Chapter Text
MAX VERSTAPPEN FACES SERIOUS TITLE THREAT!
IS RED BULL DOMINATION OVER?
THE FALL OF ONE OF THE GREATS: HOW MAX VERSTAPPEN WILL LOSE 4th WORLD TITLE
“SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE NOW” SAYS HELMUT MARKO
JOS VERSTAPPEN SAYS HE HAS NO CONFIDENCE IN HIS SON KEEPING HIS CHAMPIONSHIP STREAK
Every article Max saw said the same thing, he was over, he was washed, he lost his spark, that he might as well give over his title to Lando now. Checo had been saying for months the car sucked and he wished everyone had listened to him because now he is stuck with the shittest car on the planet.
He felt like he hadn’t been on the podium in years and every race finished was just another foot in the grave.
Sometimes he wondered why he even did it any more dragging himself across the globe with zero sleep and zero time to do anything else. The deep laying exhaustion in his bones got worse ever year. How long until he physically can’t bring himself to do it anymore? He’s no Fernando.
He was already cemented as one of the greats three world championships, the longest winning streak in history. He had a place on the wall of the fame next to his pack mate Lewis, and being the second omega world champion alongside his pack omega Sebastian.
Max was proud of his accomplishments and maybe this was a sign, it’s time to hang up his helmet and gloves and move on. Spend his days e racing and with Seb.
Everyday would be a rest day and a holiday. No rules to follow no bed times, and with his packs wealth he was set for life. Maybe even kids. He’s sure Sebastian would love some and with two of them at home it could be feasible.
So now Max sat looking at the pack wall of achievements, Max’s WDC next to Seb and Lewis’s.
“Maybe it’s time to go”
“You read the articles?” The warm voice of Sebastian behind him came sneaking up like a hug. Followed by an actual hug his soft omega musk blended with Max a warm vanilla and orange smell like Christmas and Easter mixing together.
“A few” Max said quietly like he couldn’t admit it to himself let alone for the ears of his love.
“I got that a lot to you know” Max hummed “And you know what I did?”
Max shook his head that was titled to floor he hated making eye contact in these situations. He loved Sebastian and he loved the safe environment where he felt free to be himself in Seb created but habits from childhood are hard to break. Max knew that better than anyone.
“I won it” Seb grinned. “It’s all just bark and no bite Max and you know it” He led him to the sofa room and bundled him up within the pillows and blankets.
This was when Max realised Lewis had been stood behind then the whole time.
“If you decided that next year you need a break or want to quit then we will make that happen but don’t quit just because so nobody’s are talking shit” said Lewis, “your a fighter Max like a lion never forget it”
Max may choose that he doesn’t want to race any more and God does he want to. But that ache from race exhaustion may lay deep but he knows it will never even start to heal if he doesn’t finish what he started and that includes getting his fourth. Even if that means dragging himself half way to death and many intense nights with his pack mate Lando he will do it. Max is a champion. And no one. No one. Will forget it.