Is this a love story?

DNS

Daniel

"Right come on" Jess tells me ushering me out of the garage, we're about to go on the drivers parade at Silverstone. It's race day and I'm feeling quite unsure about it, call it a gut feeling. I shake the thoughts free and spot Lando waiting in the pitbox "hey mate" he tells me with a grin "sup! Ready for points today?" I ask him and he chuckles "well it would be nice no?" He questions back and I nod "it really would" he grins at me as we join the other drivers. I make my way over to Max "hiya mate" he greets me with a clap on my back "how's Mia this morning?" He asks and I can't lie "I actually haven't had a chance to see her today, she left early due to an issue so I haven't spoken to her" Max's eyebrows furrow as he processes "well at least she still has her team with her, I'm being frozen out" I chuckle "exactly the same happened to me, it gets better once you leave" he nods "I'm sure it does, thanks for helping me make my decision" he smiles and I know working with Ferrari and Mia will do him the world of good, she didn't make this offer due to Charles as everyone would believe, she did it for Max. Redbull is a toxic environment, I know from experience and he needed a reasonable out.

Mia

Life really hasn't got back to normal since announcing Max in the team. I find myself wondering if it was such a good idea. Christian Horner has been riding him about leaving and I'm not the one starting to feel guilty. Daniel keep saying to me it's the best thing that could've happened for Max, however I know he's going to have a race winning championship contender in car and a chance to start afresh with a team that doesn't have the history with him that RedBull does. But the media backlash has been ridiculous and he is telling me that his own team aren't willing to talk to him about anything, we are only midway through the season! Charles is also giving me angry looks in the garage every time I am inspecting the cars, I just don't understand why he can't see it my way, I gave up my home and my marriage so that he could be happy but I am the boss of Ferrari and he needs to learn that. I shake my head stepping out onto the grid to see everyone on Charles car squirming around the car "what's going on?" I ask as I quickly make my way over "issue with the MGU-K" Francesco tells me and I let out a sigh "can we get it changed before the race starts?" I ask them quickly and I get shakes for heads and some quiet "no" said from the engineers. Fuck. The drivers are already on the national anthem. "Okay we need to get this car out of the way, now" I say as a member of the FIA comes over "issue?" He asks and I explain "right this car needs to leave the grid" I nod seeing my team packing away the equipment and starting to get the car ready for transport. I see Charles and the other drivers heading to the cars and he gives me a confused look "we have to retire the car" I tell him and he shakes his head "I see, couldn't get it fixed?" I shake my head "complete MGU-K failure, that's what you felt on the way to the grid box" he nods "I knew something was off. Right" he walks off back towards the garage and I see Daniel looking at me confused "what's going on?" He mouths "broken!" I mouth back and he nods "sorry" he mouths back to me as I'm leaving the grid. Time for the race to begin.

Charles

"This is all such a joke" I complain to Charlotte "it's not your fault or the team these things happen" she tries to comfort me but I realise I don't want her here, I want Mia. I let out a groan before getting to my feet "I had better support Carlos" I tell her and she nods "see you later?" she asks me and I give her a quick kiss on the head. I walk back out into the hospitality seeing the race on the screens. Carlos is leading from Lewis and George. I sigh. That should've been me. I let my feet carry me into the garage and see Mia on the pit wall, her foot tapping nervously. I know that she needs this win, for the team. I see Francesco taking my car apart "can we have everything sorted by the next race?" I ask and he smiles "of course, sorry about today man" he tells me and I have no hard feelings "no one's fault" I say and he gives me a small smile "can I help at all?" I ask him and he looks surprised "Uhm the bargeboard needs unscrewing" I accept the task and seat myself under the car focusing on the task instead of the race.

Lewis won. Carlos P2 and George P3. I shake my head it's better than 3rd but I know Mia will be disappointed even if she doesn't say it. I head towards the podium to stand with the team. I see Mia talking to Daniel as he gets out of his car. He pulls her in for a hug and I can feel the ache in my chest. I do regret everything. She was exactly who I needed but at the time she wasn't what I wanted, she was just as career driven as me and that scared me, I thought I wanted someone with less commitments but I know that I'm wrong.

"No Charles, I want to work my way up" I shake my head "Mia, there will always be engineering jobs, this seat is my one chance" she shakes her head "why does it have to be a you or me situation?" She asks me and I don't have an answer "well, Ferrari needs to be my team and not more important than our relationship" we have been clashing over the treatment of Seb this year. Obviously as his race engineer she can tell that the team is backing me. I love Seb but I need to be putting myself first and I need my fiancé to be doing the same. I was never in doubt from the moment I met her that she was my future but now I'm not certain. Charlotte called me the other day to see how I was getting on and it was refreshing to talk about my life without the other person already knowing exactly what is going on. I sigh "look, I want my future with you, I want to be with you forever but I have to put my career first and I need you to be putting us first" she lets out a harsh laugh "it's not my responsibility only to keep us together! We both need to be putting in the work Charles." She gets up and walks upstairs and I just can't believe she can't see it my way.

I see her with Daniel and I see what we should've had. What would've worked but I couldn't look past my career to see her fitting in and making it better. I love her still, I always will but I can't undo my mistakes and I know she will be a tough one to get back. I shouldn't want her, not now, not after she gave Max my seat. I feel the anger swell but then she smiles as she walks over to me and it all washes away "thank you for staying. It means a lot especially as you helped your team out" I didn't realise she already knew about that "as you said we are a team" she grins at me "I'm sorry about today, you should've won this race" she tells me and honestly I'm surprised she is offering compliments "thanks Mimi it means a lot" I see her nose scrunch at my old nickname for her and I decide to not mention it "well I will see you at Maranello on Tuesday for your stint on the Sim" I nod and she says goodbye before heading to debrief in the garage. I want to hate her but I can't, she is the only person who has slightly lifted my spirits today

A/N

Terrible race for Ferrari but there is a big twist coming. Charles isn't over Mia but she is moving on, how far will he go?