm (“Have you been favoring one side when you sleep?”) Charles made up a headache (“You might be clenching your jaw, try magnesium supplements.”) Even Daniel joined in (“I feel like my spleen’s off.” – “That’s not even how it works.”)

She wasn’t fooled, of course. But she indulged them.

Every time, her voice would soften, her confidence would bloom, and she’d go on a little nerdy tangent about tendons, or hydration, or resting heart rates, and the boys? They were hooked.

“She’s like—Doctor Mike,” Alex Albon muttered after she explained Oscar’s stress-induced stomach cramps in detail. “She could probably take the MCAT and still beat us to pole,” George added.

✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦

What started as a running joke (“Doctor Y/N to the paddock please,” someone said over the radio and she nearly threw her headset) eventually became something warmer, deeper.

Y/N stopped running away. She started eating lunch with the others. She gave Charles her notes when he said his back hurt again. She and Alex got into a debate about caffeine and resting cortisol levels that drew a literal crowd.

At the Austrian GP, a clip went viral of Y/N standing in the Red Bull hospitality tent, passionately explaining the vagus nerve to Lando and Logan using a sandwich as a prop.

“She's the first driver I’ve ever seen use a grilled cheese to explain autonomic regulation,” one fan tweeted. “She’s so real for that,” another replied. #DoctorY/N trended for the rest of the weekend.

✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦

By mid-season, Y/N had won two races, earned a standing ovation for correcting a Sky Sports journalist about metabolic efficiency (gently, but still), and somehow become the grid’s favorite little sister and emergency medic.

“Y/N,” Carlos asked in Hungary, looking concerned, “my eye’s been twitching since Wednesday.” “Lack of sleep. Cut down your screen time after 9PM. Try magnesium glycinate.” “…you’re magic.”

Ollie and Kimi watched it all happen with barely contained pride.

“She’s so cool,” Ollie whispered. “She’s always been cool,” Kimi replied.

✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦

At Spa, Y/N made history as the youngest woman to podium at the Belgian GP.

During the post-race interviews, Lewis Hamilton leaned over and said into the mic, “Honestly, I thought she was gonna diagnose me with iron deficiency halfway through that race.”

Everyone laughed. Y/N just grinned.

✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦

By the time the season wound down, “Doctor Y/N” was stitched into the inside of her helmet as a joke from the Mercedes garage. The medical team actually joked about recruiting her post-retirement. Fans made lab coat edits of her podium pictures.

But the best part?

Y/N finally stopped doubting whether she belonged on that grid.

Not just because she was smart. Not just because she was fast. But because when she walked into the paddock, the boys didn’t just nod at her—they waved, smiled, joked, asked questions.

They listened.

✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦

In Abu Dhabi, during the driver parade, Y/N sat between Lando and Kimi, squinting at her iPad and flipping through muscle diagrams. Oscar leaned over from the row behind.

“What are you studying now?” “Neuromuscular junctions.” “Oh cool. I have this weird ache in my foot—” “Oscar.”

She grinned. He did too.

“Doctor Y/N strikes again,” Charles said with a wink. She didn’t run away this time.

━⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅━

“Mom, this is the best day ever!” he exclaimed, his small feet practically bouncing with excitement.

His mother, Y/N, smiled down at him, squeezing his hand gently. “I’m glad you’re having fun, Leo. But remember, we have to stick together, okay? This place can get pretty crowded.”

Leo nodded earnestly, his big brown eyes scanning the bustling paddock. At just six years old, he already knew more about Formula 1 than most adults, a passion inherited from his mom. Y/N had grown up watching races with her dad, and now, as a single mother, she shared that same love with her son.

Leo’s favorite driver, without question, was Lando Norris. His room was decorated with McLaren posters, his toy cars all painted papaya orange, and his wardrobe—thanks to Y/N—now included Lando’s newly launched children’s merch line. The hoodie he wore today was his favorite piece, and he hadn’t stopped talking about it since it arrived in the mail.

“Do you think we’ll see him, Mom?” Leo asked, craning his neck to peer around a group of photographers.

Y/N crouched down to his level, brushing a stray curl from his forehead. “Maybe, sweetheart. We have paddock passes, so there’s a chance. But remember, the drivers are super busy, so we have to be patient.”

Leo nodded, though the excitement in his eyes didn’t dim. He clutched the small notepad and marker he’d brought, just in case he got the chance to ask for an autograph.

As they wandered through the paddock, Y/N couldn’t help but feel a wave of nostalgia. It had been years since she’d attended a race in person, but seeing it through Leo’s eyes made it even more magical.

“Mom! Look!” Leo’s voice was a mix of awe and urgency as he tugged on her hand.

Y/N followed his gaze and froze. Just a few feet away, leaning casually against a barrier and chatting with a team member, was Lando Norris himself.

“Go on,” Y/N encouraged softly, her heart swelling at the sight of her son’s hero so close.

Leo hesitated for a moment, his small frame vibrating with nervous energy. Then, with a deep breath, he squared his shoulders and marched forward.

“Hi, Lando!” he said, his voice high-pitched but clear. “You’re my favorite driver!”

Lando turned, his trademark grin lighting up his face as he crouched to Leo’s level. “Hey, buddy! Thanks for saying that. What’s your name?”

“Leo!” he said proudly, puffing out his chest. “And look! I’m wearing your hoodie!”

Lando’s eyes lit up as he took in the light blue hoodie, the logo of his brand displayed prominently on the front. “No way! That looks awesome on you, Leo. You’ve got great taste.”

Leo beamed, clutching the fabric of his hoodie. “My mom got it for me. She says you’re really cool, too!”

Y/N, who had been hanging back to give Leo his moment, felt her cheeks flush as Lando’s gaze shifted to her. He stood, his grin softening into something more genuine.

“Your mom sounds pretty cool herself,” he said, his voice warm.

Y/N stepped forward, laughing nervously. “Well, I’ve been a fan of the sport for a long time, so I guess I’m passing it on.”

“You’re doing a great job,” Lando said, glancing down at Leo, who was now rifling through his notepad. “It’s always nice to meet fans like you two.”

Leo held up the notepad eagerly. “Can you sign this? Please?”

“Of course!” Lando took the marker and scribbled a quick note, adding a little doodle of a race car next to his signature.

As he handed the notepad back, he turned to Y/N again. “Are you two here for the whole weekend?”

“Yes,” Y/N said. “It’s Leo’s first race, so I wanted to make it special.”

“Well, I think you’ve done a pretty good job so far,” Lando said, his tone teasing.

Y/N laughed, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. “Thanks. He’s been counting down the days for months.”

Lando crouched down again, ruffling Leo’s hair. “I hope you have the best time, Leo. And make sure you cheer extra loud for me, okay?”

“I will!” Leo promised, his face glowing with happiness.

As they walked away, Leo clutching his notepad like a treasure, Y/N glanced back over her shoulder. To her surprise, Lando was still watching them, a thoughtful smile on his face.

“Mom,” Leo said, looking up at her. “That was the best moment of my whole life.”

Y/N smiled, her heart full. “Mine too, sweetheart.”

Little did she know, it wasn’t the last time she’d see that thoughtful smile.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of excitement. Leo couldn’t stop talking about meeting Lando, recounting every detail of their conversation to anyone who would listen. Y/N smiled through it all, her heart full as she watched her son’s joy.

But as much as she tried to focus on the moment, she couldn’t quite shake the memory of Lando’s lingering gaze or the warmth in his voice when he spoke to her. It was probably nothing, she told herself. He was just being kind, like he always was with fans.

The next day, Y/N and Leo returned to the paddock, both dressed in their McLaren gear. Leo wore his hoodie again, proudly showing off the autograph Lando had added to the sleeve. The boy was on cloud nine, and Y/N couldn’t imagine how the weekend could get any better.

But then, it did.

As they wandered near the McLaren garage, a team member approached them with a friendly smile.

“Excuse me, are you Leo?”

Leo’s eyes widened as he nodded. “Yes! That’s me!”

The team member chuckled. “Lando mentioned meeting you yesterday. He thought you might like a closer look at the garage. Would you and your mom like to come in?”

Y/N blinked in surprise, her heart skipping a beat. “Are you serious?”

“Absolutely. Follow me.”

Leo practically dragged Y/N by the hand as they followed the team member into the garage. The space was a hive of activity, with engineers working on the cars and team members preparing for the upcoming qualifying session.

Lando was there, of course, leaning casually against the side of his car as he chatted with his race engineer. When he spotted Leo and Y/N, his face lit up with a grin.

“Leo! You made it!”

Leo beamed, running up to him. “This is so cool! Thank you, Lando!”

“Anything for my number one fan,” Lando said, ruffling Leo’s hair. He glanced at Y/N, his smile softening. “Glad you could make it, too.”

“I can’t believe this,” Y/N said, shaking her head. “This is amazing. Thank you so much.”

Lando shrugged, his eyes twinkling. “It’s nothing, really. I just wanted to make sure Leo had a weekend to remember.”

Leo was already engrossed in a conversation with one of the engineers, who was showing him the car’s steering wheel. Y/N took the opportunity to step closer to Lando.

“You didn’t have to do this,” she said, her voice low. “But it means the world to him. To both of us.”

Lando tilted his head, his gaze steady. “I could tell how much this means to you two. And honestly, it’s nice to meet fans who care about more than just the results. You’ve raised a great kid.”

Y/N felt a blush creep up her neck. “Thank you. That means a lot.”

They stood there for a moment, the noise of the garage fading into the background. Lando’s easy smile and the warmth in his eyes made her feel something she hadn’t felt in a long time—hope.

“Mom! Look!” Leo’s excited voice broke the moment as he ran over, holding a small piece of carbon fiber. “They gave me a piece of the car! Isn’t that cool?”

“That’s amazing, sweetheart,” Y/N said, crouching to his level. “You’ll have to find a special place for it at home.”

Leo nodded enthusiastically before turning back to Lando. “You’re the best driver ever!”

Lando laughed, crouching down to Leo’s level. “And you’re the best fan ever. Deal?”

“Deal!”

As they left the garage, Y/N couldn’t help but glance back one last time. Lando caught her eye and gave her a small wave, his smile lingering.

The rest of the weekend was a whirlwind of excitement. Leo cheered his heart out during qualifying and the race, and when Lando crossed the finish line in fourth place, he celebrated as if it were a win.

But the real surprise came after the race. As Y/N and Leo were preparing to leave, a McLaren team member approached them again, this time with an envelope.

“Lando asked me to give this to you,” he said, handing it to Y/N.

Curious, she opened it. Inside was a handwritten note:

Y/N and Leo, Thank you for making this weekend unforgettable. Leo, keep being the amazing fan you are. And Y/N, if you’re ever at another race, I’d love to see you again. Maybe we can grab a coffee sometime? -Lando

Y/N’s breath caught in her throat as she read the note. She glanced at Leo, who was already excitedly telling a passerby about his piece of the car, and then back at the note.

Maybe, just maybe, this weekend wasn’t just a dream come true for Leo.

౨ৎ

*:･ﾟ Notes; thank you for reading, love’s! Hope you all enjoyed it! If there is something wrong or need to be edited, let me know!