In Love With Formula 1

Part 63

Izzies POV:

There was an F2 race at Austria this weekend as well so I went to show my support for my team and my friends in F2. Prema were once again dominant, they were unstoppable, regular 1-2 podiums, the championship looked like it was theirs for the taking. 

I had conversations with Robert, Marcus and Oscar in the garage and we were dancing and singing along to the music being played, Robert also helped me with my Italian so I didn't feel quite as useless.

Lando didn't come with me but he turned up a bit later and bought us all a coffee, well everyone but me, I had a tea, I felt very British drinking my tea.

"Did you hear what Dan just said about the grid girls?" Oscar said to me

"No, what did he say" 

Oscar whispered what Dan had said to me and my face dropped, I felt that anger bubbling up again, it had been so long since I felt like this but I couldn't hold it in. I walked over to Dan

"What do you think of the grid girls?" I asked him, winding him up so he would walk in to my trap

"They are fucking fit, I know I would, you would as well Lando wouldn't you" 

I turned around to look at Lando and he was staring at Dan with the exact same expression I had on my face, I was relieved he was on my side.

Dan went on to say loads of rude things until I snapped

"Stop talking about women like they are objects" I shouted at hit poking his chest with my finger making him step back

"Well what do you want me to say instead"

"Why not try not saying anything at all" everyone was now beginning to focus their attention on this and there were only whispers around the pit lane now

"That's their job, to look fuckable so they get paid"

"These women are not sex workers, they are working in a male dominated sport, surrounded by sexual assault and harassment every race" I was now shouting and I was convinced steam was coming out of my ears

"I never said anything that would hurt their feelings you are being a snowflake". He did not go there I was beyond angry at this point, I wasn't shouting anymore I was calm and looking him dead in the eyes.

"Saying you would touch them when they are near your car, saying they are here to have sex, looking at them with wandering eyes, I am not being a snow flake. Being a victim of sexual assault and rape is not me being a snow flake, it's sticking up for women who feel like they don't have a voice" I was almost whispering at this point, trying to make sure my voice didn't break, I was not about to cry when I was so angry

"Oh so now you're a victim too, seems like every woman 'has a story'"

"You have got to be kidding me" I was walking away because I knew I would have hit him and that wouldn't look good on me. 

Lando was running up behind me, I honestly just needed to chill out a bit before having a conversation with anyone.

"Use my driver room" Lando said to me before going back the way he came

I walked in to his driver room and just sat down in the seat breathing slowly, trying to get my adrenaline to level out. 

I left my bag in here in the morning and I redid my makeup and hair before walking back out of the room to have what felt like hundreds of cameras on me, I put my sunglasses down and held my head high as I 'power walked' through the paddock down to where I was due to have an interview with a French TV channel.

The interview was based around my new sponsorships, I let them know that I would not be controlled or be told what I can and can't do as well as I would find a way to drop the sponsor in question if anything else were to happen. Putting fear in Redbull's eyes was exactly what I wanted, especially when I did it in French that had to be translated. 

Because the interview was live, Helmut obviously had it translated and was now walking towards where I was with a very unhappy look on his face. I was very luckily right outside the Mclaren garage so when he got close enough and started heckling me to talk to him I just put my middle finger up and walked in to the Mclaren garage where he wasn't allowed to go. 

I spent the rest of the day just sitting and chatting to people in the garage and seeing if I could do anything to help. I was lucky enough to have Lando's engineer talk to me about his job because he knew I wanted to do that, I got to see all the things he saw during a race and how he would respond to it. I made notes throughout because I wanted to know what the different messages meant throughout a race.

The race was action packed and Lando ended up P3 with Daniel 2 tenths behind him in P4. Lando celebrated his podium and invited Daniel up with him because Lando wanted everyone to know how hard Daniel had raced him, it was very sweet and I took a few pictures of them up there together with the other 2 drivers on the podium.

For a celebration the Mclaren team and myself went out for a meal, I wore a royal blue satin dress that went to my mid thigh, I wore my comfy blue jordans and Lando some how wore a matching blue shirt with black jeans, we looked like a cringey coordinating couple but we both refused to change outfits.

I made sure that a waiter got a picture on my disposable camera of all of the team at the table, I felt at home with this team and I got to actually smile and look like I belonged in the happiest team on the grid. 

I hadn't looked at my phone since the incident on Saturday so I was surprised that when we walked out of the restaurant there were cameras shoved in my face straight away, we had walked to the restaurant so I waited for everyone else to leave so they could walk back in peace. 

The cameras were constantly flashing as I bit my lip waiting for the rest of the team to turn the corner, Lando was with me but we both just stayed quiet and waited for everyone to turn the corner.

As we started walking Lando was speed walking whilst holding my hand, I was walking slowly, everything felt like it was in slow motion, I was walking slowly as everyone took photos of me and Lando. Our expressions were emotionless and we both walked slowly to the hotel as we were followed and surrounded by paparazzi.

I felt like I was that character in a movie that was being arrested in school and everyone was looking at me and gasping, as we reached the hotel the cameras stopped outside and were still taking photos so I decided to make the most of the situation.

"Ready?" I whispered to Lando 

"For what-"

I started making out with Lando and the cameras went mad for it, I was looking at the cameras through my hair before Lando tucked it behind my ear. I gripped his face and made sure that it looked really deep and passionate before leaning away and looking at the cameras with an unreadable face, some might have said it was filled with anger others, revenge. All I knew was that Redbull were going to regret trying to do what they wanted.

I knew that them wanting to give me a manager meant that my whole life was monitored, I would be given routines to stick to, no meeting people outside of the redbull group and would try to change my image as much as possible, I was not going to stand for it. 

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A/N

Hi guys, I will be double uploading today but I won't be uploading over the weekend to take part in the boycott for abuse and racism online.

I firmly believe that social media platforms should do more to protect people from abuse and cyberbulling, especially in the last year with COVID there has been more racism than I have ever seen.

Hiding behind a screen and bullying people is not cool and enough is enough.

I stand up for anyone who is discriminated or bullied on my social medias and I hope you will all do the same x

Have a wonderful race weekend guys, i will see you all on Tuesday xxx