away we go • formula 1

Back to the start

So,
I never put anything before my chapters but I gotta do it today. I just found out that because of you amazing people my story is now ranked #1 in formula1, maxverstappen and a few other categories.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.❣️❣️
I just wanted to get that off my chest and thank you all for being amazing readers!!!
So I hope you like this new, long chapter.
___________________________________

A lot has happened.
It's now the start of the 2019 season.

Toro Rosso announced my contract at the first race after the summer break of the 2018 season. It was big news in the Motorsport world as it has been a long time since a woman had a full year contract. Alex, Lando and George were announced for Toro Rosso, McLaren and Williams.
Pierre returned in the second half of the season so I was out of a job just as quickly as I had one. But it didn't matter because I knew that I would be back for 2019.
The boys were really happy for me securing a drive with the Red Bull team. Stoffel left with the end of the season and was in Formula E now. We still lived together but it was hard as I was not seeing him a ton anymore. Anna also kind of moved into our apartment.
Alex was particularly happy to have me as his team mate. And to be honest so was I. Truth be told Alex was someone I could always learn stuff from and he was probably the fairest teammate you could ever have.

The first race was Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia. Daniel was their national treasure or at least it seemed like it when we arrived. Toro Rosso and Red Bull still had their partnership up so by default Alex and I hung around Max and Pierre a lot.
Oh yeah. Pierre is now the second Red Bull driver. Daniel really left them for Renault. Max acted like it didn't bother him but we all knew he was hurting. Daniel didn't tell him personally so he found out via media. It was frosty between them for some time. Actually it still wasn't back to normal.
The Red bull team and Toro Rosso arrived in Melbourne 5 days before the Grand Prix. I was happy to have a real friend in the team with Alex cause that meant I could talk to someone all the time. "Alex?", I asked sitting down on my hotel bed. "Yes?". "Do you think it's gonna be okay?". "We gotta wait and see."

This weekend was hectic and you could kind of feel the lingering presence of uncertainty. Of course we had winter testing but no one really knew how the cars would perform in a race before this weekend.
The press was crazy. Ever since my announcement people have been bugging Sofie for interviews. Sofie was a gem and only accepted a few but the media pen was going to be a nightmare as we can't decline anyone there. "So remember be humble and if it get to personal just give me the signal and I will stop the interview right away.", Sofie instructed me while we were waking on this fine Thursday afternoon. "So how are you doing?", she asked. "Great.", I said fully knowing it was not 100% true.
Just as assumed the media pen was horrible. I spent 2 hours there because apparently my story was the most interesting thing to all the reporters there.
In the paddock I met Seb and talked to him for a bit. During the rest of the 2018 season we grew a lot closer. The accident was put behind us and he was truly one of my favourites now. He was a gem and I felt like you could talk to him about everything. He would know the answers.
I didn't see the boys for the rest of the day and truth be told I also didn't feel like it.
I took my rental car back to the hotel I was staying at and went striaght to my room.

I knew that I had to post a picture for a brand deal that I had going on. But I was feeling insecure about it as I felt like it was too big of a name for me to deserve the sponsorship.
Don't forget the post! They need it up by today. Preferably in the next hour. ~ Sofie PA

I huffed and started looking through my phone. The pictures we already took but I still had to post it.