Chapter Text
After the 2026 season
Melissa Jiménez (Reporter for DAZN España): Hello Carlos. It's so nice to see you today at this special interview.
Carlos Sainz Jr: The pleasure is all mine.
Melissa Jiménez: The reason we got together is your relationship, specifically your engagement with your ex-teammate Lando Norris. It certainly doesn't surprise anyone that you've been together for a while, as you told me before, but with so much homophobia in just one sport, two gay drivers seem unimaginable at first, even if it's the most normal thing in the world. The big question that concerns us all right now, is why did you decide to come out now?
Carlos Sainz Jr: This question is of course justified. Many factors have led us to decide to give this interview here today. We think about our future, about the next steps that make a Coming Out inevitable, *smiles* but above all, we are confident enough that we will be able to stand up to the pressure, to all the questions that will come up against us. Besides, we don't want to hide anymore, we've been hiding for far too long, but now F1 is more or less willing to accept a relationship between drivers. At the beginning of our relationship, coming out was not even worth discussing, but the sport continues to evolve, the fans continue to evolve, the whole world continues to evolve, so it is now possible. I'm not saying that it was an easy decision or that we're so naive that we don't expect to get hate at all. We know that our sport is still ruled by money and that some countries – or states – we visit will condemn us for our sexuality, but we know that, although this will still lead to a huge debate, we do not have to worry about our jobs. Our teams cannot and will not kick us out for our sexuality and neither can the FIA do anything about it, no matter how much money they would get for it. This sport would never be forgiven and that might have been different a few years ago.
Melissa Jiménez: Those are pretty sobering words you find there, but unfortunately I have to admit that they are true. So it's all the nicer that you now dare to take this step and trust in the fans and the FIA. May I ask why you're only giving this one interview? Why doesn't Lando give one? Or you two one together?
Carlos Sainz Jr: That was mostly his decision. I told him we'd do it the way he wants us to. Not because he's more insecure about an outing than I am, but because I want him to feel comfortable about it. I didn't care how it happened, as long as it happened. I would have done it via Instagram or via a Twitch live stream. We talked to our teams for a long time and finally decided on this variant because it suited us best. So we – or I – can answer questions directly, we can retire a bit after today and enjoy the winter break and then answer more questions together next season. I'm sure it doesn't surprise anyone when I say that I've probably known the questions for today for a week, right? *chuckles* I have discussed all questions that are not just addressed to me with Lando. So the answers I give are also his. There's no particular reason why we aren't doing this together. The only reason he doesn't give a separate interview is that sooner or later, he will talk about our relationship and reveal his feelings. Today's interview only serves to finally make it public and clarify the first questions, everything else will come next season when we can't shy away from it anymore. *grins*
Melissa Jiménez: *laughs* Of course, I understand that, even if we are all looking forward to your first interview together. Now let's go a little deeper into your relationship. When did feelings first come up and when did you talk about them?
Carlos Sainz Jr: The first time I was really sure that I felt more than just friendship for him was the summer break of 2019 when I felt the need to text him non-stop during my vacation to find out what he was doing, how he was doing, and so on. That's when I admitted it to myself, but I do think I had feelings for him for months at that point. Now a lot of people are wondering how I fell in love with him so quickly, after all, we only got to know him in the pre-season, but that's just not the truth. Since our first real meeting in 2018, we have spent time together to get to know each other better, we have just worked together right from the start and really saw each other a lot, even before the pre-season. It's a little crazy when I think about how young he really was then and how mature he's become. At that time, I thought that I would do absolutely anything for him, that I was totally gone for him, but to be honest, that was nothing compared to today. He really has me wrapped around his little finger. *laughs* It took Lando a little longer to admit it to himself because I was his "gay awakening", as he calls it. It sounds a bit cliché now, but it was actually my podium in Brazil that brought us together. Lando didn't really have a good race, but nevertheless, he was with me the whole time, was happy for me, and after the party, we drove to the hotel together with our coaches. Actually, the two of us wanted to have a drink in my room, but it turned out to be a kiss from him and a really long conversation about our feelings, fears, and how we want to go on. It is very important to Lando that our anniversary is November 18th, though, after all, the kiss was already after midnight, and he didn't want my first podium and our anniversary to fall on the same day.
Melissa Jiménez: So his birthday, your first podium, and your anniversary are all within a week. So you guys have a lot to celebrate every year, don't you? *laughs*
Carlos Sainz Jr: We do, yeah. *laughs*
Melissa Jiménez: Have you ever had problems separating professional and private life? It must be difficult not to be mad at each other after incidents on track, right?
Carlos Sainz Jr: Ironically, we had our first and last problem with it in Brazil, in 2021. Fortunately, it had been one of the days in between all these celebrations, so not a special day. We had our first real crash with each other at the Grand Prix, where really only the two of us were involved. It mostly destroyed Lando's race and I'm still a bit ashamed of my reaction after the race. I think almost everyone knows the video. Lando approached me in the media pen and I walked up to him, even pushing him a bit in the end. I still don't really know what was going on in my head and even though he forgave me, I don't really know if I can forgive myself because I know that I hurt him and that's just not how I am. It would have saved us a lot of doubts and headaches if we had just talked about it calmly. Since then, we have always tried to calm down before we meet up after incidents with each other.
Nervously, he was playing with his fingers when he knocked on Lando's hotel room door and was waiting for the Briton to open it for him. He didn't really know what he wanted to say to him yet, but it was clear that they had to talk, that he had to apologise, after all, he knew how quickly Lando blamed himself and he didn't want to be the person who pushed him further into those thoughts. The door opened with a crack and he looked at Lando.
"Ah, it's you," he muttered almost resigned, stepping aside. "I suppose you want to talk?"
"Lando," it escaped him tormented. "There's not much to talk about, I'm here to apologise to you."
He watched him bite his lip and then look away before he shrugged his shoulders.
"No, don't play that down," he breathed. He stepped through the door, closed it behind him, and put his hands on his boyfriend's cheeks so he would look at him. "I hurt you and I'm sorry. I should have avoided you because I knew I couldn't control myself right now. In fact, I didn't even have a reason to complain, you were hit much more by the accident than I was."
"Don't you sometimes think that it would be easier for you to be with a man who isn't at the same time your competitor?" Lando asked with glassy eyes. Immediately, he shook his head violently.
"No, never. Lando," he breathed. "You are everything I ever wanted. I would never give up this relationship because it's too complicated for me. In fact, it's the easiest thing I've ever done. I've never been so sure about someone, I've never loved anyone more each and every day, no matter what."
Lando's lower lip now trembled suspiciously, so he quickly embraced him. He pressed his face into his sweater and he could see the younger one fighting his tears. Lando could cry in front of him, he knew that he would never judge him for it, but neither would he judge him if he held back his tears.
"Lando, no matter whatever happens on track between us, you will always be the love of my life. Nothing can change that," he muttered in his ear, whereupon Lando pressed even closer to him.
Melissa Jiménez: And have you ever found it harder than usual to play the role of best friends?
Carlos Sainz Jr: There were some of those moments, yeah. Especially in Monaco at our first podium together, we barely managed to keep our hands off each other. Max is still complaining today that this was his worst podium ever because we almost forgot him. *laughs* No, but jokes aside: Whenever the other person crashes and at least has to go to the Medical Center, but you can't see him, it's an agony. All we can do over the radio is ask if he's okay. And then get back into the mindset and keep going, delivering performance...It's difficult, but I'm sure everyone understands that.
Melissa Jiménez: Of course, one understands that. Who knew about your relationship before the interview today?
Carlos Sainz Jr: Our families, of course, our teams, generally many on the grid, if not all of them. Then private friends knew about it, for example, Max Fewtrell, Quadrant in general, selected reporters, people like that. In the paddock, it was an open secret for some time, also because we became more careless, but we really only told our families, friends, and teams.
Melissa Jiménez: The topic of the interview today is above all your engagement. What was the moment you were sure you wanted to marry him?
Carlos Sainz Jr: I never thought you could really limit yourself to one moment, but I actually have one. Which doesn't mean I wouldn't have been sure without that moment, but I do remember looking at him and thinking, "Okay, this man is everything I've ever dreamed of and so much more". Although I rarely talk about it, I have to deal with depression from time to time. When I first talked to Lando about it, he was incredibly understanding, listened to me, didn't push me, and just supported me. And since then, he's always known right away when something was wrong. Last year, he surprised me with my mother's paella when I didn't want to leave the bed. He tried really hard and it almost hurt how much I loved him at that moment.
"Carlos? Hey, Carlos." One hand gently poked him on the shoulder and grumbling, he turned his head to Lando, who was sitting next to him on the bed, smiling down at him. The setting sun was shining through the small opening between the curtains. He hadn't been up all day.
"How are you?" He asked him, pushing one hand through his hair.
"Not so good, but tomorrow it will be better," he assured him, although he was not so sure of that himself. Looking at his boyfriend, he could tell that he knew that too, but he nodded and pressed a kiss on his forehead.
"I made dinner," he told him, slipped back a little, and grabbed a tray, which he had probably put on the floor before. "Are you hungry?"
Actually, he wasn't hungry, but then he saw the pan on the tray filled with paella, and his mouth immediately watered. It smelled just like home when his mother made it.
"I called your mother and she helped me as far as she could," Lando explained. "I hope it tastes as good as hers."
The Briton put the tray down on the bed and he sat up slowly, following it as he filled two plates. He didn't really know what to say, except that Lando was perfect. He had a perfect boyfriend, but how could he show his gratitude?
He put one hand on Lando's shoulder, whereupon he looked at him, and he did not hesitate much longer but pressed his lips tenderly on Lando's. Short, but still so telling.
"Hm," Lando murmured as he pulled back again, smiling softly. His eyes showed him exactly that he understood what he was trying to tell him. "Let's eat."
Melissa Jiménez: And of course, you have to tell us how the proposal went. Did any of you cry?
Carlos Sainz Jr: Actually, we both cried. *laughs* We don't like to admit that because it destroyed the whole situation. We just tidied the kitchen together as usual after dinner and then I got the urge to finally ask him after I had always had the ring with me for a really long time. Before I could think any more about it, I was already kneeling on the floor and somehow I started crying right away, whereupon he started crying, as well. At the same time, we also laughed because the situation was so stupid but so typical of both of us. I couldn't form a decent speech, so I just asked him if he wanted to marry me, and he said yes. So it wasn't really cheesy and not nearly as I had imagined it would be, but still more than perfect.
"Why are you crying?" Lando laughed somewhat hysterically, while tears ran down his cheeks as well.
"I don't know," he returned in exactly the same condition and shook his head as if it would somehow help him to grasp a clear thought, but it was so pointless. There was absolute emptiness in his head.
Lando now squatted in front of him, put his hands on his cheeks, and pressed several tender kisses on his lips, which didn't really help to stop his tears, but at least he was reminded of what all of this was about.
"Will you marry me?" He whispered to his lips, noting that Lando hadn't had a single glimpse at the ring yet. He felt him start to smile before he nodded.
"Yes," he returned in a suffocated voice. "Of course, Carlos. Of course, I'll marry you. Idiot."
Now, he also began to smile before pulling him into another kiss.
Later that evening, they would find the empty box on the floor and the ring a few meters further. Both were forgotten while they had exchanged kisses on the kitchen floor.
Melissa Jiménez: Somehow I can imagine that with you two. As far as outsiders know about you, you've always been very chaotic. You probably don't want to give us too many details, but is there anything you can tell us about the wedding? Where will it take place? How far along are you in planning? Who will be invited?
Carlos Sainz Jr: It's going to be a small wedding, definitely in Spain, but where, we won't tell. Only our closest relatives and friends are invited, so Max Verstappen and Max Fewtrell, Charles, Rupert, Jon, Alex, George... People who have supported us since the beginning of the relationship and who are actually already part of the family. We have just started planning, but we already have a location that has agreed to the appointment. Otherwise, we just try cakes right now, which our personal trainers are very happy about. *laughs* But we just started, really.
Melissa Jiménez: And what's the date?
Carlos Sainz Jr: I won't say that, but of course, it will be during the summer break so it's warm and we'll have time for the honeymoon. I'm sure we'll get back to you sometime after the wedding. You're not going to miss it, don't worry.
Melissa Jiménez: I sure hope so! What's your next plan? You mentioned earlier that you are now thinking about further steps that are impossible without a Coming Out. Did I hear the hint about children right?
Carlos Sainz Jr: Yes, you did. *smiles* I mean, I'm 31 now, he's 27. We're just slowly at that age, where you naturally think about children, even though we're realistic that one of us – probably me, just for age reasons – would have to retire for that. Having a child while travelling around the world all the time, so we hardly have any free time every other weekend, is not only unfair, but it's also not what we want. We want to be good parents and have enough time for our children. We're not going to start looking for a child we can adopt, we'll just start...planning and digging a bit more after the wedding and then just see what happens. Nothing has to happen right now, not even in two or three years. We just know that, sometime in the future, we see ourselves having kids.
Melissa Jiménez: Will anything change in your behaviour until then? Can the fans expect more Carlando content or do you want to continue as before?
Carlos Sainz Jr: I don't think much of our behavior is going to change, after all, we've never been really subtle. Now, only everyone can interpret more in our dealings with each other, without feeling guilty about it, after all, that is the reality. But we no longer have to hide, and we will take advantage of that. Who knows, maybe there'll even be a Carlando kiss if one of us wins again. *grins*
Melissa Jiménez: The fans would certainly like that. Well, thank you for this interview and for your time, Carlos. It only remains to say that DAZN – and certainly millions of other people – wish you all the best for your future together and, of course, the next season.
Carlos Sainz Jr: Thank you very much.