Red Hot! (Sebastian Vettel)

2. The Launch

Aston Martin HQ, Gaydon, February 2022

Seb dashed across the car park towards the entrance, running late as usual.  He'd got out of bed on time but he'd found himself chatting away on the phone to his mother, and when he'd realised the time he'd already been ten minutes behind schedule. 

He dashed past all the VIP guests, sponsors, competition winners and Aston Martin bigwigs, heading towards his Press Officer, Britta Roeske, who he could see standing in the far corner talking to Lance's press officer Joanne.

"You're late!" she scolded him, but she had a warm smile on her face.

"Britta," he said fondly, hugging her. "It's great to see you. I trust you had a lovely winter. Joanne, you also."

Britta had spent her winter in Germany with her elderly parents and this was the first time he had seen her since Abu Dhabi back in December.

"Brilliant thank you Seb, how about you?"

"Not bad. Mother, Father and Fabian came over for Christmas and stayed until the new year. Did a lot of skiing, redecorated half the house. Can't wait to get back in the car though." He didn't tell her he'd also spent a lot of time having casual sex with one of his neighbours who'd recently divorced.

"Yeah, it's good to get back. I was shocked to hear Otmar had left."

"Sadly it was no surprise to me. I like Otmar. I like him a lot as a person, but with the plans Lawrence has for the team, he needed someone who's more of a leader, who has more of a no nonsense approach."

"What's Mike Krack like? He was your engineer at Sauber wasn't he?"

"Yeah, he's a great guy. Not seen him for several years but I think he's exactly what we need. He has a fun side but when he's in work mode he's all business."

"Well you'll get the chance to reminisce with him later."

"He's here?"

"So Joanne told me." Seb turned to Joanne.

"Yeah," she said. "He's here as a guest. He doesn't officially start with us for another month but he wants to get to meet as many team members as he can."

"I'll keep an eye out for him."

"Ok, so if you follow me I'll show you to your dressing room."

"Have they stuck me in a broom cupboard?" he joked.

"No, but I might," she laughed as she led him to the empty office he'd been assigned to get changed in.
"What's with the hair and the beard?"

Seb ran his hand through his longer than usual mop of dark blonde curls. "Felt like a change. Do you like it?"

"You look like a hobo." Seb snorted with laughter. Britta wasn't one to mince her words.

"Oh I've missed you Britta."

"I missed you too," she said fondly.

She opened the door to the office and led him inside.

"There you go. Your race suit and here's some new team shirts. Your own branded hoodie. A few caps. There's a schedule on the desk. I'll leave you to it. Please don't be late. You have a Zoom call with fans in approximately twenty three minutes. That's in the meeting room two doors down."

"I love how organised you are."

"Someone has to be."

Britta left him to get changed. Heading back to the Atrium where everyone was gathered, she smiled to herself. She really was one of the luckiest women in the world. He was the best boss. He expected the best, insisted on complete loyalty but he was also so friendly and easy going.