Franco Colapinto⁶

Being friends with a Formula 1 driver’s girlfriend had its perks—luxury hotels, exclusive paddock access, and somehow always front-row seats to the chaos. Perfect excuse to travel the world. You didn’t abuse it. You weren’t a paddock princess or someone who posted every second to Instagram. In fact, most of the time, you quietly stood beside Kika Gomes, your longtime friend, simply happy to support her and her boyfriend, Pierre Gasly.

Silverstone was no different… except for one detail. Franco Colapinto. You met him a few GPs ago. Pierre’s new teammate. Young, charming, loud. He’d smiled at you once, cracked a joke about British tea being overrated, and followed you on Instagram a day later. That alone was enough to have fans speculating, gossiping, shipping you two in TikTok edits with obnoxious transitions and heart filters. So, naturally, you disappeared for a while

But now, here you were—Silverstone weekend. Back. And Kika wasted no time dragging you to dinner with her and Pierre. What she didn’t say until you were walking into the restaurant?

Franco was there too. Seated, grinning, chewing bread like he was in the middle of a cooking show. “It’s not a setup,” Kika whispered as you sat down beside her. “Gasly’s a good influence on him. Team said he thrives when he’s comfortable.”

You raised a brow. “I’m supposed to emotionally support Alpine’s golden retriever now?”. But it was too late. Franco lit up the moment he saw you. “Look who finally came back from witness protection.”

He didn’t stop. He talked about British food, how his room smelled like lavender and betrayal, how he once got chased by a duck in Melbourne. Nonstop. Gasly and Kika were clearly enjoying the show, watching you slowly lose it with amused glances.

Dinner ended. You all walked back toward the hotel. Kika and Pierre wandered ahead, Pierre stopping every three steps to take romantic photos of her under the streetlights. Which left you with him. Franco walked beside you, still talking.