The Team // A Formula One AU

Checo

Day five of our US adventure, and we're all becoming more focussed as the week wears on. We leave the garage quickly, using our performance folders to cover our heads as we jog through the rain towards the bus. Qualifying is tomorrow and the importance of our first race weekend hasn't been lost on anyone, hence bringing our results back to study this evening. This is our chance to show everyone what we're made of. Our chance to catch everyone off-guard.

"We're going to be in the gym this afternoon," Tom announces into the cold bus as we settle into our damp seats after a morning of testing. "Phil has drawn up training plans for each of you based on your evaluations when you first arrived."

I grin and turn to Seb who's sitting beside me.

"Training plans! I've always wanted a personal trainer."

"Of course you have..." Seb shakes his head mockingly.

"Come on, it'll be good for us," I nudge him. He sighs and dops his head back against his seat as the bus begins juddering towards our next destination.

"I know. I'm just exhausted."

I nod and look out of the window to my left. At least the rain has cleaned the bus a bit. We've been working non-stop for almost three weeks now, our only day off being the day we flew here and that was mostly spent sleeping, unpacking and catching up on meals. Nobody forced us to work on our cars every day this week but we came to a group decision that we wanted to spend every morning at the track before our first race weekend. On top of that we have training every afternoon and then in the evenings we're too tired to go out. Next week should be quieter. We can't keep going like this.

We arrive at the gym just as there's a break in the rain, and the first ray of sunlight hits my face since I left Mexico. I hop down the bus steps and stand there for a moment, remembering what the sky looks like.

"The gym is just in here on the ground floor," Tom tells us as he peels off his soaked jacket. "We aren't due to start for another fifteen minutes but you can head inside if you like."

"Can't we train outside?" Max asks. Tom looks at him quizzically.

"We came here to use the equipment," he says, confused.

"But we booked the whole gym, right? We could bring the equipment outside. The doors are definitely big enough."

Tom looks at Max as though he's lost his mind and turns to look at the building. The glass doors do open straight into this empty parking area. The ground is flat, the sun is shining, and I'd definitely rather be in the fresh air.

"Do you want me to ask?" Max says and Tom grimaces with an exasperated shrug. Max struts inside the gym and I hear Lando giggle as the door shuts behind him.

Tom watches after him, moving his hands onto his hips. "That boy..."

Ten minutes later I'm dragging a rowing machine across the car park thinking about how this is probably better training than sitting on the machine itself. Seb is already squatting weights by the bus and Nico is setting up a punchball on a stick, trying to secure it to the ground with some sandbags. Not all of the machines could be brought outside of course, so I head inside and get started with some seated lifts.

Time passes quickly as I try to work on all the things on Weird Old Phil's list. Gym training is never easy, but I know it's not supposed to be. Nobody would improve if things were always easy. Nevertheless, I have to say I would prefer it if I didn't have to listen to the sounds of Lando teasing Carlos from the top of the rope climbing equipment, Weird Old Phil berating Lewis for his rowing technique, and the aftermath of Nico hitting the punchball so hard it flew backwards and made Daniel's mouth bleed.

"Hold this paper towel over it," George insists, thrusting it into Daniels face and almost hitting him even harder.

"I not beeding to deaf..." Daniel complains through his swollen lip but takes the napkin anyway. Nico is still apologising. I wander over to him for a little break after the treadmill.

"Did Weird Old Phil really ask you to work on your boxing technique?" I ask as Seb joins us out in the persistent sun. If he's not careful he might start to tan.

"No, I just wanted to do it."

"You'll never make any progress if you don't stick to the plan."

"Let him do what he wants, Check, it's not that serious," Seb laughs and I narrow my eyes at him.

"What did you just call me?"

"Uh... Check? It's short for Checo."

"I worked that out. Does my name really need shortening again?"

"Sorry," Seb laughs. "Didn't realise you were so sensitive about it."

"That's okay, Baz."

"What?"

"Sebaztian."

"That's the worst thing I've ever heard."

Erik appears to break up our conversation, telling us we only have a few minutes left before we'll have to move everything back inside. I say goodbye to Nico and Baz and head back inside to target the final muscle group on my list. Three sets in, I stand up to stretch out my muscles.

"Are you done with the machine?" Valtteri walks past and I shake my head, taking a drink from my bottle.

"I'm just resting. I'm going to do two more sets."

The Finn nods and sits down at the machine opposite, leaning towards me with his fingers laced. I put my bottle down and resume my position at the machine, raising my eyebrows as he continues to stare.

"Don't stop on my account," he says. "I want to see your technique."

"Right..." I murmur. We may spend most of our time working, but at least my teammates know how to keep things interesting.