The Race Director's Daughter (Sebastian Vettel)

4. A Nervous Start

Leah made her way towards the drivers' briefing room with Jenna.  Her hands were shaking with nerves.   Normally only one of the admin girls would attend to record the session, but as she was new and Jenna was showing her the ropes, they'd both attended. In future the four girls would take it in turns.  It would be her turn at Imola.

Leah was really enjoying the job so far.   Jenna and Tamara were really friendly and she thought that they could become good friends.  Bella on the other hand was a completely different story. 

When Leah had been introduced to her the previous afternoon she'd barely even acknowledged her.  She'd looked down her nose, half nodded and walked away.  Jenna had immediately told her not to worry, that Bella was like that with everybody, it was nothing personal.   Tamara hadn't been quite as polite.  She'd referred to the tall, slim blonde as the paddock bike. 

"There's no need to be nervous honey," Jenna told her as they made their way into the briefing room.  No one had arrived yet but Leah knew it wouldn't be long before the room was full of Formula 1 drivers.  From the seven time world champion, Lewis Hamilton,  down to this year's lone rookie, Zhou Guanyu. Leah was feeling completely starstruck. 

She and Jenna headed to the corner, just to the side of where the FIA President, followed by Leah's father, would address the drivers.  

"How are you not nervous around them?" she asked Jenna, amazed by the redhead's poise.  Jenna gave a small laugh. 

"They're just men.  Admittedly some of them are incredibly sexy men, but still just men.  I guess because I wasn't a fan coming into Formula 1 I never looked at them as stars.  You'll be fine.  Just remember to breathe.  None of them will talk to us, not likely anyway, and if they do it will only be Lando, and you can't be nervous around him.  He's just a little kid!"

Leah looked around as Jenna began tapping out a message on her iphone.  She heard the door open and glanced up, having to control her excitement as she saw the Red Bull drivers walk into the room.  Checo Perez sat down on the chair nearest to the door, most probably preparing to make a quick escape at the end of the briefing.  The reigning World Champion, Max Verstappen, carried on across the room and sank onto a chair in the back corner. 

Jenna looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "See. Just men."

One by one the drivers arrived.  Alonso and Ocon from Alpine, Bottas and Zhou from Alfa Romeo, Albon and Latifi from Williams. 

Leah was just congratulating herself on remaining calm when the door opened again and Lewis Hamilton and George Russel walked in.

"Oh my God," she muttered under her breath.  "Lewis fricking Hamilton."   Her hands began to shake again.  

Soon everyone was there apart from four drivers.  Pierre Gasly, Mick Schumacher, Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel.  For some reason her Dad wasn't a fan of either Ricciardo and Vettel.  She found it confusing as Jenna and Tamara had said how friendly both of them were. 

Finally the latecomers arrived.  Leah spotted Pierre first. The handsome young Frenchman was wearing his cap backwards as usual.  He headed over to sit with the Ferrari drivers.  Mick joined his teammate, Callum Ilott, in the back row. 

Leah watched Daniel Ricciardo push past Guanyu Zhou and sit down next to Esteban Ocon.  He looked even more gorgeous in the flesh.  His hair was a riot of curls and he had a short tidy beard.  He was laughing at something Ocon said, a loud, contagious laugh.  She bit her lip to stop herself from smiling.  Then her eyes turned to the final latecomer.  Sebastian Vettel.  She'd always had a soft spot for the German driver.  Even back in her teenage years she'd thought he was by far the sexiest driver, and nothing had changed.