YOU ARE READING

After the Apex

Fanfiction

Book 1/3 When Isabel Solace, a 24-year-old Spanish-Australian graphic designer living in London, finds herself unexpectedly thrust into the fast-paced world of Formula 1, she never anticipates her path crossing with Lando Norris-McLaren's golden boy...

#alexalbon #carlossainz #charlesleclerc #estebanocon #f1 #fernandoalonso #formula1 #francoxolapinto #gabrielbortoeto #georgerussell #isackhadjar #kimiantonelli #lancestroll #landonorris #lewishamilton #liamlawson #maxverstappen #nicohulkenberg #oliverbearman #oscarpiastri #pierregasly #yukitsunoda

Late Apex, Late Texts

17 1 0

by f1fics_

by f1fics_

The thing no one told Isabel about loving a Formula 1 driver?

It wasn't the fame.
It wasn't the fans.
It wasn't even the media.

It was the delays.

Delayed flights.
Delayed dinners.
Delayed texts that used to come fast, now slowing down with every race weekend.

And the irony?

She understood the term "late apex" better than she ever had in her life.
You go slow in, wait for the curve to break—
Then you accelerate out, full send.
Only, in real life? Waiting wasn't always strategic.
Sometimes it just... hurt.

⸻

Lando was in Japan.

She was in London.
And for the first time since he said I love you, Isabel felt the quiet creep in again.

Not because he was distant.
But because he was everywhere else.

⸻

[iMessage | Isabel → Lando]
Good luck in quali. Drink water. Don't forget the visor cam again. Love you.
Delivered
Read
No reply.

Then, hours later:

[Lando → Isabel]
P7. Could've been worse. Still hate Suzuka's hairpins. Miss your hair more though. Love you.

[Isabel → Lando]
That was tragically cheesy.
10/10.

⸻

[Group Chat: "Chaos Coven 💅💥"]
Lucy:
Girl you've got it BAD
Tasha:
Imagine finding time to flirt across time zones AND downforce maps
Isabel:
He's trying. I know he is. But I hate feeling like the second screen in his day
Lucy:
You're not a second screen
Tasha:
You're the damn dashboard

⸻

The following night, Isabel fell asleep with his hoodie pulled over her face, phone on 5% battery, and an unfinished design draft still open on her laptop.

She dreamt of circuits.
Of corners with no end.
Of acceleration with no brakes.

She woke up to five missed calls.
Two from Lando.
Three from a number in Japan she didn't recognize.

And one voicemail.

⸻

"Hey, love. It's 3am here. Just got back from dinner with the team. I'm not calling for anything urgent—well, not unless you consider the fact that I can't sleep without hearing your voice urgent. I miss you. You don't have to call back, just... know that, okay?"

She played it three times before replying.

⸻

[Voice Message | Isabel → Lando]
"You're ridiculous. And perfect. And I love you. Even when I hate time zones. Especially then."

⸻

[Instagram | @isabelsolace]
📍 London

Love looks like this lately. Late calls. Long nights. Still worth it.
tagged: @landonorris

⸻

[Twitter | @F1softupdates]
The way Isabel just lowkey explained what it's like dating an F1 driver and made it SOUND LIKE POETRY 😭

⸻

Later that day, Lando FaceTimed her from the team hotel.

He looked exhausted, hair flattened by a cap, eyes soft.

"Hi," he said.

"Hi."

"Just checking... am I still worth it?"

She smiled.

"Always."