~Him & I until the end~ Lewis Hamilton | YN

Part 36 : A new era

The cold winter air in Maranello carried a different kind of energy—one that was steeped in history. Ferrari wasn't just a team; it was a legacy, a symbol of Formula 1 itself. And now, it was Lewis Hamilton's next chapter.

Y/N adjusted Ophelia's little red Ferrari beanie, smiling at how their daughter's chubby cheeks peeked out from under the soft fabric. The eight-month-old cooed softly, completely unaware of the historic moment she was witnessing.

"Looks like she's already settled in," Y/N teased, gently adjusting Ophelia's tiny Ferrari jacket.

Lewis smirked, glancing around the legendary Ferrari headquarters, the place where some of the greatest names in motorsport had walked before him. Schumacher. Lauda. Alonso. And now... him.

"Well, one of us has to," he chuckled, slipping his hands into the pockets of his brand-new Ferrari team jacket. "I still can't believe this is happening."

It had been a couple months since Abu Dhabi. Since he made history. Since he bid farewell to Mercedes. The transition had been emotional, leaving behind a team that had been his family for over a decade.

But now, standing in the heart of Ferrari's kingdom, it finally felt real.

Fred Vasseur approached with a wide grin, his arms crossed over his chest. "Welcome to Ferrari, Lewis," he said. "You ready to make more history?"

Lewis chuckled "already done that" he chuckled, shifting Ophelia in his arms as she reached for the Prancing Horse emblem on his jacket.

They led him through the factory, walking past championship-winning cars from the past. The history here was alive—etched into every machine, every wall, every whisper of the past.

His eyes scanned the photographs of Michael Schumacher, Niki Lauda, Gilles Villeneuve—Ferrari legends. He had spent years chasing their records. Now, he was stepping into their shadows... and into his own legacy.

"You know," Lewis said, running a hand along the bodywork of a past Ferrari title-winning car, "my dad used to tell me stories about Ferrari when I was a kid. About how if you raced for Ferrari, you weren't just another driver. You were part of something bigger."

Y/N squeezed his free hand, smiling softly. "And now you are."

Lewis took a deep breath. This wasn't just a new team. This was a new challenge. A new purpose.

As they entered the garage, the sight of his new car took his breath away.

Sleek. Aggressive. A beast in red.

The Prancing Horse emblem gleamed under the fluorescent lights, and for a moment, everything felt surreal.

Y/N watched as Lewis stepped forward, brushing his fingers over the smooth red bodywork. There was something different about this moment. She could see it in his eyes—the weight of it.

"It looks good on you," she whispered, breaking the silence.

Lewis exhaled slowly. "Feels right."

The Ferrari engineers gathered around, eager to hear his thoughts. Excitement buzzed through the garage. They weren't just welcoming a new driver; they were welcoming an eight-time world champion.

And then—

"Took you long enough."

Lewis turned, already recognizing the voice.

Charles Leclerc.

The Monégasque smirked, arms crossed, as he leaned casually against the garage wall. His familiar blue-green eyes flicked between Lewis and the car.

"Guess we're teammates now," Charles said, raising an eyebrow. "You ready for this?"

Lewis grinned. "Born ready."

Y/N rolled her eyes playfully. "This is going to be chaotic, isn't it?"

Charles laughed, throwing an arm around her shoulders. "Oh, absolutely." Then he smirked at Lewis. "But at least Y/N will be here to keep us from killing each other."

Lewis raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure about that?"

Y/N scoffed. "I'm not babysitting you two."

Charles grinned. "Too late. You've been stuck with me since we were kids."

Y/N shook her head, but her eyes softened. She and Charles had been best friends since childhood. Growing up in Monaco, they had spent years chasing the same dream. Karting, late-night talks about racing, and now? Now, they were here.

"Ferrari must really love drama," Y/N muttered.

Charles laughed. "We're going to have fun, no?"

Lewis smirked, looking between the two of them. "Oh, I can already tell."

As the cameras flashed, capturing the historic moment, Lewis felt the familiar fire ignite within him.

The past was behind him.

The records had been broken.

The legacy had been written.

But now... it was time to build a new one.

Lewis Hamilton. Ferrari's newest warrior.

And soon... a champion in red.