Angelopps - Angel In Hell

if i was charles, i would simply pull the 'but you promised 15-20 years of us racing together' card at max everytime he mentioned retirement. that + the puppy eyes would work 100%

GEORGE RUSSELL WHEN I CATCH U SON OF A BITCH WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT FUUUUUUCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKK

things like Charles "upgrading" his yacht are honestly such a nice reminder to not let this whole f1 fan thingy I've got going on here get too parasocial. i love f1 as a sport and i admire what the drivers do heavily but that's it. i love the fandom aspect of it so much and im very glad I've got a community to weird out with on tumblr. but f1 as an institution? fuck off. it shouldn't exist. there's so much corruption and power struggles and men that simply should never be given that much power. not to mention that they drive in countries that are at the very least morally questionable. i know that not all drivers get paid outrageous amounts but those that do just do not deserve that. and that's not to say that I would deserve it more or something. it's just that no human should ever be given that much money. no one in this godforsaken world needs to own a private jet or a yacht. i also think it says a whole lot about the ethics of drivers when they move to tax havens such as monaco. at the end of the day it's always nice to have the reminder that as much as they wanna appear normal they do live in a completely different world (undeserved at that) than most people on here and i think it's important to be aware of that and act accordingly.

I'm so sorry if anyone followed this blog thinking it's going to be a fun lil Lestappen experience, only to get hit by this, lol.

But, yes. Yes to everything you said, especially this:

at the end of the day it's always nice to have the reminder that as much as they wanna appear normal they do live in a completely different world

It doesn't matter how much the young drivers (and their partners) in particular are trying to push the 'regular guy' narrative. As previously discussed, not all of them come from wealth, but they very much are rich now. And no matter how nice someone may be, the number one priority of any rich person is this: stay rich, and become even richer.

Here's the thing: no system will ever be fair, or just, or equal. And private wealth has, historically, always played a crucial role in supporting the people, the arts, the sports. So I applaud the drivers for supporting karting, for example, and helping young people to get into the sport. In the absence of a system that will help those in need of support, we do rely on private financial aid. But what I'm getting at is that this charity work, for example, really doesn't do anything to diminish someone's wealth. Even the kindest and most generous people help because they know that they can afford to; because they will still be rich. Even some rich people lobbying for being taxed more might come from the right place, but even after taxing more, the people in question will still hold their shares and get their dividends and own their properties.

Which, I might sound overly cynical. Perhaps I am. I don't want to act like people doing something to help others and to help create a better system isn't important. It is. To some young driver in karting, that donation might mean the world. Even if the rich remain rich, higher taxes would still be collected. I just want to highlight that even the best intentions and actions are happening with the caveat that the system itself won't change; and the rich person's priority remains their own wealth.

And don't get me wrong. I, too, am very much part of that system, so I'm not going to call for a revolution. But I can only laugh at the mental gymnastics so-called Marxists and Socialists today do in order to justify their consumption under the whole "no ethical consumption under capitalism" thing. Anyway, that's just a personal gripe of mine. It is also equally absolutely my firm belief that communism and socialism can never truly be achieved, but that's a discussion for another day.

Anyway. To get back to your initial point and to make it about f1 again. As you said, it is nice to have this community, and to be weird together about f1. But the drivers are not your friends. I'm not saying they're bad people, but these individuals absolutely shouldn't be put on some sort of moral pedestal.

I think with social media encouraging that parasocial relationship, it can be difficult to separate the driver and the person, but it needs to be done if you don't want to be left disappointed. And, by the way, that also very much extends to their partners. Don't treat these girls and women as a parasocial y/n situation. They're just as wealthy and privileged and they very much sell a lifestyle the same way that drivers do. Basically, don't worship these individuals as people and treat them with distance and rationality, as you would with anyone that you don't know at all.

Ultimately, it's important to understand that you can support Charles as a driver without always agreeing with everything that he does as a person. And this applies to absolutely every single driver. I know there's always the Max fans that no longer can support him as a driver because of his relationship, or certain actions. And while I get that, it's literally always been this way; it's just that some fans tend to have a very pick and choose approach to what they deem to be acceptable in terms of 'good' behaviour they can support.

Anyway. Don't treat these drivers as your friends. Don't act like you know them. Don't be disappointed when they act exactly like people in that social class do. Draw a line between them as drivers and as people. And if you can't do that, f1 might honestly be the wrong sport for you.

charles_leclerc: welcome home baby leo 🤍

I was expecting the F1 silly season to have me turning in my bed losing sleep with how much y’all hyped it up. Unfortunately, I’m a Barcelona fan moving through the transfer season. Ain’t nothing F1 can throw at me that’ll top that insanity.

its so funny to me seeing people talking about de vries like he's a teenage but in fact he's 28 years old

"oh poor kid, what rbr did to him its such a shame" "he is so young, dont deserved it" "a rookie being replaced like that"

max you don't have to be so close

I’ve been thinking about it, and I now firmly believe that Charles signed a pre-contract with Red Bull in the week before COTA. Initially, he did it with the intent of putting pressure on Ferrari but then over the course of the triple header he slowly started to realise that maybe honouring that pre-contract MIGHT be his best chance at a WDC. This is heavily reflected in the socials and PR of Red Bull, Ferrari, and Charles himself and ties together all the Lestappen interactions of the past couple of months from Max’s answers at press conferences to the infamous padel date. Buckle up, because it’s going to be a ride.

So I believe to pinpoint the start of the current PR wave/movement that we've coined as Lestappen Gate 2023 we have to look all the way back to Monza. Around Monza, there were numerous rumours that a huge Charles contract renewal was imminent and it was going to be announced, etc. etc. Charles did put these rumours to bed by saying if there were a contract like the one that had been rumoured, he would've signed it immediately. Now, I believe that with Charles confirmed to be unsigned (at around the same time that the George/Lewis and Oscar renewals would've been happening), Red Bull Racing approached Charles to reopen talks.

But I think Charles stalls them, isn't open to talks, until Singapore where Carlos Sainz wins. This throws Ferrari into complete disarray as Fred suddenly can't open talks with Charles as it would then be clear that he will not be re-signing Carlos Sainz. I think it then becomes obvious to Charles and his team that in order for the contract talks to begin they need pressure to negate Santander and the Sainz family breathing down Ferrari's throat. So Charles actively enters talks with Red Bull with the intent of putting that pressure on Ferrari. Also worth noting, Singapore also marked Charles as something special, a generational talent who is also willing to be an exception n2 driver when the team requires it of him, especially when his teammate starts on pole. I think this makes Red Bull even more eager to begin talks with Charles. Interestingly, this is where we get the first Red Bull Lestappen post of this current era, the Lecstappen alert.

This brings us through Suzuka to Qatar, Max winning his 3rd WDC, Charles congratulating him and then effuse about Max and Red Bull in interviews. Seeing the level of success that Max has had is what pushes Charles to decide that he is going to sign a pre-contract with Red Bull for a seat in 2025 because either way, he wins. He either manages to put pressure on Ferrari to get a contract with all the clauses he wants (external brand deals, his own branding, car development to suit him, etc.) OR he gets the MOST talked about seat in F1.

Now this is a key point. I believe the padel date was an excuse to get Max and Charles in the same room. Specifically, for them to have a frank and honest chat about whether they could work as teammates and two n1 drivers on the same team. This is probably the first serious heart to heart that these two have had, which then explains their attitude and closeness in the triple header and them being more ready to be vulnerable and honest with and about each other. Then, in the week before COTA, satisfied that he could be teammates with Max if push came to shove, Charles Leclerc signs a pre-contract with RBR for 2025.

(It's also worth noticing that in the week before COTA, the Lando Norris to RBR rumours and talk noticeably died down, despite Oscar winning the sprint in Qatar).

Now this brings us to COTA, where Charles instantly starts to make PR moves to build a brand for himself. His first big move is signing with WME, a talent agency, and something that Ferrari drivers typically aren't allowed to do. The WME signing solidifies in my mind that a pre-contract exists, because if there is one thing Charles wouldn't do, it's jeopardise his chances of racing in F1. If there's a chance that Ferrari would drop him for this, he just wouldn't do it. However, if he has a guaranteed seat in 2025 no matter the outcome, he would totally do it. It must be said, I believe that Charles is using the pre-contract fully as leverage against Ferrari at this point UNTIL the strategy fuck up. After the strategy fuck up, Charles is noticeably angry and outspoken about it, and Fred starts to freak out a little bit. RBR in the mean time, are starting to try and change the Lestappen narrative from rivals to a duo, with Charles starting to feature heavily on RBR socials.

Moving on to Mexico, Charles does well, considering. But what's important about Mexico is that this is the first time that Charles has truly been treated like a villain by the fans at the track. This is key, not only because of RBR's reaction to it (which I will explore), but also because this is Charles's first taste of what a move to RBR could be like, of what it would feel like were he to become the antihero rather than the golden boy of F1. However, the real clincher is that rather than RBR playing into the narrative of Charles the villain, even despite him literally being involved in the DNF of their own driver (Checo) at his home race, they instead make sure to capture all angles of Charles and Max interacting and one of their own pays special attention to Charles on the podium. In a way, this is the weekend that shows Charles that even though Red Bull and Ferrari are completely different, Red Bull can still be as much of a family to him as Ferrari has been if he wants them to be. Moreso, in fact, considering Ferrari didn't even bother showing up to Charles's P3 podium.

So entering the weekend in Brazil, Charles is pictured wearing his own clothing line that it was rumoured Ferrari forced him to discontinue and Fred Vasseur is starting to get shit scared and starting to talk to anyone from media who will listen about how talented Charles is. Charles does put it on the front row, but there's no real Forza Ferrari about it, and Charles has stopped wearing Ferrari merch in the paddock. A Red Bull employee (Max's PT Brad) is the first person to congratulate Charles on the front row.

Then, the DNS happens. A completely avoidable thing that happened due to Ferrari incompetency, and all hell breaks loose. Charles leaves the paddock before he can finish his Ferrari PR duties like a post-race video, and makes it very clear that he is FURIOUS in all his interviews. Now, laughably, at this point is when Ferrari-Charles contract negations began, or at least, that's what was leaked to the media. In my mind, Charles communicated very clearly to Fred at this point that his pre-contract with Red Bull is a very real threat, and Charles himself is beginning to seriously consider honouring it, and if Ferraro don't get together, they WILL lose their Il Predestinato to Red Bull. At this moment, Fred Vasseur is absolutely terrified. The world is very obviously on Charles's side and sympathetic after the DNS, while being at best apathetic and at worst hostile toward the Scuderia. Meanwhile, Red Bull continue with their Lestappen antics across all social media channel, again publicising the idea that Max and Charles are close and may have once been rivals but are buddies now, like in their tiktok of Max doing the "just an inchident" trend.

Now I haven't mentioned the onboards yet, which were spotted by some eagle eyes fans during the Mexico and Brazil GP weekends, in which Charles's onboard was displayed very clearly alongside their actual drivers, Max and Checo. But the existence of the onboards on the Red Bull pitwall make perfect sense if Charles did sign a pre-contract. Red Bull are gathering data to sway Charles further, almsot a "yeah so here's exactly where Ferrari fucked your race, and here's is what we would've done differently."

The break in the triple header, Charles is noticeably refraining from Forza Ferrari-ing. Rather, he calls the paps on himself on more than one occasion and make sure he is seen with several high profile celebs, strengthening his public image and building his own narrative. Meanwhile, Ferrari is in full damage control mode, taking responsibility for the DNS, acknowledging Charles in a way they haven't fully done since Singapore. There are more leaks of contract negotiations, but Charles does not engage with them. Meanwhile, Red Bull are keeping up their Lestappen propaganda. Charles is making it clear to all parties that this pre-contract that he initially intended to just be a bargaining chip has suddenly become a serious threat to Ferrari.

Finally, this brings us to last weekend, Vegas. Charles, again, refuses to Forza Ferrari. Ferrari PR have put Charles and Red Bull content on absolute LOCKDOWN with not a HINT of Lestappen anywhere, and Max is making comments about the choice of team being important in winning even for generational talents while Charles fidgets and looks away. Fred praises Charles to hell and back again, implying that Charles will obviously be prioritised over Carlos by diminishing Singapore, but in the post-race, Charles still gives nothing. Just a thinly veiled comment about how good it feels to be fighting at the front again. Meanwhile, Red Bull amp up the Charles content even more, even fully posting a picture just of Charles's car. There are also not one, but two questions about Max and Charles's karting past. In discussion with my academic colleagues (@tsarinablogs, @thearchercore, @gaslightgirlsummer (further thanks for all three of them, for entertaining a much rougher draft of this essay a few days ago)), we've talked about the possibility that these questions might have themselves been planted in the media rooms, in order to further cement the idea and control the narrative of Charles and Max, childhood rivals turned dynamic duo. The sort of narrative one might find intriguing around teammates.

So this concludes my essay. I am almost sure that Charles has a pre-contract with Red Bull, which is why he is suddenly so outspoken about the problems and failings of Ferrari. Although this pre-contract originally began as a bargaining chip, I believe that Charles is seriously considering honouring it. Ferrari are desperate, and Red Bull have the upper hand and are starting to pave the way for a media shift in how Charles and Max as a pairing are perceived.

Everyone right know sucking of sainz’ dick and criticizing charles are so fucking stupid. While his brakes reached 100 degrees he overtake,got the fastest lap and finished p4. If your stupid driver would be on that position he would be crying on the radio and probably dnf. He literally DID NOTHING. He literally drove like he got nowhere to go oh wait he has actually nowhere to go. He can go and cry because he will never be on Charles level and tifosi will never love him as much as they love Charles. I know my goat