My junior career has been one utter joke. I have not been able to achieve my goals. Don't get me wrong there are good things about it. For instance, my rivalry with Prema's latest hotshot Charlie Latifi has been fun. It's just she is the reason that I haven't been able to get anywhere in my last year in Formula 2. Luckily for me there I still have a chance to prove myself. I have secured a seat at NIO. Yes, a Formula E team. It's not ideal but I am not going to complain. It's better than nothing. Right now I need to get through my last Formula 2 race. Whilst it is not the last race on the Formula 2 calendar I have decided that I am going to focus on Formula E testing. I am just hoping that I can catch Charlie for one last time. The truth is I am going to miss the fun of chasing my arch enemy. She has skills that not many divers that I have come across have. She deserves any opportunities that she gets. I do get the nasty feeling that we will end up as teammates in the near future. Well, that would certainly end in disaster. We shall see. I am soon pulled back to reality.
"Dan, are you ready?" My lead engineer asks. I can hear the hint of concern in his voice. To be honest I know why. I have been a little reckless hence why I am going into Formula E, not Formula 1. At least I am willing to accept that I am the one at fault. It's just annoying that I got so close then I threw it all away.
"Yeah. I guess," I don't really sound confident, do I? I just hope that I can end my junior career on a high note. Then I can move on to Formula E.
"Come on I'm sure you can get Charlie this time," My lead engineer remarks. Unlike me he is optimistic. At least there is someone that is optimistic. He soon sends me off with a good luck pat on the shoulder. I am going to need it after all. I am starting next to Charlie. Well, I can't let that get to me as it will end up being like any other race. That is Charlie will win and I will be in second. I shake the thought out of my head as I get my balaclava and helmet on. There is not much that I can do about my circumstances. To quote every single engineer 'just keep pushing'. After five minutes of waiting the race is about to begin. Ok here goes. As soon as the lights go out I launch the car. Even though it was a good start for me I am still in second.
"Ok that start has left you a tenth behind," My lead engineer gets to work on parting the required information.
"Ok. I'll see if I can wear her tires down," I reply. I am not going to do anything stupid since I know that I can't overtake until the last half of the race. It doesn't take long for me to settle into the normal rhythm of getting the car around the track whilst being a thorn in Charlie's side. I am quick to go for the lunge as Charlie has made the smallest mistake. It is close but I somehow manage to slip past. I soon find myself a little frustrated as Charlie takes back her position. It was worth a go. After an hour of back and forth, it came down to the last lap.
"Dan, You should be able to get past Charlie when you come out of turn three," My lead engineer reads my mind.
"I was thinking the same thing," I replied. At least I am optimistic this time. It doesn't take us long to reach turn three. Come on Charlie there is no way that you are going to risk carrying too much speed. I concede as there is no way that I am going to shed enough speed in time. I slowly apply the brakes. It turns out that Charlie wasn't as reckless as I thought. She is quick to follow my lead. I have to give credit where credit is due. That was an impressive move. Sure she may be the enemy but like I said I have to give her credit. Well, I just have to get her on the straight. I soon get to work. Charlie is not making my life easy but I need one last challenge. It doesn't take long for me to get alongside Charlie. To my annoyance, it stays like this up until the start/finish straight. I can feel the victory slipping from my grasp as Charlie pulls ahead of me. Oh well, she deserves it. She crosses the line first, closely followed by me. It doesn't take long for us to reach the Parc Ferme area. I make a beeline for the cooldown area as I want to save the team celebration till after the podium. I soon replaced my helmet and balaclava with the second-place cap. An object that I have become familiar with. Charlie is quick to join me and her teammate Robert Shwartzman.
"You did well today," I awkwardly complimented Charlie.
"I had a good enemy," She retorts. Like me, it is her last year in Formula 2.
"Well I guess now would be the time that I wish you luck," I responded.
"Let's just say you're going to need more luck than I do," Charlie says with a wink. The gesture catches me off guard as I have no idea what she is trying to say. Unless she is joining me in Formula E. No, that can't be right. The last I heard she was joining her brother at Williams as a reserve driver. I guess I will find out during the preseason testing. It has been a couple of weeks since then and I have arrived at the briefing room. It is finally time for me to find out what Charlie meant. Yeah, it is still bugging me. Speaking of the devil she is the only other person here. That must mean that we are teammates.
"I know what you're thinking. I just never bothered to tell you," Charlie clarifies. To be fair I can't really complain as I find our situation interesting. I am sure that this isn't the first time that enemies have become teammates.
"I'm just surprised as I thought you would have focused on your F1 duties," I reply.
"Well, I couldn't sit still so I took the other vacant seat at NIO. Now here we are," Charlie explains. So she is in the same position as me. Wanting to prove herself. Well, it turns out the rivalry between Charlie and I may continue. As soon as that thought leaves my head we are joined by the rest of the team. The team principal soon gets to work on making sure that Charlie and I know what to do. It doesn't take long for the briefing to come to an end as it turns out that the team is just using the preseason testing to get us used to the car. It doesn't take long for me to get ready. With a gesture from my lead mechanic, I get to work on getting the car around the track. To my amazement, the car feels smooth. I am able to adjust my driving style quite quickly. As the first lot of testing goes on I start to realise that my future may be in safe hands. I just can't do anything stupid. After an hour and a half of work, the testing has come to an end for now. I am quick to join Charlie in the hospitality area. She is looking a little bothered.
"Charlie, what is bothering you?" I ask.
"Nothing," She replies. She is hiding something.
"Are you sure?" I ask. I know I shouldn't force anything out of her but we are teammates. I might as well see if I can help.
"Yes. I'm sure," Charlie replies. I am not convinced but it will be better if I drop it. She will tell me when she is ready. Maybe she is stressed about missing a day of testing. Who knows? Well, I am not going to find out. At least we have done well today. I just hope that we can carry our small success over to the first race.
A/N I have decided to begin this story a little differently by telling the first chapter from the POV of both Dan and Charlie. Just remember to vote and/or comment if you enjoy this story.
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It's Not Over Till The Chequered Flag Falls (Dan Ticktum X OC)
Fanfic"Nicky the dream is dead for me," -Charlie Latifi Charlie Latifi knew her chances of getting a seat in Formula 1 were slim even then she was hopeful that she could try. After a successful year in Formula 2, she is intrigued as to why she has only go...
