Chapter Text
In Formula 1, rivalries were normal.
Drivers fought for tenths of seconds, for podiums, for championships. Every season had at least one pair of drivers who couldn’t stand each other.
But none of them were like Pond Naravit and Phuwin Tangsakyuen.
Their rivalry had started before the season even began.
Testing week in Bahrain.
Two rookies. Two teams. Two very different personalities.
Pond had arrived at the paddock like he owned the place—sunglasses on, hair messy from the wind, joking with mechanics like they were old friends. He drove the way he talked: fast, reckless, confident.
Phuwin was the opposite.
Quiet. Observant. Calm in a way that made people underestimate him.
But when he got into the car, he was terrifyingly precise.
Every lap perfect. Every corner calculated.
From the moment they first shared the track, something strange happened.
They kept ending up next to each other.
Lap after lap.
Overtake after overtake.
By the end of testing week, every single camera in the paddock had noticed the same thing:
Whenever Pond and Phuwin were on track together… something chaotic happened.
The media loved it.
Headlines spread everywhere.
“THE ROOKIE RIVALRY OF THE SEASON.”
“POND VS PHUWIN: THE NEW F1 BATTLE.”
Fans began arguing online about who was better.
Pond’s supporters said he was fearless.
Phuwin’s fans said he was smarter.
Meanwhile, the two drivers themselves acted like they didn’t care at all.
Which was a lie.
Race one.
Qualifying session.
The garage was loud with mechanics rushing around, engineers speaking through headsets, and the distant roar of engines from the track.
Phuwin stood near his car, helmet in hand while listening to his race engineer explain the strategy.
His expression stayed calm, focused.
But across the garage lane, someone was watching him.
Pond leaned against the entrance of his own team garage, arms crossed, eyes fixed on Phuwin like he was studying something interesting.
One of his teammates followed his gaze.
“Why do you keep staring at him?”
Pond didn’t look away.
“I’m not staring.”
“You’ve been staring for five minutes.”
Pond smirked slightly.
“I’m analyzing my competition.”
“Right,” his teammate muttered.
Across the lane, Phuwin suddenly turned his head.
Their eyes met.
For a second neither of them looked away.
Then Pond lifted his hand casually and gave a small mocking wave.
Phuwin stared at him for another second.
Then he raised an eyebrow and turned away completely, putting his helmet on.
Pond laughed under his breath.
“Cute,” he murmured.
Qualifying started.
Cars flew onto the track one by one.
Fast laps.
Tires screeching.
Engines screaming down the straights.
Phuwin’s lap was nearly perfect.
Corner after corner executed smoothly until he crossed the finish line and the time flashed across the screen.
P1.
The crowd cheered.
But only for a few seconds.
Because another car crossed the line right after.
Purple sectors.
Even faster.
The leaderboard changed.
P1 — Pond Naravit
Phuwin climbed out of his car in parc fermé a few minutes later, removing his helmet calmly even though his engineer was still excitedly talking beside him.
Footsteps approached.
Phuwin didn’t even need to turn to know who it was.
Pond stopped beside him.
“You almost had pole,” Pond said casually.
Phuwin wiped sweat from his forehead.
“Almost doesn’t count.”
Pond chuckled.
“That’s true.”
Phuwin finally looked at him.
“So why are you here?”
Pond shrugged.
“Just wanted to see the face of the guy I beat.”
Phuwin studied him for a second.
Then a slow smile appeared.
“You beat me by 0.03 seconds.”
“Still counts.”
Phuwin tilted his head slightly.
“Careful.”
Pond leaned a little closer.
“Careful about what?”
Phuwin’s voice stayed calm.
“If you get too confident…”
He tapped the side of Pond’s car lightly.
“…you might lose tomorrow.”
For a moment Pond was silent.
Then he laughed.
Not annoyed.
Not angry.
Just entertained.
“Good,” Pond said. “I was hoping you’d say something like that.”
Phuwin frowned slightly.
“Why?”
Pond grinned.
“Because beating you when you’re confident is way more fun.”
Phuwin shook his head and walked away toward the media area.
But he didn’t miss the way Pond kept watching him go.
And Pond didn’t miss the tiny smile Phuwin tried to hide.
By the end of race weekend, the rivalry had already started.
The media called them enemies.
The fans called them competition.
But inside the paddock, some of the other drivers had already noticed something strange.
Because every time Pond and Phuwin argued…
They looked like they were enjoying it a little too much.