The Team // A Formula One AU

Sebsastian

I step onto the metal staircase and take my last look at Germany for god knows how long. I spot my dad's car a lifetime away and wave at it for a moment. I don't know if he's inside but it's worth a shot. Bye Dad, friends, everything I've ever known. To Gatwick, London, England. To strangers, to foreign cities, to adventures. I remember looking out over that skyline from a plane two years before, going to Mexico for a beach holiday. The best holiday of my life.

I leave the nostalgic view behind and step inside to show the stewardess my boarding pass. She nods and wishes me a nice flight. I hope so too. I raise my hand luggage to the compartment above my head and I take my window seat and rest my head back on my chair. Do I really want this? Am I really good enough? I'd better be. Will I make friends? I've always been quite bad at that. And what about school? If I don't make it in motorsport now I'll be worthless. No qualifications, no contacts, nothing. It will all have been a giant holiday.

I open my eyes as the plane starts to move. I can't stop the city sliding by and I'm suddenly overwhelmed by not wanting to go. I don't want to go. But it's too late now, we line up on the runway regardless and I hear the engines come to life.

"Cabin crew, seats for take-off please."

Leaving behind everything I ever loved...

I want to go back. There's too much to lose out there. But we claw our way into the air and all too soon I'm a tiny speck in the sky. Nothing to see now, it's cloudy. Nothing of my old life. Nothing of my school, or playing in the park with my little brother. Nothing of the karting track where this hastily thrown together so-called team found me. Nothing of my family home, father, siblings, friends. I sigh shakily and realise I'm almost crying. C'mon Seb, I tell myself, this is an amazing opportunity. Don't be a child. Don't be so stupid. I cough to clear the lump in my throat and close my window blind from the harsh sunlight to try to get some sleep.

I don't.

Food comes and is taken away, the ocean passes below, I watch half a film and try to read the in-flight magazine but I can't concentrate. Then England. We start to land and a wave of terror sweeps over me. New life. Can I even drive a kart? I don't know I don't know I don't know anymore. Wheels hit the ground. Crawl to the terminal. Walking like a zombie. Passport control. Baggage claim. Looking for someone called Tom. Looking for someone with brown hair, called Tom.

"Sebastian Vettel?"

I wheel around, the floor swaying beneath my feet.

"That's me."

"I'm Tom. Welcome to the team."