My Only Rule

Part Four.

Overall testing went alright , the team was genuinely happy with the cars performance & heaps of data for strategies was recorded. The whole operation really felt like it was being built from the ground up. Only real experience in the heat of race weekend was yet to come ... the first race of the season in Bahrain. Over the span of testing I got to meet a lot of new people which included the other drivers. I had gotten to know my second driver a lot more. Mr Gasly, the experienced French driver, was announced as the first Porsche driver the year prior.

I haven't really explained my background, I was born and raised in Sydney Australia. With
a Father that had an avid enthusiasm for cars and motorsport and a mother that was an amazing hard working nurse. So if I had any cuts or bruises when I was a kid I was told to walk it off, hope she didn't treat all her patients that way. The full family picture did not include any siblings in fact my parents were split, 50% with dad and 50% with mum. I would not have had it any other way as they both seemed happier that way. I'm just grateful I had a family to support all the choices I have been able to make up until now. The day I told my dad about the opportunity to race with Porsche he broke into tears of joy because all our hard work had paid off. This was only the second time I had seen him cry , the first was when I took the podium for the W Series winning the W Series championship. F1 was a fantasy compared to the Wseries, the amount of media attention was insane. Once you stepped foot even near the Paddock all cameras and phones pointed at you.

The first Thursday media day rolled around with all groups for the sessions first panel were announced. I was in the last group with George Russell, Sebastian Vettel and Oscar. It was nice to have been placed with such established drivers and then there's Oscar ... he felt more like the little brother that was slightly too excited for everything.

"I was born for this" Oscar said, jumping nervously like an Olympic swimmer about to jump into the pool. Both George and Seb looked calm as anything, as I'm sure they have done this a million times before. I stood there nervously as well playing with whatever piece of fabric I could find on our team shirts. Daniel had come from the stage spotting us standing waiting.

"Dont look so nervous" he spoke to me in passing,

"you will kill it" he also winked which immediately made me blush.

"Last group!"

We were all ushered onto the small platform and into our seats. Oscar sat to my right followed by George then Seb.
The panel started with the usual questions of everyone's excitement and predictions for the season to come.

"Marilyn, now you have gotten to know most of the grid, have there been stand out personalities?"

One of the interviewers asked, it was not a racing question but I'll answer it I thought to myself.

"I seemed to really get along with Oscar and Daniel. I mean its no surprise they were all Aussie." I answered with a smile.

"Must be good having others to relate to on the grid, would you say you feel like a fish out of water being the only female out on the grid?"

I huffed slightly as I really was going to have to get used to these "only girl" questions.

"Its all about skill and dedication in the sport , I don't feel it matters whether I was female or not"

The panel continued with nearly all questions focused on me which felt odd as there were three other talented drivers on this panel.
Leaving the panel off the side of the small platform I spoke to Amanda asking if everything was well and if every answer was okay.

"It was a little hard to watch a poor other drivers either talking about you or you talking poor things ... but yes all answer were perfect"

...

The following day was FP1 and FP2 but first was the driver parade. Hoping on the back of what seemed to be a large truck with a standing platform wedged on the back was set up for us to board. As I was getting on I spotted two groups forming on each side of the standing platform. My eyes met with Max as he stood with the group to the right. He gave me a small smile continuing his conversation with his teammate Checo.

"Marilyn!" Perrie yelled from the group standing to the left, thank god.

Making my way towards them, two papaya boys and one Ferrari boy greeted me with a smile.

"I was told you need to be front and centre" Gasly continued.

I chuckled making my way past the others "Ah Okay".

Going round the track waving at the crowd, it really was impressive the amount of support this sport gets. As the parade came to an end I was last to come off of the truck. Stepping down from the truck my hand met another to help me down, I looked up to see Max Verstappen holding my hand. I swiftly let go as I reached the ground. Most of the group had left to go back to their garages from practice so there werent many people around.

"It's good to see you" he said in his Dutch accent.

"Well thank you kind sir" I said in a joking manner trying not to make this awkward. I haven't seen him this close in so long, the stubble on his face seemed real.

"No problem, any time" he just smirked.

A soft silence kind of fell upon the conversation as we both looked at each other not really knowing what to say. God I didn't want to be stuck staring into his ocean blue eyes but they felt so comforting.

"Are we having a staring contest" an Aussie voice broke our gaze as Daniel walked up behind us.

Max and I broke away from each other kind of awkwardly huffing and both speaking simultaneously "No".

"I've got to get back to my garage for testing sorry boys" I said in a blur moving to walk away from this very awkward situation.  What the hell was that Marilyn you said to yourself you would try to act natural and not freeze up. As I was walking away I looked back, yes a dumb decision...I looked back I could see the back of Daniels head talking to Max and Max looking in my exact direction.

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Longer chapter this time! Been working on making them longer, I feel longer chapters are so much better. Hope you enjoyed- Maddie :)