Switch Positions

Formation 1 #2

by Desiree Champagne

Matt Hernandez used to wish that one day he’d get a chance to race in Formation 1 alongside his childhood sweetheart. Now, Matt and Robert drive for the same team, but their relationship is sour at best. When a racing incident bleeds into their off-track life, their team principal gives them an ultimatum—play nice for the cameras or get the axe. Every day is a struggle, but the more time they spend in close proximity, the more that delicate line separating their past and present blurs.

For fans x DriverSecond Chance RomanceEnemies to LoversForced ProximityNeanderthal-Like Urges
🏎️ 🏎️/5
🌶️🌶️/5The 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.

Genres: Queer, Romance, LGBT, Contemporary, Sports

178 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 25, 2025

About the author

DESIREE 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.

Reviews

[Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was cute! this is by far the most enjoyable f1 romance i've read - there's a good blend of racing / romance. she's short and sweet with one spice scene and a satisfying conclusion.

**thank you to the author for the gifted copy**

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg! the tension. the unresolved feelings! gah this one had me feeing all the emotions especially with the flashbacks of their childhood. the glimpses into their friendship.

gosh these two were both so mad at one another for not being able to communicate their feelings properly, and after years and we’re talking YEARS. they finally opened up all thanks to the PR nightmare they started that they needed to fix.

seeing them go from hate to love was amazing! i could not get enough of them. seeing them be them again and then the confession gah! i’m pretty sure i had something in my eye

[Brooke Barnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fast and sweet and just the dose of F1 I wanted right now.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

hoping kaas has better podium luck

[Shawnte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this read! Amazing world building…I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. For starters, I'd love to give both Mateo/Matt and Robert/Bobby a hug lol Throughout the entirety of the book, Matt is treated despicably by Team Anders. Just because they didn't want him anymore. The books cast a horrible light on Robert because neither of them is aware of the extent of the teams' antics when it comes to the other driver. I honestly hated Robert thinking that he could go along with Matt being treated like crap. Surprisingly, Robert's protective side for Matt showed up and it was glorious! The love that these two have for one another runs deep. There's a thin line between love and hate and boy did these two tread that line… My favorite moments were the flashbacks to where the two teens fell in love. I'd LOVE to see this as a feature film! I believe that it's that great! It's passionate in several ways, unbelievable angst and so much yearning for two men who slowly find their way back to one another. I loved the racing sports element that brought all the action and book was hilarious! Laurent needs a book please! I can't say that enough. The ending was pure perfection, so much so that I cheered aloud with a huge YES! This is M/M done right! I can't wait for the rest of the series and I'm hoping to get glimpses of Matt and Robert in the rest of the series! So many stars! ❤️

[Mireya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to BookSirens and the author for the ARC copy. This has not affected my review at all.

Matt has always dreamt of racing at Formation 1 with Robert, his childhood sweetheart, but now, years later and racing for the same team, their relationship couldn't be worse. Until a race incident makes their team principal take a harsh decision: either they behave and play nice for the cameras, showing off being nice teammates, or they're both out of the team. Of course, being put together for media duties and spending more time with each other, will reopen but also be able to heal some wounds, as long as the both of them are willing to.

I must admit, I only got interested in this one because I'm a huge fan of some motor sports, and I though this one could be fun. And was. I. Right. Not only was it fun, but it was wholesome, emotional, sad and hopeful.

Matt and Robert has history, and it doesn't go well, until it looks like it might, but the past is ever present, so who knows if they can actually make it work. Their relationship was my favorite part of the book, which is what I think romance authors should aim for...(in my opinion of someone that barely reads into the genre). But, yeah, they do work well together, are quite cute and develop quite a healthy relationship, despite all the bad things, and the trouble and even whatever struggles the sport puts them through.

I was so in, that I'm glad it was a short read, 'cause I kind of just spent the day reading it instead of doing other things I had in mind😂 All this to say that the book was addicting in the best way possible, catching and just kept things going, even with the past scenes. Normally, I think those can slower down a book, but not this case. As in, they just added to the overall of it and kept me going to know more about our men and how they've come to be how they are in their present.

If I had to ad a "but", it would just be a very personal opinion and taste. But, since this book is based into motor sports and such, I would have liked to see much more. I'm not saying we don't get aspects of the world, we do, I just would have liked for the author to dig some more in that route...? Like, the book is amazing as it is and the intricacies of the world we get paint a vivid picture. But I'm just such a fun of motor sports and the worlds authors put out there, that I wouldn't have minded having more and more. But, like, it is not detrimental, that for sure. Just me and my weird likes for books😂

Overall, either a fan of romance or a fan of motor sports, I definitely recommend this one. Fun, emotional, cute, with two complex characters that learn from their errors and grow emotionally and mentally together in life. Not many books can make me like a romance so much that I give the book five stars, but I enjoyed this one so much, than I'm giving it all the stars, so congratulations to the author. Definitely worth the chance if y'all been thinking about it ;)

[✨️AJ✨️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book actually made me so sad because I have to admit that I fell for the "Esteban is a bad guy" narrative that Alpine was pushing for years, and ever since he switched to Haas this year, I have liked him so much better and he also just seems so much happier.

I had tears in my eyes for a big part of this book, because you really just portrayed how shitty they were to Matteo so well. And Robert not knowing they were making Teo give up spaces for him and favouring him so heavily and him then immediately being upset about it and standing up for him?? And the confession Robert makes about being the one who paid for it all just kind of broke me a little bit. It just really hit home how much they used to mean to each other and what happened to break it all between them. I am so glad you wrote them to both end up somewhere else in this.

As I said in my review for Dirty Air, I love this series so much, especially because Desiree clearly actually watches racing and therefore accurately portrays it. Quietly, and without any pressure, begging for an endless amount more books for this series!

[Zarlina · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's almost stupid how much I liked this book. I'm not even a fan of F1, don't know anything about it. My sister is, though, and so is one of my closest friends, and since they talk so much about it and my sister is going to make me watch it soon, I figured that what's at least one way to make it more interesting? Make it gay.

So when this popped up in my suggestions I decided to give it a go. And I absolutely loved it.

Confusing things aside, like why the team names were silly almost copies of the real one and why it's called Formation instead of Formula, I found the F1 talk actually a bit interesting. And the story? Oh my, the story...

My heart broke for Matt, over and over and over. The angst was absolutely perfect, the jumps between current and past time handled absolutely perfectly, and the end? That one moment when his dream came true? The final race for his team?

So good. So perfect. And the final few pages? I can't. I don't even have words.

I really didn't think I would love it this much. Like it yes, because the whole teammate/rival thing is always a nice touch, but this much? Nah, I didn't think I would, but now I think it's one of my favorite reads this year. Absolutely stunning.


I received a complimentary copy of this book for free. All opinions are my own.

[KRosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was great fun!

I can tell Desiree knows and follows racing. Finally a book that uses correct terminology and I loved the peek behind the scenes of the drivers' worlds.
A quick read with some spice and angst. The pacing was great and the details were spot on. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.

[Nicol | Read With Me Sis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick 150 page MM romance that felt like F1 fanfic hahah I loved it for what it was but the characters did feel very young. But the pacing was good, you could tell Desiree really watches F1 and I loved Mateo and Bobby 🥹

[Arin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good F1 book. Loved that Teo and Bobby became friends when little. Good friend to enemies. Then enemies to lovers. It was short but told a good story. It was also good to see how the team treats one driver from another.

[Betty Loves Books Galore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a second chance racing sports romance novella, featuring Matt Hernandez and Robert Miller, and is book two in the Formation 1 series.

Matt and his former childhood sweetheart Robert are now bitter teammates in Formation 1, forced to act friendly or risk losing their jobs. As they spend more time together, the tension between their past love and present rivalry becomes impossible to ignore.

These two ex best friends had a simmering attraction, even though they had been apart for years. There is more racing talk in this one and it was interesting to see how teammates interact on the track. It’s a great low angst read. Looking forward to the next book.

Things to expect in this book are:
Book 2 in series
Novella
MM sports romance
Childhood best friends
Driver x Driver
Enemies to more
Teammates
Forced proximity
Second chance
Spicy times
HEA hint

[Nicole Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the second book in the formation 1 series. This book is about two drivers on the same team. Matt and Robert, are childhood best friends turned enemies. After years of having to let Robert win, Matt is finally had enough and is leaving the team. after a few heated exchanges, the two have to pretend to be friends again. This PR scene forces them to actually become friends again and confront their feelings. They you realize that they both have feelings for one another and that the repression that Matt feels is all from Robert’s father. This book had the most delicious tension between the two main characters. For Matt, it has always been Robert and he realizes from a young age but feels that he couldn’t have both Robert and racing.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matt is being shafted by his racing team in favor of Robert, a poorer driver but their golden child. But they have a history before the bad blood, were close and lovers and became enemies when they couldn't be more than friends. I did enjoy this enemies to lovers though it does end a little undefined. There are future books in the series that might have more Matt and Robert in them. I received a copy of this through BookSirens and this is my voluntary opinion.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matt & Robert were childhood friends. As grown ups they were both a part of a F 1 race team where they grew apart. Due to Robert's famous family roots, he became the team's golden child whereas Matt was treated unkindly & unknowingly being traded to a different team. Low angst, HEA. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Danny Kearl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great MM F1 Romance.

This was Second Chance x Rivalries to Lovers x F1

This was an easy read, got straight into this world. I always love a second chance romance but this got me in the heart.

I do think the ending was slightly rush - I would've liked a longer epilogue.

I will be continuing the series

[kali · Rating 3 out of 5]

i cant believe i spent actual money on american off-brand pierresteban fic only for the brazil double podium not to be included :/

[Rod Lujano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, sweet and amazing.

I’m loving this series

[Brooklyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m here for a good time 🏎️🏎️

[Valeria · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Olive · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matt is heart-wrenchingly relatable to anyone who has never been the popular kid. Often overlooked, he spent his life clawing for a foothold, some way to rise above what’s handed to him. An amazing character in a sticky-sweet second chance romance