RACE 2 - Max Verstappen

104

Daniella was happy with the car's pace during the first free practice, giving her and the team hope for a good qualifying result later. After finishing the free practicing at the top three alongside Charles and Max, Daniella went back to the garage straight away. She had to go over a few things with her team before the qualifying session starts and also wanted to catch a short break.

"Handling your social media is very stressful," Myra said as the driver entered her motor home after a brief meeting with her team.

"I know, that's why I made you in charge of updating my insta and twitter," Daniella chuckled before taking off her racing suit as she wanted to relax a bit before the qualifying session. Usually, qualifying sessions are on Saturday, but because there is a sprint race this weekend it's been moved to Friday.

"All these celebrities in your DMs and still you ended up falling for Max," Myra commented as she couldn't help but check, and Daniella completely trust her so there is no issue.

"I just dated him," Daniella pointed out, throwing herself on the tiny bed. "Never fell for him," she lied, pretending the name of her ex or his memories doesn't bother her.

Myra hummed, not really believing the driver. She is aware of the bond Daniella and Max had and knows that sort of thing doesn't easily fade.

"Few footballers..actors...," Myra went through the unread DM list. "Some random people with the verified signs, seem like influencers, Dennis Hauger.."

"He is too young for me," Daniella replied as she closed her eyes for a few minutes, but still paid attention to Myra.

"And a Red Bull driver," Myra added. "Stay away from anyone that's related to that team."

Daniella didn't say anything but gave a thumbs up to the PR manager.

"Okay now I am jealous," Myra mumbled. "Marc Marquez and Fabio Quartararo too? And you didn't reply to any either of them?" Myra sounded surprised. "What is wrong with you?"

"Nothing is wrong with me," Daniella replied. "I was with Max when they DMed. Obviously, I was not going to reply to those flirty texts when I am with someone else," she explained.

"But you are not with Max now," Myra pointed out. "So what's stopping you from replying or flirting with them?"

***

Daniella passed the first two rounds of qualifying, the car pace promising her a top-three result once more.

"The session is red-flagged," Nate informed the driver. "Come back to the pit lane."

"What happened?" Daniella calmly asked as she slowed down like the rest of the drivers on the track and made her way back to the pit lane.

"It's Lewis.."

Daniella was surprised to hear that since Lewis rarely crash on his own.

She sat in her car in the garage as the engineers and mechanics made some slight modifications while Lewis' car was being removed from the track.

"P2 is a possibility so give your best shot," Nate encouraged her.

"Okay," Daniella nodded and slightly smiled under the helmet.

***

Daniella was on a flying lap, setting up one of the best lap times on the track currently. She was pushing herself and the car since she had confidence in the pace. The Ferrari driver and Red Bull drivers were warned by their respective teams about the Mercedes and were asked to increase their pace as well.

With only two and a half minutes to go, Daniella pushed the car too much and ended up going off the track and over the gravel, and then hitting the barricade.

The fans cheered as both the Mercedes after out of the qualifying session since most were supporting Red Bull.

"I am so sorry guys," Daniella apologized genuinely, feeling sad and guilty. "I pushed the car too much."

"Are you okay?" Nate asked, more worried about the driver than the car.

"Physically or emotionally?" Daniella sarcastically asked. "Cause physically I am fine, but emotionally I am destroyed."

"Drama queen."

***

After the huge disappointment, Daniella walked into the media pan. Her face expressed her thoughts and emotions. She was not in the right mood to answer all the questions and can already predict how the interviews are going to go.

"Hey.." Carlos softly said as he put his hand on her back, trying to comfort her. "Feeling okay?"

Daniella took a step away from him as there were dozens of cameras around and she didn't want any new drama circling her.

"Yeah..." she forced a smile and nodded. "P4 is not a bad start."

"That's good to hear," Carlos smiled. "Honestly, I don't know how you are doing it. If I was in your place I would have lost it."

Daniella opened her mouth to reply but closed it when she saw Max walking towards them. He ignored Carlos and just fixated his eyes on her.

"Can you just go one season without crashing?" Max asked the Mercedes driver, his tone coming out as rude.

"I try but my car and the gravels and barricades are like magnets," Daniella sarcastically replied. "Always attracting and pulling each other closer."

Daniella can clearly see the look of concern on Max's face, their eyes locked into each other.

"The crash was not her fault," Carlos said to Max, sounding defensive and rude on Daniella's behalf.

"It was."

"It was..."

Max and Daniella replied at the same time, which took Carlos by surprise.

Daniella forced herself to look away from Max and blinked a few times. She saw Myra giving her death glares as she is delaying the interviews.

"I have to go...Myra looks like she is going to kill me if I stand here any longer," she said to Carlos.

Carlos smiled and nodded while Max just glared as Daniella walked away. The Red Bull driver felt a spark as his and Daniella's hands briefly touched accidentally as she left.

The familiar touch after so many weeks took Max by surprise as his heart started beating faster. Unknown to him Daniella felt the same way but managed to mask it better.

"Stop looking at her like that," Carlos gave him a challenging look and a smirk. "She is not yours anymore."

**********

A/N: Dani crashed and qualified P4 for the sprint race. How do you think it will go for her?👀

We got a tiny Max x Dani moment. It's not much but it's something. Thoughts?🦁😅

Thoughts on Carlos? What do you think he should do?🌶👀

So....Dennis Hauger, Marc Marquez, and Fabio Quartararo are in Dani's DMs🤭 Thoughts? What if Dani replies to them?👀 (probably not going down that road)

Which other celebrities can you see sliding into Dani's DMs?