After the Hate Has Gone (Sebastian Vettel)

29. State of Euphoria

Friday practice had been nothing short of a disaster. Most of the first session had been lost after Giovinazzi and Latifi had collided and littered the track with debris, bringing the red flag out. It had taken ages to clear.

The second session had seen Seb put in just five laps before a driveshaft issue had ended his session. After he'd finished up for the day he met Fabian in hospitality.

"Hard luck Seb, that was a bit of a nightmare."

"Yeah. Tell me about it," he spat, pissed off with how things had gone.

"Better luck tomorrow. Just think how nice it would be to win here, in Ferrari's backyard."

"Yeah, like I'm in with a chance of that."

"Believe Seb,believe." Seb smiled at his younger brother, admiring his optimistic outlook. He wished he could be that upbeat. Monza was where he'd had his first ever win in Formula 1. He'd also won there for Red Bull. As a Ferrari driver it had been the one race he had wanted to win more than anything. To win Monza in front of the Tifosi would have been something very special indeed.

However, it had never come to pass. Instead his younger team mate had won it and soon after his Ferrari dream had been shattered by the team deciding not to renew his contract.  That had been a pretty low time in his life. The news had come just two months after his separation from Celestine. If it hadn't been for his family, Britta and Antti he didn't know if he would have been in Formula 1 any more. And he owed a lot to Lawrence Stroll. Lawrence had took a gamble on him. He knew things could have gone better this season but the team were building for the future. Next season the new regulations would come in and Aston Martin intended on being in contention.

His attention was brought to the group that had just wandered in. He felt a bit happier when he saw that Lottie was with them.

"That's her Fab. That's Lottie ," he told his brother, nodding his head towards the group.

"You're going to have to be a bit more specific Seb. There's three women in that group. Which one?"

"The brunette, the one with a bottle of water in her hand."  Fabian gave Seb a thumbs up.

"How have you pulled a babe like that with your ugly mug?"  Seb picked up a grape off of Fabian's plate and threw it at him. 

"Guess I must have other qualities," he smirked. Lottie and Sophie broke off from the group and headed over.

"Hey Seb," Sophie greeted him. "Tough luck today."

"Yeah, was shit," he agreed. Lottie lay her hand on his arm then, realising that he wasn't alone, removed it quickly. 

"It's OK," he said, discreetly. "He knows. Oh, you have no idea who this is do you?"

"Nope," she laughed.

"Lottie, Sophie, meet my little brother, Fabian. Fabian, this is Sophie, she is Otmar's PA, and Lottie, team photographer. "  Fabian grinned cheekily.

"Ah, the she-devil that pushed my brother into a swimming pool?"

"You called me a she-devil?" she accused Seb, glaring at him.

"Hey, that was before. Now I'd call you something totally different," he flirted.

"Remind me next time to push a bit harder. And hold you under!"  Fabian laughed.

"Seb, I like this one." 

"Take a seat ladies," Seb said.

"I gotta go I'm afraid," said Lottie. "Doing a shoot with Lance for Peroni."