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valshumacher: Early birthday celebration before the race next week! Forever grateful for @mercedesamgf1 for giving me this opportunity. Car felt great during testing, so here's to my first F1 racing weekend :)
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mickshumacher: Happy birthday to the best sis in the world, I'm so proud of you!
valchumacher: love ya mickster🤓
lewishamilton: Happy early birthday Valerie! Excited to race with you this weekend
valshumacher: ❤️
VALERIE
To walk the paddock as a Formula 1 driver is so different. I get to walk to the Mercedes section, full of pride. All my hard work had led up to this, to the 2022 season. I'm staring at the building in awe, when someone walks straight into me. The navy blue top is undeniable, it was Max Verstappen. And he had just rammed into me, no "sorry" or "excuse me". Guess beating Lewis last year really got to his head.
The first thing I have to do is film a PR video with Lewis, and after that there's even more PR stuff. It's not like I hated it, but it was repetitive. Luckily I was put in a room with Mick, I'm happy that I get to do this journey with him.
"Uh questions for Valerie," a journalist starts, "How do you plan on living up to your fathers legacy?" I laugh slightly into my microphone,
"Haven't all these questions been used up on Mick already?" I joke, "But um no, I don't. My father's legacy isn't one I want to live up to, it's one I want to cherish while still making my own." Mick smiles at my response and I know I've said the right thing.
After the PR stuff I'm hanging out with Mick and Esteban, we're just chatting about how we expect the season to go.
"Wish they made the Mercedes black, I deserved a black Mercedes!" I whined,
"Hey, at least you get a Mercedes," Esteban jokes.
I'm chilling in my drivers room but get bored and go to visit Lando. He's probably my closest friend on the grid, other than Mick. We've raced against each other in karting days and F2.
"I'm really nervous," I admit to him,
"You'll be fine," he replies, "just don't go thinking you're going to win the race, because you will be let down,"
"Obviously, but I would like to win some points,"
"Maybe you'll be a Hamilton prodigy,"
"Praying he sends me his skills," and I place my hands together as if I was actually praying.
A few days later, we had quali. I managed P9, which I was really happy about. Charles got P1 so I congratulated him, but I heard someone speak to me,
"No congrats for me, Schumacher?" I turn my head to see who that was,
"Verstappen..." I say,
"Does a P2 and a championship not deserve a simple 'congrats'" he smirks,
"Sure, congrats," I say walking away with Charles, "Please beat that asshole this year, I don't think I have it in me to do it myself."
Even more PR was required after qualifying. How much PR can a girl handle?
"How are you feeling about pace in the car and the race tomorrow?" a reporter asked me,
"Pace is great and for the race I'm sure we'll score points on both cars," I replied. I would get questions like that, the ones related to racing, but I'd also get ones like,
"Since both Michael and Mick are blond, why are you a brunette?" and I couldn't believe it...
"I am blonde... I just dye my hair," he seemed unimpressed by my answer.
I lie in my hotel room, freshly showered scrolling on Instagram. Every post liked by Pierre Gasly, but then I got the strangest notification:
maxverstappen1 started following you.
maxverstappen1 liked your post
maxverstappen1 commented on your post: Didn't know it was your birthday, happy early birthday.
