How (Not) To Third Wheel Lestappen

From the desk of George William Russell

How it started

• Max and Charles first met in karting back when they were children, in year God knows when.
• Max was dominating the majority of the years he competed in international competitions, which likely lead to Charles hating him because he is the sorest loser to ever walk the earth.
• They formed some weird bond early over a mutual rivalry, and spent year after year fighting each other on track, and most likely bitching about each other to anyone who would listen off track.
• These two go way back. This is important. (Alexa, play invisible string by Taylor Swift.)

The ✨Inchident✨

• The year is 2012. Max is racing for Intrepid and Charles is racing for ART in the WSK Euro Series.
• They have one of their most famous on-track battles to date, in which the following words are uttered by the insufferable gremlins they were (and still are to this day):
• “Max, what happened?” “No, it’s just unfair! I’m leading, he wants to pass, he push me, I push him back, and after, he push me off the track. It’s not fair, right?” “Charles, what happened with Max?” “Nothing, just an inchident on the race.”

✨The Inchident video✨

The gremlins in question

Look at them

Insufferable

Even more insufferable

What the hell is going on

with Charles’ hair?

You know who was not an insufferable child?

This guy

What a handsome boy

Such a distinguished young man

NOT a distinguished�young man

Bloody adorable!

But, I digress:

Post ✨ Inchident ✨

• Max and Charles continue being insufferable in karting, and their distaste for each other is ever growing.
• In 2014, Max moves on to the Florida Winter Series and then Formula 3. Charles, however, goes to Formula Renault, effectively putting the world out of its collective misery.
• Charles graduates to Formula 3 in 2015.
• In 2015, Max makes his Formula 1 at the ripe age of seventeen, skipping right over Formula 2. The world is safe, peace has been restored, all is right in the world.
• Charles, on the other hand, competes in Formula 2, keeping a nice, safe distance between the two of them.

This is the child they let into Formula 1:

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Just let that sink in for a minute.

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Once you have recovered, you can move to the next slide.

The red flag everyone apparently missed

• Max and Charles meet in the paddock of the 2016 Brazilian Grand Prix and somehow, nobody is able to see the horror that is inevitably coming to us all.

I mean, seriously, how did we not see it?

It was right in front of our eyes the whole time.

The beginning of the end, for the entire F1 grid

• Max and Charles accidentally recreating the distracted boyfriend meme aside, the world was not prepared for what was to come. Because in 2018 Charles made his official Formula 1 debut, signing with Sauber.
• A year later, he would go on to sign for Ferrari, replacing The Iceman.

Are you trying to tell me this child is 21 at the time of this photo? Christ.

Max and Charles in 2018:

Seriously, what is this?!

Lewis was the very first victim of Lestappen third wheeling, and he didn’t even know it.

2018 summary

• All in all, 2018 was a quiet season in terms of Lestappen. But little did the world know that it was simply the calm before a raging storm that would span years and years, wreaking havoc and chaos, and leaving emotional destruction in its wake.�
• Nobody was prepared for what was brewing beneath the surface, which would only begin to see the light of day in the 2019 Formula 1 season.

The highlight of 2019

This handsome bugger makes his F1 debut.

You’re welcome for those.

Okay, moving on….

Lestappen in 2019

2019 was quite the year in terms of Lestappen. This was the year they were truly beginning to show just how unhinged they have always been about each other.

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I’m not going to try to explain it, because a picture says more than a thousand words ever could.

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I apologize in advance.

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??

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????

(No, I’m not paying to get these photos without a watermark.)�(Update: Got the photos without a watermark. Thanks to my anonymous donor.)

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??????

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Couples who judge together, stay together.

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Once again, Lewis is suffering. He is the original Lestappen third wheel.

I could go on forever, but you get the point.

However, there was a period in 2019 in which it seemed like these two might not make it.

I am, of course, talking about the 2019 Austrian Grand Prix.

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Also known as the race weekend that almost killed Lestappen once and for all.

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(Since you’re reading this, I assume you already know that did not actually turn out to be the case.)

2019 Austrian Grand Prix: A brief summary, part 1

• Max and Charles were being next level insufferable leading up to the race, to the point where several of us wondered if they were going to start making out in the middle of the paddock.
• I have never seen flirting as blatant as those two in Austria 2019. It was insane.
• But then, the race happened. And it all went downhill from there.
• Max performed this overtake on Charles, which would eventually secure him the win. Charles was livid, insisting the move was not a legal one.
• The stewards, on the other hand, decided that it was indeed a legal move.
• Cue what is arguably one of the most awkward podiums in Formula 1 history.

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Get ready for the most uncomfortable watch of your life.

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Watch the podium celebrations at your own risk.

If looks could kill, Max would be dead ten times over.

2019 Austrian Grand Prix: A brief summary, part 2

• What is the icing of the cake of this whole situation is that Max and Charles flew back from Austria on the same flight. And it is said that during this flight, Charles went as far as to unfollow Max on all social media. Probably while glaring daggers at him.
• Now, whether or not Max unfollowed Charles back not long after is debated and I personally cannot remember if Max followed Charles before Austria 2019 or not. But what we do know is that ever since Austria 2019, Max and Charles have not followed each other on social media.
• To this day, they still do not follow each other on social media. Despite being Max and Charles.
• Pathetic, I know.

You would think something like this would ruin whatever it was they had going on prior to June 30th, 2019, right?

Wrong.

Almost 3 months later, at the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix, this embarrassing moment took place:

Max, knower of all things geography and vexillology, asks Charles if the Singapore flag is the Monaco flag.

Fast forward to the 2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and we get this terrible attempt at a hug:

I’m not including the video because watching it makes me cringe.

To reiterate my previous point: ?????????

(Still not paying to get the photos without a watermark.)

(Update: Got the photos without a watermark.)

2019 was a difficult year for Lewis, especially.

(Don’t let his beautiful smile fool you.)

Which brings us to 2020: A summary

• As we all know, 2020 was an aborted season due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But that did not stop Max and Charles from being insufferable, despite the strict social distancing rules.
• In fact, we should all be grateful for those strict social distancing rules because had it not been for them, Max and Charles would have probably let go of all remaining control and made us all suffer even more than they did in 2019.
• 2020 did show us one thing, though: That Charles gets special treatment from Max because he was the only driver on the grid who could be involved in a crash with Max on track and not be stormed away from, even during Max’s ‘Mad Max’ period.

Here they are, discussing their crash like adults.

Unlike poor Esteban.

2021

• This season is famous for the title fight that ended with Max winning his first ever World Driver’s Championship. But, Max and Charles only shared two top 3 moments all season, both of which were in qualifying. Let that sink in: Not a single Lestappen podium all season.
• Not only that, but due to the pandemic restrictions still being very much in place during this season, social distancing was still a thing, which kept Max and Charles from being too insufferable the few times they did get a chance to be top three together.
• We’ll look into the two top 3 moments in the next few slides.

2021 Monaco Grand Prix: A summary

• Charles secured pole, and also crashed out right before the end of Q3.
• Max ended up P2, with Valtteri P3.
• Social distancing and pandemic restrictions aside, Charles was still creeping right behind Max during Max’s post-qualifying interview.

Completely normal behavior

(Not.)

Christ. Get a room.

This fucker doesn’t know

he’s about to get a

DNS tomorrow.

2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix: A summary

• Charles qualifies P1, Max P3. Lewis is stuck between them in P2, but thanks to pandemic restrictions, he is not forced to suffer in a post-qualifying photo op or the likes.
• Not only that, but Lewis does an excellent job keeping Charles distracted from Max after the session. A true master of his craft, you could say about Sir Lewis.
• Charles finishes P4, and Max gets a DNF. The world is safe once more.

Despite 2021 being a Lestappen-free top 3 season, that didn’t stop them from being weird about each other.

That’s some intense eye contact. And why are they so close????

Social distancing who?

Charles???

Mirroring is apparently a love language.

In conclusion, 2021 was a beautiful, peaceful season for the rest of the grid.

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But little did we know that a storm was brewing.

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None of us could have been prepared for what 2022 would bring.

2022: Lestappen hell

• I have so many thoughts and feelings regarding the 2022 season. However, I am nothing if not swift and concise, so I will only focus on the highlights.
• Max and Charles were fighting for the WDC, which Max would eventually go on to win.
• 2022 was a long season, where Max and Charles shared a podium 8 times.
• They qualified in the top 3 for races 12 times.
• They also qualified and finished two out of three sprint races in the top 3.
• To say that we all suffered would be an understatement.
• And now you, too, will suffer.

Max interrupting Charles mid-interview, and Charles letting him??

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??

???

????

So many of us suffered at their hands in 2022

Can you believe Checo used to not be traumatized by them?

Checo had an especially rough season in 2022

I mean, seriously.

Carlos

Lando

Even the most beautiful of us suffered

I even had to suffer outside of races and qualifying sessions

I make pain look beautiful, though, don’t I?

But nobody, and I mean nobody, suffered more than Sir Lewis Hamilton did after the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix.

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Which brings us to the creation of the Surviving Being Top 3 with Lestappen group chat.

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Go to the next slides at your own risk.

(Just kidding, you have no choice.)

2022 Austrian Grand Prix

• Charles wins the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix. Max gets P2, while Lewis gets P3.
• You would, however, think that Max had won the race himself, judging by how ecstatic he looked on that podium.
• This is not an exaggeration, but Max almost looked happier that Charles won than he usually does when winning a race himself.
• And this would result in a podium celebration that is borderline pornographic. The video that you are about to see has no place on YouTube; it belongs on PornHub.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but the video doesn’t even do the podium justice. Because what the actual hell?!

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Oh yeah, Lewis was there too.

This is the full podium, in case you forgot that the world exists outside of Lestappen

2022 Austrian Grand Prix podium celebrations: The aftermath

We all watched the scenes on the podium unfold, but there is something truly unsettling about having to be up there on the podium with them as it happened.

When Lewis returned to the garage after the celebrations, he had a haunted look in his eyes. He was staring off into the distance, and upon trying to obtain contact with him, he would look straight through me. Like I wasn’t there. Like he was reliving the horrors of that podium, over and over and over again.

That is when I decided that enough was enough. I was not about to let myself suffer the same fate as my teammate, nor did I want anyone else to have to be, as Lewis put it, made into an involuntary voyeur.

The creation of the group chat

The group chat Surviving Being Top 3 With Lestappen was created on Sunday, June 10th, 2022.

And because you are currently reading this very well made, thorough PowerPoint, that means that you are a member of this group chat.

The group chat was made with one goal in mind: to help other drivers on the grid, experienced or rookies, be able to deal with Max and Charles should they ever be unfortunate enough to end up in a top 3 position with them.

Here are some tips you can try should you find yourself being top 3 with Max and Charles, shared by drivers who have already been in your position:

• Ask one about the other. There is nothing Max likes more than to talk about Charles, and vice versa.
• Ask them about their race and get them to go into great detail. This can be especially efficient with Max.
• Ask Max to go into detail about his thoughts on your race. Caution! Use at your own risk.
• Physically position yourself between them so they cannot get to each other.
• Call in sick to a press conference if you’re scheduled to appear with them both.

Cont.

• Herd one of them away from the other before they have the chance to realize what’s happening.
• If you are scheduled to appear in a Thursday press conference with them, arrive early and make sure you position yourself in a way that will minimize the risk of them sitting next to each other. Enlist the help of your fellow drivers if needed.
• Whatever you do, do not end up between them on a Thursday press conference! There must be at least two drivers between them at all costs.
• Target one of them on the podium and put yourself between them so you minimize their exposure to each other.
• Throw something at one or both of them.

Cont.

• Start a fight with Charles about literally anything.
• Do not, under any circumstance, mention ‘the inchident’. Trust me.
• Win your first ever Grand Prix. They will be too happy on your behalf to focus on each other. IMPORTANT: This does not extend beyond your first race win. In your second race win, they will not care about your existence.
• If you’re posing for a post-qualifying or post-race photo op and you’re not P1, make sure you keep an eye on hand placement from whoever is not in the middle. Place your hand as low on P1’s lower back as you’re comfortable with to ensure that P2 or P3 does not do something inappropriate in plain sight.
• If all else fails, go to Planet Carlos.

Planet Carlos

A true and trusted method of dealing with being top three with Max and Charles is the go-to method of Carlos Sainz. Here, Carlos zones out and dissociates to the point where it might look as if he has taken part in some interplanetary travel.

When he does this, he goes to his safe space, which has been titled Planet Carlos.

Planet Carlos is a safe space that is open to all F1 drivers, and will welcome you with open arms should you ever be in a position where you need to make a mental trip there during a race weekend.

Please consult Carlos for more details should you need them.

Although going to Planet Carlos looks different for everyone, this is how it can transpire:

Use the group chat frequently!

It is very important that we all use the group chat frequently, so we can share our experiences, tips and tricks with our fellow drivers.

Remember, the whole point of this group chat is to help each other, and make sure that not a single one of us is forced to suffer the trauma that Lewis had to suffer through in Austria in 2022.

Nobody deserves that.

Please respect your fellow drivers and the group chat.

Together, we can survive the age of Lestappen.

This used to be the final slide of this presentation, but things have occurred since its creation that require more slides.

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I have therefore decided that this presentation will be updated whenever needed, at the end of each season, so we can all learn from each other’s success and failures.

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Godspeed.

2023: A summary

• The 2023 F1 season is arguably the most dominated season by one driver and one team in history. Max cruised to a WDC victory, breaking records left and right, while Red Bull Racing not only won the Constructor’s Championship, but they also secured a 1-2 in the World Driver’s Championship, winning every single race bar Singapore, where Carlos got the win.
• Although Charles did not have as good a season as he did in 2022, finishing 5th in the WDC, there were still plenty of top 3 moments for him and Max.
• Naturally, that also means there was plenty of suffering for the rest of us.
• In the next few slides, I will share the highlights (or rather, lowlights) of the 2023 season.

2023 São Paulo Grand Prix

• In Brazil, Q3 was cut short due to a serious storm that would lead to Lance qualifying P3 for the race.
• It also resulted in him becoming yet another victim of Lestappen.
• Max qualified P1, Charles qualified P2.
• It was that day that Lance realized that he should have been paying attention to the group chat from the start, and not just ignored it ever since he was added to it upon making his F1 debut.
• This is why you don’t ignore me, Lance.

He might look calm, collected and happy, but don’t let his face fool you. Lance was panicking in the group chat prior to this photo being taken.

2023 São Paulo Grand Prix, cont.

Due to the storm, post-qualifying interviews and photo up were being conducted inside the FIA garage. And it was… Something..

I will let you watch that whole debacle and see for yourself.

Lance, Lance, Lance…

This could all have been avoided had you paid attention to the group chat.

THIS is why the group chat exists.

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Don’t make the same mistakes Lance made.

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Pay attention to the group chat. Use the group chat.

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Don’t be like Lance.

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(Sorry, Lance.)

But don’t worry, 2023 gets worse.

Presenting: The 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Vegas was on a different level, and it all started on Thursday, when we for some reason got a joint Lestappen interview in the TV pen.

Seriously, what the fuck is this?

2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix, cont.

On Saturday, Carlos qualifies P2 with Charles and Max P1 and P3, respectively.

But Carlos is experienced, and despite Max and Charles taking their insufferability up about ten notches, Carlos handled it the way he does best: by going to Planet Carlos.

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Why are those two standing so close to each other????

Carlos got a front row seat to this moment:

This cannot be repeated enough:

When in doubt, go to Planet Carlos.

But the biggest victim of the Las Vegas weekend was Checo.

A short summary:

The actual short summary:

• Max won the race.
• Charles was P2.
• Checo was P3.
• Instead of a cooldown room, there was a cooldown limo that would take the top 3 to a different location for post-race interviews.
• Not only that, the limo would then take them back for the podium celebrations.
• Checo is still traumatized by this evening, even to this day. And he will be traumatized for the rest of his life.

Enjoy, or whatever, part 1:

Has anyone noticed how if anyone else is top 3 with Max and they stand in the wrong spot for photos, he’ll ask them to move? But when it’s Charles, it’s fine, even if Charles is standing in Max’s P1 spot?

Enjoy, or whatever, part 2:

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Enjoy, or whatever, part 3:

Enjoy, or whatever, part 4:

Enjoy, or whatever, part 5:

Here Checo thought he had made an excellent choice by putting himself in the middle seat, hoping it would keep them from being insufferable.

(Spoiler alert: It did not.)

Realizing his massive mistake:

Enjoy, or whatever, part 6:

Enjoy, or whatever, part 7:

?????????????????????????

The royal couple(?) and their friend, Checo?

2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix: The aftermath.

None of us understand how Checo survived the post-race shenanigans of the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix. But he did.

I wouldn’t have. Well done, Checo.

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Presenting:

The 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race weekend.

2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Thursday press conference

• Max, Charles, Lance, Valtteri and Esteban were all scheduled to appear in the same Thursday press conference ahead of the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
• Esteban pulled a genius move and called in “sick”, effectively securing he would not have to attend the press conference at all.
• It would turn out to be the right call, one that I am sure both Valtteri and Lance also wished they would have made when looking back, because what the hell is this:

I repeat, and I cannot stress this enough: ???????????????????

I don’t care how good the dick is, no man is this funny.

Finishing on a high!

But, despite the amount of suffering that was brought thanks to Max and Charles throughout the 2023 season, there was also a very notable highlight at the very end.

And given how I do not wish to finish this presentation with the horrors that occurred in Las Vegas and at the Abu Dhabi Thursday press conference, I would like to thank the legendary Oscar Piastri, who not only joined the Lestappen third wheel club in Abu Dhabi in 2023, but who handled the two of them beautifully on his very first attempt.

2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying

• Max, unsurprisingly, snatched P1 in qualifying for the final race of the season.
• Also unsurprisingly following Las Vegas, Charles qualified P2.
• And Oscar Jack Piastri qualified P3, securing his very first experience as a Lestappen top 3 third wheel for a Grand Prix.
• A masterful display, in which Oscar:
• Made sure to keep his hand so low on Max’s back that Charles couldn’t go even lower.
• Caught Charles’ attention immediately following the photo op, and successfully kept Charles distracted enough that he could guide him away from Max.
• Put himself between Max and Charles, so Charles couldn’t turn around and go back to Max upon realizing what was happening.
• It is the single most impressive display by a third wheeling rookie that has ever been seen. All rookies should strive to match or top Oscar’s performance.

Look at how pleased he is with himself, as he should be.

A legend among men, truly.

And that concludes the 2023 Formula 1 season.

Oh, how I wish I could say 2023 was the end of it, and this presentation has not needed an update since.

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However, that is of course not the case because Max and Charles are still both actively racing in F1 and because of that, our collective suffering continues.

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Brace yourselves for 2024.

2024: A summary

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• For a season that started much the same way as the previous one did, with Max leaving everyone in the dust and Charles managing to wrangle his Ferrari into the top 3 to ensure continued torment for the rest of us, it would change drastically as the season went on.
• McLaren brought some serious upgrades that would eventually lead to what could almost pass for a WDC battle (almost - sorry, Lando).
• But at the end of the season, Max came out on top and made sure to shut doubters up with his incredible display in Brazil, before the WDC was even secured.
• McLaren did end up winning the Constructor’s Championship, however, and they deserve all the praise in the world for it.
• We also owe Lando and Oscar a ‘thank you’ for limiting Lestappen’s top three moments this season. So, before we move on, everyone say ‘thank you’ to Lando and Oscar.

Presenting: The qualifying session for the first race of the 2024 season, Bahrain Grand Prix

• Max qualifies P1, Charles P2, and yours truly snatches a P3 start for the race.
• Unsurprisingly, I handled this insane test of my patience and skill with dignity and grace:

Look at that side profile.

They are blown away by my beauty, effectively distracting them from each other:

But sadly, not even I am able to make them remember to leave space for Jesus:

Seriously, is this

really necessary?

At this moment, I think it’s important to remind us all of one thing:

No matter how beautiful or skilled you are — no matter how confident you might be that you can be the one person who successfully manages to make Max and Charles behave as if there are other people in the world who exists outside of their little bubble — you are wrong.

They will always find a way to be blatantly obsessed with and weird about each other.

Always.

Seriously.

Could Charles be any less subtle?

Literally Charles:

😍😍😍

Also, allow me to reiterate my point about Max’s outright refusal to let anyone stand in the wrong spot for photos after a qualifying session or a race. �Unless, of course, that person is Charles Leclerc.

2024 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix

• Checo is once again cursed with being the biggest victim of Lestappen and their bond. Not only does he qualify in the top 3 with Max and Charles, that’s also where he ends up after the race.
• Max finished P1, Checo P2, and Charles P3.
• I’m not going to include a bunch of videos and photos for this race, but let’s just say that Checo was struggling. Practically invisible in parc fermé, making his escape to Planet Carlos during the press conferences, and overall not having a good time.
• But I will include one video from the post-qualifying press conference, because if poor Checo had to be there for it, we should all be forced to hear it as well:

Max interrupting Charles mid-sentence to remind him that one of his favourite tracks is Monaco:

His words say “Yes, Monaco”,

but his tone and expression

says “Yes, dear”

And don’t let Checo’s brave smile on the podium fool you: He is in pain.

2024 Miami Grand Prix, a.k.a. Lando’s first F1 win

• The weekend starts off with a scare for Checo, who qualifies top 3 with Max and Charles for the sprint. But, given how there is no post-sprint quali photo op, our beloved Checo does what any sane person would given the chance: He flees the scene before anyone can stop him, effectively saving himself from being the Lestappen third wheel.
• He’s not as lucky after the sprint, where he also ends up in the top 3 with the two of them. But there, Checo goes for the true and trusted approach to disassociate from yet another traumatizing situation: He goes to Planet Carlos.
• Again, I cannot stress this enough: When in doubt, go to Planet Carlos.
• Just ask Carlos, who also went to Planet Carlos when he qualified in the top 3 with them for the race.
• Luckily for him, though, the race itself ended up being Lando’s maiden F1 win, which lead to the discovery of some very important knowledge:

If you win your first ever F1 race, and Max and Charles share the podium with you, they’ll be too happy for you to focus on each other!

(Instead, they’ll try to murder you by drowning you with champagne, but hey, it could be a million times worse.)

Being forced to third wheel Lestappen < Lestappen trying to drown you

Just ask Lando.

2024 Imola Grand Prix

• Lando ends up on the podium with Max and Charles for the second time in a row, in what turns out to be a surprisingly well-behaved display from both perpetrators.
• The press conference, however, does not allow Lando the same kind of luck because Max mentions needing a massage later and the way Charles looks at him in response is obscene. So obscene, in fact, that I will not include the footage here because there are children (rookies) reading this. You can all look it up at your own discretion. If you dare.
• That said, Lando didn’t even blink during that moment and for that, he was granted the highest honor a Lestappen third wheel could ever be given: Carlos and Checo offered to share their tequila with him.
• To this day, we still do not know exactly what goes on during those tequila meetings. Nobody will tell us.�Which, honestly, is probably for the best.

2024 Monaco Grand Prix

• There were no third-wheeling moments during this weekend, but it deserves to be mentioned for two reasons:�1. Charles finally won his home race.�2. Max gave him a proper hug in public for the first time.
• So I guess you could say that the poor person interviewing Charles during that moment was the ultimate third wheel?

2024 Belgian Grand Prix

• Checo qualifies top 3 with Max and Charles, but in what turns out to be a masterful display of a calm and collected man, not a single second following quali is awkward. Not even the press conference after is awkward, and Checo manages to make it look as if Max and Charles has never made him suffer at their hands before. It’s beautiful — stunning, really — and the moment that rightfully earns Checo his crown as the king of dealing with Lestappen.
• Every single driver should go watch every piece of footage from post-quali and the press conference, and learn from Checo.

2024 Dutch Grand Prix

• As well-behaved and happy on your behalf Max and Charles can be when you win your very first F1 race, that does not extend to your second race win.
• Long story short, Lando got his second race win in the Netherlands, referred to them as ‘bitches’ to Oscar in parc fermé after the race, right in front of Max, and Charles effectively tried to blind him with champagne on the podium afterwards as punishment.
• Then they did this, right in front of him:

Proceed to the next slide at your own risk.

What we learned from this podium:

• Do not call Charles and/or Max names where there is any risk that either man can hear you.
• They will snitch, and they will attempt to seriously maim or murder you if you do.

2024 Austin Grand Prix (COTA)

• Yours truly qualified P2 for the sprint race, with Max P1 and Charles P3. And I did such an incredible job at handling them that it was hardly even mentioned in the group chat. That was the main highlight of this race weekend.
• Charles ends up winning the main race, with Carlos P2 and Max P3. And apparently, Carlos unlocked a brand new method of not having to suffer the horrible fate of being a Lestappen third wheel that Sunday: Create such a deep bond from your shared third-wheeling trauma that you don’t even need to ask for assistance in keeping Max and Charles apart. Because Checo appeared out of nowhere to ensure Max and Charles did not have much time to engage each other in conversation, and it worked like a charm.
• That being said, Carlos also deserves praise for how he handled that cooldown room and the podium afterwards. In fact, he did so well that it earned him the position to share the crown with Checo in the group chat.

My only complaint for Carlos from this podium was this moment, in which Max and Charles somehow managed to sneak in a yap session:

But alas, we can’t all be perfect.

(No, we are not going to talk about how my race went.)

2024 Qatar Grand Prix

• Oscar fell victim to sharing the podium with Max and Charles at the penultimate race of the 2024 season, but luckily for him, everyone — Max and Charles included — were too tired at such a late stage in the season to make the experience in parc fermé unbearable. So Oscar was handed a very pleasant top 3 moment, much to the dismay of Fernando who always prays for pain and suffering for everyone involved.
• But then, after what I am sure is some kind of spell cast by Fernando, the press conference happened, in which Oscar ended up being significantly less lucky.
• Not only does Oscar Piastri apparently cease to exist entirely next to Max and Charles, he is also shown the ultimate disrespect when the two of them decide to throw themselves into a yapping session right as Oscar is in the middle of answering a question.
• You can watch the moment unfold in the next slide. (Oscar, I apologize for including this.)

Oscar was literally speaking throughout this entire moment.

And with that traumatizing press conference, the 2024 season came to an end without any further Lestappen top 3 third-wheeling moments.

In conclusion:

• Pay attention to the group chat.
• Use the group chat.
• Learn from other people’s mistakes.
• Learn from your own mistakes, should you make them.
• Help out your fellow drivers.
• And be prepared to deal with Max and Charles should you ever find yourself in a top 3 spot with them. I can assure you that you will need it.

Due to the ridiculousness of the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix Sprint Race, you are getting one (1) mid-season update. You will not be getting any more presentation updates until this season has concluded.

Because apparently, the power of the menacing pairing that is Lestappen has reached levels that extend even beyond top 3 moments during actual qualis, sprints and races. They have clearly developed the ability to communicate telepathically while out on track, because what in the actual hell was this synchronized overtake on the McLarens:

Seriously, what kind of soulmate-nonsense is this?!

Unacceptable.

And that concludes my presentation!

(For now…)

No, we are still not talking about the 2023 Abu Dhabi race, nor what happened afterwards.