The Race Director's Daughter (Sebastian Vettel)

47. Everything Has Changed

"Leah, please try to stay calm. It will be ok.  Just hold my hand, keep your head down, don't stop for anyone, and remember to breathe," Seb told her as they prepared to get out of the car at the track on the Saturday morning in Belgium. 

Leah had opted to stay in Seb's motorhome on the Thursday and Friday while Seb had attended the track for his track walk,various media duties and for the first two free practice sessions.

Today was Qualifying day and Seb had made it clear that he would love her to accompany him.  She knew she couldn't avoid the track forever.  Seb deserved to have the support of his girlfriend.  The truth was though she was terrified of going there. 

They'd spent an amazing week together at Seb's house in Switzerland. She'd loved the place from the second she'd seen it. It was an old converted barn and she'd totally fallen for the rustic theme inside. She knew she would love living there. It was all happening so quickly, but Seb was adamant that he wanted her to make her permanent home there. She wanted that too. Seb was the one, of that she had no doubt. It was attending the races that was filling her with doubts. Well, not doubts as such, but fears and worries.

In Switzerland it had been just them, apart from when Antti was there. Now everything was going to change. Everyone would be watching them, fans, the press. It was all so daunting and Leah didn't know how she was going to cope. She was terrified if she was honest with herself.

She didn't know what she was most afraid of, seeing her dad or the media pestering them.  Once she'd been pictured with Seb someone was bound to recognise her and the shit was going to hit the fan.  She was just thankful that her hair had covered her face in the now infamous Chinese restaurant photo. It had delayed things, but she knew it was just a matter of time.

Normally Seb would have come in on his bike, but as Leah was there Antti had come by on his way from the hotel and picked them up in his loaned DBX. Britta was meeting them there. 

Seb got out of the passenger seat and opened the back door for Leah to get out. Then he grabbed his backpack out of the boot and swung it onto his back. Grabbing hold of Leah's hand, he turned to begin the short walk to the paddock.

It didn't take long for the gaggle of photographers that were gathered by the turnstiles to notice them. They'd all been hoping that Seb would turn up with his new love interest, but had almost given up hope after he'd arrived with just his trainer the previous two days.

Even though Seb was one of the veterans on the grid he was still a bit of a mystery to the press. In all his time in Formula 1 the only time he'd been seen with a woman at the track was a few races that Louisa Bachmann had attended when they'd been an item. 

Keith Martin, an Australian photographer who'd been snapping the drivers for more years than he could remember,  waited patiently, camera in hand.  He was one of the first to notice Seb approaching, holding the hand of the woman he'd been pictured with over summer break.  Bingo!

Every lens pointed at the couple.  Keith thought to himself that the woman looked familiar.   He was sure he'd seen her somewhere before.  

He began taking some close ups of her.  She was a pretty girl, with long caramel coloured hair.   Dressed in a long rust coloured gypsy style skirt and a denim jacket over a white vest she looked quite down to earth, not like the models and other celebrities that the drivers usually had hanging off of their arms. 

Keith took more photos as she slipped her sunglasses on.  Seb leant close to her, whispering something in her ear.

Once the couple had passed Keith began to look through his pictures.  Who was she?? It was really bugging him now.  He chose a few of the best photos to post on his Instagram account.  Perhaps one of his followers might recognise her.  Then he picked up his camera again,  ready to snap the next driver to arrive.