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Formation 1 #1
Dirty Air
Fritz has a reputation for being difficult, but his new race engineer is up to the challenge. Henry’s stern, but encouraging, voice haunts Fritz from the track to his hotel sheets. When a late night phone call crosses professional boundaries, Fritz and Henry must navigate the racing line between business and pleasure.
For fans x Race EngineerAge GapBrat x Brat TamerBDSM UndertonesDirty Talk/Phone SexChampagne Tongue Baths
🏎️ 🏎️ 🏎️ 🏎️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
The Formation 1 Series is a collection of stand-alone short romance novels. Each season spans one year of the fictional single-seater racing sport, Formation 1. The books can be read in any order, but they are interconnected by events that occur both on and off the track.
For fans x Race EngineerAge GapBrat x Brat TamerBDSM UndertonesDirty Talk/Phone SexChampagne Tongue Baths
🏎️ 🏎️ 🏎️ 🏎️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
The Formation 1 Series is a collection of stand-alone short romance novels. Each season spans one year of the fictional single-seater racing sport, Formation 1. The books can be read in any order, but they are interconnected by events that occur both on and off the track.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 25, 2025
35 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
About the author
Desiree Champagne
4 books13 followersDESIREE CHAMPAGNE is a Sparkling Author, produced and fermented on the west coast of the United States. She pairs well with her wife and cats, but keep her away from social obligations and out of direct sunlight.
She is passionate about single seat racing series and the characters who bring the sport to life. She can only hope that her Formation 1 series does them justice.
She is passionate about single seat racing series and the characters who bring the sport to life. She can only hope that her Formation 1 series does them justice.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
February 28, 2026
the only difference between this and fanfiction is that i read this on my kindle and not ao3
February 21, 2026
I enjoyed this! Fritz was a fun MC who could’ve been cocky but he wasn’t. He had a lot of insecurities and that was endearing. I liked the push and pull between him and Henry. I do wish there was more of them together and less sport politics.
January 4, 2026
hoping red boar's second sear isn't cursed
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2025
I could not put this book down!! So sexy and electric; the characters feel very real and I connected with them instantly. Loved every second of this read and adored Fritz and Henry!
The author does such a good job of balancing their relationship/connection and racing, it's very refreshing to see such a detailed focus on the sport intertwined with realistic inner monologue and tidbits of the main character's developing RS!!
The author does such a good job of balancing their relationship/connection and racing, it's very refreshing to see such a detailed focus on the sport intertwined with realistic inner monologue and tidbits of the main character's developing RS!!
March 17, 2026
gp would not fucking say that
February 25, 2026
This was a fun and quick read. I enjoyed Fritz and Henry a lot. Fritz's sense of humor was really good, and I laughed a lot at his one liners.
Though this was a shorter book it still felt like we got a great amount of Formation 1 info, and we also got to see Fritz and Henry circle each other and build something. Personally, I would have liked to see more of them as a couple and how that will work going forward, but I still enjoyed the story as it was.
If you're thinking of reading about F1 racers then I feel like this could be a good starting point. The characters were interesting and I loved the sports politics in the story which felt quite realistic. The story was fun and it moved quick and I enjoyed reading it.
Though this was a shorter book it still felt like we got a great amount of Formation 1 info, and we also got to see Fritz and Henry circle each other and build something. Personally, I would have liked to see more of them as a couple and how that will work going forward, but I still enjoyed the story as it was.
If you're thinking of reading about F1 racers then I feel like this could be a good starting point. The characters were interesting and I loved the sports politics in the story which felt quite realistic. The story was fun and it moved quick and I enjoyed reading it.
December 31, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
while it was such a short and fast read it still have me all the feels!
the emotional and physical aspects intertwined and gave such a captivating read.
it was hot and heavy but also emotional. their relationship dynamic while steamy is also playful and natural.
also yes it’s 4am when i read this…now excuse me while i go read the others
while it was such a short and fast read it still have me all the feels!
the emotional and physical aspects intertwined and gave such a captivating read.
it was hot and heavy but also emotional. their relationship dynamic while steamy is also playful and natural.
also yes it’s 4am when i read this…now excuse me while i go read the others
January 8, 2026
3.8 ⭐️ thank you to the author for a free physical copy in exchange for a review! All thoughts are my own.
This was only my second-ever F1-style romance and my first F1 MM romance, and I had such a great time with it. As someone with very little F1 or racing knowledge, I really appreciated the background information, and I loved the race-day descriptions. They were immersive and made the entire experience feel exciting.
The romance itself was well done. While I would have loved a bit more insight into Fritz and Henry’s future, especially around coming out or becoming more public, the chemistry between them absolutely delivered. Their interactions felt natural and engaging, and the spice was definitely hot!! I found myself constantly looking forward to their quiet moments together, especially the phone calls.
The conflict was thoughtfully handled and felt very realistic given the circumstances, and the resolution wrapped things up in a satisfying and grounded way. I did wish the ending had been expanded just a little more, but it also felt like a strong setup for a potential second book? 🫣🫣
Overall, this was such a fun and quick read. I really enjoyed it, and it definitely sparked something in me. I will absolutely be picking up more F1 romances in the future!
This was only my second-ever F1-style romance and my first F1 MM romance, and I had such a great time with it. As someone with very little F1 or racing knowledge, I really appreciated the background information, and I loved the race-day descriptions. They were immersive and made the entire experience feel exciting.
The romance itself was well done. While I would have loved a bit more insight into Fritz and Henry’s future, especially around coming out or becoming more public, the chemistry between them absolutely delivered. Their interactions felt natural and engaging, and the spice was definitely hot!! I found myself constantly looking forward to their quiet moments together, especially the phone calls.
The conflict was thoughtfully handled and felt very realistic given the circumstances, and the resolution wrapped things up in a satisfying and grounded way. I did wish the ending had been expanded just a little more, but it also felt like a strong setup for a potential second book? 🫣🫣
Overall, this was such a fun and quick read. I really enjoyed it, and it definitely sparked something in me. I will absolutely be picking up more F1 romances in the future!
Did not finish
February 23, 2026Unfortunately a DNF from me
I think this was translated from a different language or something bc the text felt a bit awkward and clunky. Sorry.
I think this was translated from a different language or something bc the text felt a bit awkward and clunky. Sorry.
February 12, 2026
Fritz is a 22 year old straight-to-the-point-does-not-fuck-around German Formation 1 racer. And sexy 34 year old, THICC Daddy Henry is Fritz’s new race engineer.
I have zero knowledge when it comes to F1 or just racing in general. But I actually found it very easy to understand without the author having to give big lessons/info dumps on the sport. Dirty Air was such a fun read! I enjoyed every second. There’s a bit of a found family aspect too when it comes to Fritz’s racing team - who has been there the whole time but because Fritz was a bit of a grumpy recluse, only focusing on driving, he never saw what was right in front of him until Daddy Henry came along and made him be a team player. They were so perfect for each other.
That very first drunken phone sex scene was quick and one phone was even muted for a minute, but I swear to god it was the hottest thing I’ve ever read. Fritz has an unhinged praise kink. Ugh… I love Fritz… Tell that boy he’s the greatest racer in the world and he’s gonna come in literal seconds!
The chemistry between Fritz and Henry was mind blowing and the spicy times were *chefs kiss*. I mean, even just the little fork scene had me drooling over these guys (you’ll see what I mean!). Oh, and the HUMOR was on point! Fritz was so fucking funny without trying to be funny. I laughed out loud several times!
The only complaint I have is that this book was about 200 pages too short! I could have EASILY read a 400 page book about these characters and the world of F1. I wanted a longer, more detailed ending for Henry and Fritz. ARE THEY GOING TO COME OUT? ARE THEY GOING TO SAY “I LOVE YOU”? WHEN ARE THEY MOVING IN TOGETHER? CAN I COME TO THE WEDDING????
I’m so impressed by how much emotion and tension (between the actual racing AND the MC’s) we actually get in just 200 pages. I’m jumping into the rest of this series ASAP!
Bratty MC
12 year Age Gap
Praise Kink
Drunk Dialed Phone Sex
Driver x Race Engineer
Language Barrier
Light BDSM Vibes
“Good Boy”
Humor
"Are you-"
Henry sounds much more awake, which is great for the fantasy.
"Fuck, are you jerking off right now?"
"No!" Okay, Fritz really didn't think this through.
Still, he can't stop. "I am at the club."
"You're not."
"I am—" having a difficult time talking. "—out for a jog." That explains the breathing. "I am exercising."
"You aren't."
There's a silence long enough to indicate Henry probably hung up. Fritz stays on the line anyway, the voice in his memory refreshed.
"You weren't surprised to hear my voice," Henry accuses, in a low rumble. "You meant to call me, not someone else."
Fuck, that's such a good excuse. "I meant to call someone else."
"This isn't professional." Henry is breathy now.
"If someone found out about this, I could be fired."
"I won't-"
"What do you want, Friedrich?"
Thank you to the author and Gay Romance Reviews for a complementary copy of Dirty Air by Desiree Champagne!
I have zero knowledge when it comes to F1 or just racing in general. But I actually found it very easy to understand without the author having to give big lessons/info dumps on the sport. Dirty Air was such a fun read! I enjoyed every second. There’s a bit of a found family aspect too when it comes to Fritz’s racing team - who has been there the whole time but because Fritz was a bit of a grumpy recluse, only focusing on driving, he never saw what was right in front of him until Daddy Henry came along and made him be a team player. They were so perfect for each other.
That very first drunken phone sex scene was quick and one phone was even muted for a minute, but I swear to god it was the hottest thing I’ve ever read. Fritz has an unhinged praise kink. Ugh… I love Fritz… Tell that boy he’s the greatest racer in the world and he’s gonna come in literal seconds!
The chemistry between Fritz and Henry was mind blowing and the spicy times were *chefs kiss*. I mean, even just the little fork scene had me drooling over these guys (you’ll see what I mean!). Oh, and the HUMOR was on point! Fritz was so fucking funny without trying to be funny. I laughed out loud several times!
The only complaint I have is that this book was about 200 pages too short! I could have EASILY read a 400 page book about these characters and the world of F1. I wanted a longer, more detailed ending for Henry and Fritz. ARE THEY GOING TO COME OUT? ARE THEY GOING TO SAY “I LOVE YOU”? WHEN ARE THEY MOVING IN TOGETHER? CAN I COME TO THE WEDDING????
I’m so impressed by how much emotion and tension (between the actual racing AND the MC’s) we actually get in just 200 pages. I’m jumping into the rest of this series ASAP!
Bratty MC
12 year Age Gap
Praise Kink
Drunk Dialed Phone Sex
Driver x Race Engineer
Language Barrier
Light BDSM Vibes
“Good Boy”
Humor
"Are you-"
Henry sounds much more awake, which is great for the fantasy.
"Fuck, are you jerking off right now?"
"No!" Okay, Fritz really didn't think this through.
Still, he can't stop. "I am at the club."
"You're not."
"I am—" having a difficult time talking. "—out for a jog." That explains the breathing. "I am exercising."
"You aren't."
There's a silence long enough to indicate Henry probably hung up. Fritz stays on the line anyway, the voice in his memory refreshed.
"You weren't surprised to hear my voice," Henry accuses, in a low rumble. "You meant to call me, not someone else."
Fuck, that's such a good excuse. "I meant to call someone else."
"This isn't professional." Henry is breathy now.
"If someone found out about this, I could be fired."
"I won't-"
"What do you want, Friedrich?"
Thank you to the author and Gay Romance Reviews for a complementary copy of Dirty Air by Desiree Champagne!
October 9, 2025
This was such a breath of fresh air.
January 24, 2026
Do I know anything about F1? No I know nothing about it. This was very entertaining and I can’t get over Fitz smaking Henry’s bald head.
September 28, 2025
I read this book so fast it was funny, sexy, and so formula 1 heavy that was great because I love formula 1
September 23, 2025
4.5 Stars
I could not put this down. Soooo good. The chemistry & connection between Fritz & Henry was so electric. LOVE LOVE LOVED them. I really appreciate when there's actual sports in a sports romance. And it's clear that the author knows racing. My only wish is that there's a glossary for racing terms becuz it would've made it a bit easier to understand the particulars of the races. Overall though I really loved this.
I could not put this down. Soooo good. The chemistry & connection between Fritz & Henry was so electric. LOVE LOVE LOVED them. I really appreciate when there's actual sports in a sports romance. And it's clear that the author knows racing. My only wish is that there's a glossary for racing terms becuz it would've made it a bit easier to understand the particulars of the races. Overall though I really loved this.
September 5, 2025
I need every author attempting to write a book about F1 to take note, because this was the first F1 book that didn't make me want to claw my eyes out because of inaccuracies and impossibilities!
This was genuinely so good, and my second favourite thing, other than the story itself, was trying to figure out who everyone was based on 😅
Also making Max German is hilarious to me as a German. My one tip to the author would be that if you write someone in a language you don't speak (sorry, I'm assuming here!), maybe have someone who speaks it proof read, since I realised some minor errors and things we as Germans wouldn't say (little things like instead of "guter Junge", even though that is the direct translation, we would be more likely to say "braver Junge". But this definitely didn't take away from it!
I immediately bought the other two, and cannot wait to read them/any more that might come out (please!).
This was genuinely so good, and my second favourite thing, other than the story itself, was trying to figure out who everyone was based on 😅
Also making Max German is hilarious to me as a German. My one tip to the author would be that if you write someone in a language you don't speak (sorry, I'm assuming here!), maybe have someone who speaks it proof read, since I realised some minor errors and things we as Germans wouldn't say (little things like instead of "guter Junge", even though that is the direct translation, we would be more likely to say "braver Junge". But this definitely didn't take away from it!
I immediately bought the other two, and cannot wait to read them/any more that might come out (please!).
December 24, 2025
I absolutely loved this. Fritz was so funny and Henry was lovely with his stats and numbers and being kind of nerdy but also so... demanding? There's something really attractive with men taking control, and the way he knew exactly what to say to Fritz to get the results he wanted was... everything.
I really adored their relationship, and I love how Fritz went from being just another driver, to someone his team really loved. Their little family was the sweetest and I almost cried in the end. They were so happy for him. Darlings, all of them.
Also, unrelated really, but being kinda new to the F1 world and finally starting to actually learn things, it was so much fun to read this and understand all the things I didn't when I read Switch Positions. I love the cheesy team names and can laugh at details I didn't understand before, but even if you're not an F1 fan and just want to read about hot drivers, I'd really recommend this series. The author is great at explaining things in ways that make sense even for us newbies.
Highly recommended!
I really adored their relationship, and I love how Fritz went from being just another driver, to someone his team really loved. Their little family was the sweetest and I almost cried in the end. They were so happy for him. Darlings, all of them.
Also, unrelated really, but being kinda new to the F1 world and finally starting to actually learn things, it was so much fun to read this and understand all the things I didn't when I read Switch Positions. I love the cheesy team names and can laugh at details I didn't understand before, but even if you're not an F1 fan and just want to read about hot drivers, I'd really recommend this series. The author is great at explaining things in ways that make sense even for us newbies.
Highly recommended!
July 18, 2025
Another great read from Desiree Champagne. I really really liked Fritz!! He and Henry had great chemistry and I loved the behind the scenes world of racing. The engineer details were spot-on and a joy to read through. I also read Switched Positions, part of the same series, and this was just as enjoyable. I would love to see this as a full novel - I think there’s so much more to this story that wants to be told and Desiree definitely has a strong grasp on the racing world. I’d love to see these characters more fleshed out and more about the various races of the season. And the spice? Well done. The angst? Just enough. The slow burn could be a bit more drawn out especially if it were a longer piece. Don’t miss this one - it’s terrific!!
February 23, 2026
What a refreshing and subtle romantic style this author has. I loved this entire story, checkered-flag start to finish. Something about it just worked for me.
Sole point of view MC Fritz is a darling. Totally German (maybe a cliché, I don’t know, I enjoyed the hell out of his POV), hilarious deadpan humor, supreme competence at the wheel (nothing is sexier than a competent hero… and his man is equally so…) instant “I want that” interest in his new race engineer, Henry… I was charmed within a few pages and was delighted to stay in Fritz’s head.
This is a subtle romance, present, but also immersed in the “Formation 1” (I assume based on Formula 1?) racing world and the drive to win with such authenticity and skill that I felt I was part of the team and wasn’t distracted by all the things I have no clue about—it was organic and fascinating, and the author balanced the world-detail with characterization in a way that made it all make sense even though half the time I should not have had a clue what they were talking about. And even during times when the romantic thread took a natural backseat for the career plot thread to take the lead, I was riveted and eager to see what would happen next.
The chemistry between Fritz and Henry is present and snapping from word one, as they become wary new crew-mates with Fritz in the car racing and Henry in his ear giving him the details, warnings, and recs he needs to do better and not crash, and Henry’s voice is working for Fritz on many levels. The fast strong chemistry they have working together as colleagues grows gently into an attraction that blooms at a sedate speed until Fritz makes one ill-advised but oh, so rewarding call in the night, and then it bursts into flame. The contrast of Fritz being forced to stay in great shape with looks like a model, and Henry physically being an ordinary man, stocky, bald with a barrel chest, and being SO TOTALLY Fritz’s kryptonite, was so much fun.
It was hella addictive. Especially with the way Henry had Fritz’s back and so clearly understood just how talented and competent he was before they ever even worked together. Gah. Catnip.
The romance road is as bumpy and twist filled as the tracks Fritz races on, but oh, so rewarding. Their characters are well-defined, and seeing each be so wholly himself and fall organically for the other delivered rewarding reading experience. The way video is used as part of them falling into Feelings with each other was entertaining as hell too. This little book had so many wonderfully unexpected ways to show two people being so great for each other, yet keeping tension high and me gripping my e-reader hoping like hell they wouldn’t give up something so clearly special.
The plot of Fritz moving up in the racing world and the way Henry wakes him up to needing to get to know his crew team and how social media is used in powerful and hilarious ways…there is so much meat to this little story and it keeps delivering beat after beat of satisfying, frustrating (HENRY!!! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!!!), and earned rewards both career-wise and relationship-wise for these two complex characters.
I am failing utterly to explain why I enjoyed it so much. But it immersed me in the racing world, introduced me organically to realistic people I rooted for, cherished networks and teamwork and all the things that make someone a winner, whether they win or not, and just…delivered a fabulous read I could not put down.
SCs were just as authentic as the MCs, and supported the main story, and I loved them all. Fritz’s fellow drivers, the champion partner team’s drivers, Fritz’s teams publicity and marketing folks, the pit crew, everyone. Felt like I was part of the team. Cheers especially for that one fan of Fritz’s early on and how he interacted with her. This man is adorable and real. I think the one thing missing is, I have no idea who Henry’s family is or what his backstory is, people-wise.
The ending with the revelations about Henry’s career was 🤣😘 perfection. Everything about this just made him and Fritz feel made for each other, both as a team and a couple. The romance felt realistic, not over the top, and I could have imagined them with other people, but, not in a way that bothered me at all, which, trust me, is very hard to pull off.
HFN that I can see leading to HEA. Race car driver and his race engineer, who thinks he’s the best driver ever (SO FREAKIN CUTE). No OM action or drama, just some realistic hero worship of Fritz for his favorite champion driver (Lucas). I didn’t know this author and worried that it might become unsafe for me, but it somehow remained both realistic and safe, and…I loved it. Highly recommended, especially if you enjoy car racing stories. I plan to read both sequels, which feature other characters in the F1 racing world.
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.
Sole point of view MC Fritz is a darling. Totally German (maybe a cliché, I don’t know, I enjoyed the hell out of his POV), hilarious deadpan humor, supreme competence at the wheel (nothing is sexier than a competent hero… and his man is equally so…) instant “I want that” interest in his new race engineer, Henry… I was charmed within a few pages and was delighted to stay in Fritz’s head.
This is a subtle romance, present, but also immersed in the “Formation 1” (I assume based on Formula 1?) racing world and the drive to win with such authenticity and skill that I felt I was part of the team and wasn’t distracted by all the things I have no clue about—it was organic and fascinating, and the author balanced the world-detail with characterization in a way that made it all make sense even though half the time I should not have had a clue what they were talking about. And even during times when the romantic thread took a natural backseat for the career plot thread to take the lead, I was riveted and eager to see what would happen next.
The chemistry between Fritz and Henry is present and snapping from word one, as they become wary new crew-mates with Fritz in the car racing and Henry in his ear giving him the details, warnings, and recs he needs to do better and not crash, and Henry’s voice is working for Fritz on many levels. The fast strong chemistry they have working together as colleagues grows gently into an attraction that blooms at a sedate speed until Fritz makes one ill-advised but oh, so rewarding call in the night, and then it bursts into flame. The contrast of Fritz being forced to stay in great shape with looks like a model, and Henry physically being an ordinary man, stocky, bald with a barrel chest, and being SO TOTALLY Fritz’s kryptonite, was so much fun.
It was hella addictive. Especially with the way Henry had Fritz’s back and so clearly understood just how talented and competent he was before they ever even worked together. Gah. Catnip.
The romance road is as bumpy and twist filled as the tracks Fritz races on, but oh, so rewarding. Their characters are well-defined, and seeing each be so wholly himself and fall organically for the other delivered rewarding reading experience. The way video is used as part of them falling into Feelings with each other was entertaining as hell too. This little book had so many wonderfully unexpected ways to show two people being so great for each other, yet keeping tension high and me gripping my e-reader hoping like hell they wouldn’t give up something so clearly special.
The plot of Fritz moving up in the racing world and the way Henry wakes him up to needing to get to know his crew team and how social media is used in powerful and hilarious ways…there is so much meat to this little story and it keeps delivering beat after beat of satisfying, frustrating (HENRY!!! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!!!), and earned rewards both career-wise and relationship-wise for these two complex characters.
I am failing utterly to explain why I enjoyed it so much. But it immersed me in the racing world, introduced me organically to realistic people I rooted for, cherished networks and teamwork and all the things that make someone a winner, whether they win or not, and just…delivered a fabulous read I could not put down.
SCs were just as authentic as the MCs, and supported the main story, and I loved them all. Fritz’s fellow drivers, the champion partner team’s drivers, Fritz’s teams publicity and marketing folks, the pit crew, everyone. Felt like I was part of the team. Cheers especially for that one fan of Fritz’s early on and how he interacted with her. This man is adorable and real. I think the one thing missing is, I have no idea who Henry’s family is or what his backstory is, people-wise.
The ending with the revelations about Henry’s career was 🤣😘 perfection. Everything about this just made him and Fritz feel made for each other, both as a team and a couple. The romance felt realistic, not over the top, and I could have imagined them with other people, but, not in a way that bothered me at all, which, trust me, is very hard to pull off.
HFN that I can see leading to HEA. Race car driver and his race engineer, who thinks he’s the best driver ever (SO FREAKIN CUTE). No OM action or drama, just some realistic hero worship of Fritz for his favorite champion driver (Lucas). I didn’t know this author and worried that it might become unsafe for me, but it somehow remained both realistic and safe, and…I loved it. Highly recommended, especially if you enjoy car racing stories. I plan to read both sequels, which feature other characters in the F1 racing world.
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.
February 27, 2026
This is one of those books that I enjoyed it for what it was but I still wouldn’t exactly say it was a great book.
It is a short book with just over 200 pages and I think that for the story the author was trying to tell, it would have worked much better as a full length novel.
The story spans a year in 200 pages and because the story was so short, the romance really didn’t develop in the way that the author probably intended and to be honest, I don’t even know if I’d call it an MM romance book at all. It feels more like a fiction book about a racing car driver looking to get promoted who just happens to have sex with his race engineer. There wasn’t enough time to make it feel like a romance and it definitely didn’t feel like an integral part of the plot. It felt like a side plot rather than main plot.
As a long time fan of F1, I find it hard reading a lot of F1 books as there is very little accuracy but this is one of the most accurate books I’ve read so I gave it more of a chance than I normally would have.
The pacing is so quick in the book that nothing happens organically. Everything is told to you in a very matter of fact way and nothing is just shown to the reader. I don’t generally like this at all and if it was any other sport I probably would have DNF’d to be honest. Also, a word of warning to some people as it threw me off so much when I started reading. There are no chapters and no timeline breaks. I found this very difficult as one sentence we were in one city doing one thing and in the next sentence, we are suddenly two weeks later at a different race but with only a line to separate them.
Another thing that I wasn’t a huge fan of was how close to real teams in Formula 1 the book came. It did feel more like reading a fan fiction than reading a story in its own right. If the teams names/storylines weren’t so close to real teams etc, I may have enjoyed it a bit more as I found myself comparing every team and every driver to their equivalent in the real F1.
All in all, I enjoyed it for what it was and I was able to look past issues that I probably never would look past in a normal book so I’m going to rate it 3⭐️.
Thank you to GRR for providing me with a complimentary copy of the book.
It is a short book with just over 200 pages and I think that for the story the author was trying to tell, it would have worked much better as a full length novel.
The story spans a year in 200 pages and because the story was so short, the romance really didn’t develop in the way that the author probably intended and to be honest, I don’t even know if I’d call it an MM romance book at all. It feels more like a fiction book about a racing car driver looking to get promoted who just happens to have sex with his race engineer. There wasn’t enough time to make it feel like a romance and it definitely didn’t feel like an integral part of the plot. It felt like a side plot rather than main plot.
As a long time fan of F1, I find it hard reading a lot of F1 books as there is very little accuracy but this is one of the most accurate books I’ve read so I gave it more of a chance than I normally would have.
The pacing is so quick in the book that nothing happens organically. Everything is told to you in a very matter of fact way and nothing is just shown to the reader. I don’t generally like this at all and if it was any other sport I probably would have DNF’d to be honest. Also, a word of warning to some people as it threw me off so much when I started reading. There are no chapters and no timeline breaks. I found this very difficult as one sentence we were in one city doing one thing and in the next sentence, we are suddenly two weeks later at a different race but with only a line to separate them.
Another thing that I wasn’t a huge fan of was how close to real teams in Formula 1 the book came. It did feel more like reading a fan fiction than reading a story in its own right. If the teams names/storylines weren’t so close to real teams etc, I may have enjoyed it a bit more as I found myself comparing every team and every driver to their equivalent in the real F1.
All in all, I enjoyed it for what it was and I was able to look past issues that I probably never would look past in a normal book so I’m going to rate it 3⭐️.
Thank you to GRR for providing me with a complimentary copy of the book.
October 31, 2025
This is a coworkers to more age gap racing sports romance, featuring Fritz and Henry, and is book one in the Formation 1 series.
Fritz has a reputation for being difficult, but his new race engineer is up to the challenge. Henry’s stern, but encouraging, voice haunts Fritz from the track to his hotel sheets. When a late night phone call crosses professional boundaries, Fritz and Henry must navigate the racing line between business and pleasure.
This was a quick read. Fritz and Henry’s dynamic crackles from the first radio call: it has chemistry both on and off the track. Henry’s firm, guiding voice follows Fritz everywhere, straight into trouble and directly into accidental phone-sex territory - I seriously cackled. This book shifts into the very spicy gears fast with champagne, control, and a sexy workplace age-gap. I am diving straight into book two.
Things to expect in this book are:
Book 1 in series
MM sports romance
Driver x Race Engineer
Age gap
Brat x Brat Tamer
Language barrier
BDSM vibes
Spicy times & Dirty Talk
Accidental phone s*x
Champagne tongue baths
Secret relationship
Calls him good boy
HEA
Fritz has a reputation for being difficult, but his new race engineer is up to the challenge. Henry’s stern, but encouraging, voice haunts Fritz from the track to his hotel sheets. When a late night phone call crosses professional boundaries, Fritz and Henry must navigate the racing line between business and pleasure.
This was a quick read. Fritz and Henry’s dynamic crackles from the first radio call: it has chemistry both on and off the track. Henry’s firm, guiding voice follows Fritz everywhere, straight into trouble and directly into accidental phone-sex territory - I seriously cackled. This book shifts into the very spicy gears fast with champagne, control, and a sexy workplace age-gap. I am diving straight into book two.
Things to expect in this book are:
Book 1 in series
MM sports romance
Driver x Race Engineer
Age gap
Brat x Brat Tamer
Language barrier
BDSM vibes
Spicy times & Dirty Talk
Accidental phone s*x
Champagne tongue baths
Secret relationship
Calls him good boy
HEA
February 26, 2026
I grew up following racing. Packed clay, dirt tracking, or NASCAR if it was asphalt. I always considered Formula One to be the snooty, high fashion, champagne sipping, fussy.... step-cousin. Reading wise, my last F1 was a Harlequin MF story.
It was the book cover and title which grabbed me. The blurb was a tad confusing. But I was, what the hey. And I'm glad I gave the book a chance. The racing description and racing politics. There is nothing like watching these thundering monsters coming three abreast out of the fourth turn.... Oh,my. Track politics? Yeah, that's a thing. And it hasn't changed much in forty years. As far as I'm concerned, Desiree Champagne nailed it. Totally.
The romance between Fritz and Henry sizzled. But there were also tender moments. Le sigh.
Story was fast paced and felt shorter than it actually was. Very absorbing with good worldbuilding. Nice supporting cast. Looking forward to their stories.
I received an advanced copy of this e book from GRR and this is my review.
It was the book cover and title which grabbed me. The blurb was a tad confusing. But I was, what the hey. And I'm glad I gave the book a chance. The racing description and racing politics. There is nothing like watching these thundering monsters coming three abreast out of the fourth turn.... Oh,my. Track politics? Yeah, that's a thing. And it hasn't changed much in forty years. As far as I'm concerned, Desiree Champagne nailed it. Totally.
The romance between Fritz and Henry sizzled. But there were also tender moments. Le sigh.
Story was fast paced and felt shorter than it actually was. Very absorbing with good worldbuilding. Nice supporting cast. Looking forward to their stories.
I received an advanced copy of this e book from GRR and this is my review.
October 23, 2025
listen. was this good? no. did I enjoy it? kind of? was I mostly laughing at the absurdity of this Max Verstappen/Gianpiero Lambiase fanfic? yes.
The racing was written decently enough. The characters were consistent, clearly based off of real people but I am a defender of RPF until the day I die. (do I also think the serial numbers could've been filed off better? totally.) If you like F1 romances, you will like how the racing and strategy talk was written. If you like a book with more depth than a kiddie pool, you might want to skip it. no conflict, no angst, high spice.
have I read fanfics better than this? oh, yes, totally. but if RPF weirds you out and you can get past the obvious allusions to the real world, it might be for you.
3.5 stars for the fact that it was easy to read and was what I wanted in this exact moment. just gay as fuck F1 and horniness.
The racing was written decently enough. The characters were consistent, clearly based off of real people but I am a defender of RPF until the day I die. (do I also think the serial numbers could've been filed off better? totally.) If you like F1 romances, you will like how the racing and strategy talk was written. If you like a book with more depth than a kiddie pool, you might want to skip it. no conflict, no angst, high spice.
have I read fanfics better than this? oh, yes, totally. but if RPF weirds you out and you can get past the obvious allusions to the real world, it might be for you.
3.5 stars for the fact that it was easy to read and was what I wanted in this exact moment. just gay as fuck F1 and horniness.
November 5, 2025
Fritz, a Formula 1 racer, wanted to win and when Henry, his new race engineer, came into the picture, his goal is attainable. However, sparks fly between them and they embarked on a series of "unprofessional" relationship.
This was a short and quick read that's perfect for any Formula 1 fan.
However ~
As a non-Formula 1 fan, this was just mid for me. The story centers more around the mechanics on F1 and I was really confused sometimes but I just enjoyed the ride and learned a thing or two.
I didn't really connect with the characters but I did find Fritz funny and quirky at times. Their chemistry was just barely there considering it started mostly physical so I didn't really like that aspect but the spice was spicyyy. Had to fan myself at times.
This was a short and quick read that's perfect for any Formula 1 fan.
However ~
As a non-Formula 1 fan, this was just mid for me. The story centers more around the mechanics on F1 and I was really confused sometimes but I just enjoyed the ride and learned a thing or two.
I didn't really connect with the characters but I did find Fritz funny and quirky at times. Their chemistry was just barely there considering it started mostly physical so I didn't really like that aspect but the spice was spicyyy. Had to fan myself at times.
February 27, 2026
These guys certainly know how to push boundaries. They are in a profession that thrives on speed and risk. Fritz is considered cocky with a chip but it really comes from insecurities and thank goodness for him Henry, his engineer, sees him. Over time what starts out as professional becomes quite personal, which was good for Fritz. They have to work to balance the professional with the personal in a sport that has a lot of political minefields in it. Their relationship was spicy and their connection was strong. This is the second book in this series that I have read and I am enjoying reading this series. Can't wait for the next book.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 1, 2026
braver Junge, 'Frosty's icicle dick', praise kink, #1 finger, bratwurst & schnitzel, nice German boy, sim racer, steak juice
This is a decent book. It's steamy and the pace is quick. I'm not a fan of the abrupt ending, the lack of chapter divisions, and the use of technical terms associated with racing. It also doesn't go too deep emotionally; the angst level is low or superficial. The Dom/sub dynamic is skimmed, but not explored. The story is short, and mainly focuses racing. Racing enthusiasts may like this book and series.
Race engineer Henry and race driver Fritz Müller are the MCs. It's told from Fritz's POV. The major side characters are race driver Lucas Bauer and performance manager Dieter. The rest are very inconsequential.
This is a decent book. It's steamy and the pace is quick. I'm not a fan of the abrupt ending, the lack of chapter divisions, and the use of technical terms associated with racing. It also doesn't go too deep emotionally; the angst level is low or superficial. The Dom/sub dynamic is skimmed, but not explored. The story is short, and mainly focuses racing. Racing enthusiasts may like this book and series.
Race engineer Henry and race driver Fritz Müller are the MCs. It's told from Fritz's POV. The major side characters are race driver Lucas Bauer and performance manager Dieter. The rest are very inconsequential.
March 20, 2026
help i'm smiling... 'brat/brat tamer' false advertising as hell all fritz does is say please and try to be good... if 'brat' means the protaganist has a bit of personality then we need to find another way to phrase that bc the non-sex scenes were the best part of this. fritz navigating his marketing team easily the highlight. a lowlight?
> “Give [THE POPULATION OF SAO PAULO] a preview of next year.” Henry’s hand is lube-slicked as he wraps it around Fritz’s cock, pulling him in time with his thrusts. “They gotta get used to watching you come first.”
that passage & the author's pseudonym made me laugh so hard i started hiccuping so thank you very much for that. i also loveedddd 'talk louder' in the cooldown room.
> “Give [THE POPULATION OF SAO PAULO] a preview of next year.” Henry’s hand is lube-slicked as he wraps it around Fritz’s cock, pulling him in time with his thrusts. “They gotta get used to watching you come first.”
that passage & the author's pseudonym made me laugh so hard i started hiccuping so thank you very much for that. i also loveedddd 'talk louder' in the cooldown room.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2026
3.75/5. I enjoyed the ride. I liked a lot of the details, I enjoyed the characters, the story was good and the action was nice. My issues stem from the fact that sometimes the writing was… jerky? Stuttered? Wonky. That’s just always going to be the word I gravitate towards. It was wonky. It threw the groove off and made some parts and scenes feel stilted and almost snapped off in the wrong places. I did still enjoy it, and I’d love to continue the series and experience more of the world and what it has to offer. It just felt wonky.
—I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews (GRR). All ratings, reviews, and opinions are my own.—
—I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews (GRR). All ratings, reviews, and opinions are my own.—
March 20, 2026
This was a decent read, very fast paced and was funny. May not be the most accurate book regarding the sport but I enjoyed it for what it is. Had to laugh every time I read the team names.
I love how Fritz was unapologetically himself throughout the novel and how the romance between him and Henry changed his life for the better.
The reason why this book was a 3 to 3.5 for me was due to not seeing much of their romance outside hotel and race related stuff. I wanted to see more of their relationship develop and what happened once Fritz gets to Red Boar. I wish the author wrote a time jump scene even of them together during their break to show how their new relationship is.
I love how Fritz was unapologetically himself throughout the novel and how the romance between him and Henry changed his life for the better.
The reason why this book was a 3 to 3.5 for me was due to not seeing much of their romance outside hotel and race related stuff. I wanted to see more of their relationship develop and what happened once Fritz gets to Red Boar. I wish the author wrote a time jump scene even of them together during their break to show how their new relationship is.
March 22, 2026
Fritz is a struggling driver in his second season. He has potential but so far he has fallen short. He feels isolated from his team and is losing hope that he can ascend to the next level. The team brings in Henry, a new race engineer to help turn things around. Fritz immediately responds Henry's firm, no nonsense manner. He helps him connect with the rest of the team and with his driving strategy. Before long he is responding off the track also. I know next to nothing about racing of any kind but this story kept me interested. Not just with spice but with the behind the scenes politics of the racing world.
January 8, 2026
Fast and fun F1 romance
This is the first book in the Formation 1 Series. This book is a forbidden romance. Henry is the race engineer and Fritz is the driver. The two have an instant connection both on and off the race track. Henry helps instill confidence into Fritz and helps him become a better driver. The flirty anger between these two was amazing. I was kicking my feet and giggling during their spicy calls. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to continue the series.
This is the first book in the Formation 1 Series. This book is a forbidden romance. Henry is the race engineer and Fritz is the driver. The two have an instant connection both on and off the race track. Henry helps instill confidence into Fritz and helps him become a better driver. The flirty anger between these two was amazing. I was kicking my feet and giggling during their spicy calls. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to continue the series.
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