The Team // A Formula One AU

Kimi

"I'll bet you ten dollars that Mercedes win," Max says, wafting his note in the air.

"I'm not going to bet with you," Tom replies.

"I'll bet you five that Red Bull will."

"No, no betting."

"But why? It's fun come on!" 

"No! It's an unhealthy habit for you to be harbouring."

Max pulls off his race suit to give himself time to think of a comeback and replaces it with a yellow shirt depicting a guy about to strike a football. I look around at the others then do up my shoelaces and watch Carlos as he changes his in favour of some with a flame pattern.

"Are you sure you don't want to bet just a little bit?" Max pleads.

"You only want to bet because you're so sure that you'll win, and I for one don't want to lose my money. Bet with Mick."

"But Mick always wins."

"I'm not interested!" Tom declares with an air of finality and picks up his bags to leave. I copy him but soon sit back down when I realise Lewis still hasn't even taken off his race boots. We'll never get back to the hostel at this rate.

"Come on, how long is it going to take you?" I ask.

"Everyone's watching me," he replies quietly.

"It's just boots, it's not like we've never seen a foot before!" I exclaim and Sebastian turns theatrically away. Lewis blushes and undoes the Velcro, pulling them off over his feet and putting them in his bag.

"Stop watching me!"

"Oh my god..." I sigh and stalk off to talk to Yuki. He did well in training, racing next to me at the front for a long while. We discuss braking distances and then talk moves to my overtake on Esteban.

"You're pretty fast," he says.

"Nah, I just know where to go and how to get there."

"It doesn't matter, I still think you should be getting more points than you are."

I press my lips together and Yuki shuts up. I know damn well I should be getting more points.

Max interrupts up with another proposition. "I'll bet you Kimi finishes in the top five on Sunday."

"Yeah, I believe that could happen too! This track seems perfect for you, right Kimi?" Yuki babbles and I roll my eyes. Top five after five weeks of double figures? As much as I hate to say it, I don't think that's going to happen.

Max turns back to Tom with new vigour. "If Kimi finishes top five on Sunday, you have to buy us a proper hotel next week in Las Vegas. Do we have a deal?"

"No," Tom says and Max groans. "Kimi is well capable of finishing in the top five, and we don't have the money for a hotel in Vegas."

"Okay fine," Max argues. "How about at the final round in Seattle. It'll be cheaper there, right?"

"Of course, Las Vegas is expensive but Los Angeles is one of the most expensive places in the country," Mick says. Tom looks at the floor like he might agree. I don't understand why this whole debate has to centre around me.

"Alright." Tom sticks his hand out for Max to shake and he does so vigorously, grinning that he's finally reduced Tom to his level. "But this doesn't mean I'm not supporting you, Kimi."

"I understand," I tell him. Lewis has finally put his shorts on so I walk back over to him to collect my bags. So my target is to be top five on Sunday. And now I have the entire team rooting for me.