The Team // A Formula One AU

Yuki

MarioKart. The excitement is almost as intense as before an actual race. I keep having to wipe my hands on my trousers so they don't get too sweaty before it's my turn.

My game is the third quarter-final of the tournament, with the second one happening now. George beat Max, Lando and Seb in the first quarter-final and the race between Mick, Carlos, Pierre and Charles is currently led by the German. It's the last lap though, and Charles is picking up some very lucky items.

"On your left, on your left!" Max tells Mick who manages to avoid Carlos' green shell barrage with a detour to the edge of the track.

"Shut up, Max," Carlos says and I laugh from the crowd of onlookers behind them. Charles has a golden mushroom and is gaining on the leading pack. He mashes the buttons and his Yoshi does what George calls 'mad skill'. I watch his hands as he executes a perfect drift and overtakes Carlos on the last corner. He stands up with his arms in the air as we erupt into cheers. Carlos swears in Spanish and Nico grabs his controller before he can throw it at the screen.

"Good race, man," Mick says, shaking Charles' hand. Pierre smiles in gracious defeat and Max writes the scores on his wall chart.

"Mick and Charles go through to the semi-finals. Now it's time for the third quarter-final of the Fortress-World-Karting-MarioKart-tournament. The drivers: Lewis Hamilton, Yuki Tsunoda, Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg!"  Max declares.

Mick hands me his controller and I wipe it on my shirt. It's uncomfortably warm but I can't do anything about that. I shake Lewis' hand and take my seat in front of the huge TV. I select Mario and choose the best set-up for handling and acceleration. The race begins.

It's the closest one yet, probably whoever wins this will go on to win the whole tournament. Lewis has always been an underdog but Nico is also fast on the first lap. I've learned from other's mistakes not to underestimate anyone. The best I can do is second the end of the first lap, but then I get my opportunity.

Red shells would be so useful in our real races. So many times I've been almost close enough to pass, just wishing I could fire a honing missile to safely remove the guy in front from the track for a few seconds. Luckily in this chase for the lead, I can do exactly that.

I get a cheer. Lewis leans even further forward and I do the same as I prepare to defend, bananas hanging from my tail. I round the final corner and cross the line for the second lap. We go again.

"Try the alternate route, you might get more items up there," Max says to Lewis and I take it into account. Lewis disappears from behind me and I try to remember exactly how the alternate route works without glancing at this screen. When I win, I'm going to do it fairly.

Then I get blue shelled.

"No!" I scream, leaping to my feet before dropping forward to my knees, eyes glued to the screen as Lewis, Nico and Princess Peach all pass me by.

"Come on Lewis, you can do it!" Everyone is on his side as I suffer the embarrassment of getting hit by a green shell next, but I have to stay calm. In my imagination, my Mario narrows his eyes. I pass computer players left and right, manifesting my next opportunity.

"Yuki, stop being so good!"

Nico shoves me with his foot as I pass him and soon I'm back on Lewis' rear bumper, but he defends as if it's a real kart race. I let out an involuntary squeal as I almost drive into the bomb he's carrying and have to move back before he can drop it on me. My chance has to come soon. It's the final lap.

We keep racing but now it's ferocious, stealing item boxes and taking new risks every few seconds.

"C'mon..." Lewis mutters. "Please, please, please..."

Penultimate corner. Final corner. I hear the crowd gasp when I'm just a few metres from the line, and then my heart stops. Lewis flies past.

He used mushrooms to cut across the grass. He won the race.

The onlookers roar for Lewis's comeback and I almost throw my controller across the room.

"Well played, but sometimes you need a bit of luck to win," Fernando pats my shoulder and I nod. I'm devastated. "Hey, don't look so sad, at least you made it to the semi-finals."

I nod, but inside I'm still kicking myself. I vow never to lose a game of anything to Lewis ever again. And certainly not a game of Mario Kart.