Something Gained

Chapter One Hundred & Twenty One

Abu Dhabi. It was a beautiful place, and always held the final race of the season. Currently, Daniel and Max were level on points, it all came down to this final race. I had never been more on edge in my life, so I couldn't imagine how Daniel felt. The last two weeks he had upped everything. His nutrition, his fitness, his reflexes, his mentality. He was fully focused.

I drove myself, Daniel, Blake and Michael into the car park of the track for race day. I reversed the car into the space and Michael and Blake got out of the car straight away, Michael collecting Daniel's things. He sat beside me in the car and I pulled at his arm as he went to get out, he turned to face me with a smile, but a questioning look.

"Dan..." I started speaking

"Lex..." he replied, it made my laugh a little

"Whatever happens today, I love you insanely and we're going to have the best Christmas. But you have got this, you have done the most incredible job all season and I just know we'll be leaving this paddock tonight in a good place" I said, he stroked my cheek with his thumb, his eyes glistening with what I only hoped was happiness

"How do you know?" He asked

"Because I believe in you. I know you, and you have got this" I said to him

"I love you" he said, I smiled and we both got out the car. I had a lot to plan for the FIA ball in Paris for Lando and Daniel, because whatever happened, they would both be there, I just hoped it was with the best possible outcome. I set Sophie and Ben to work as soon as I stepped into the McLaren building and got myself working to finish off everything before the madness descended.

"Michael?" I called as I saw him pass the office I was in. He stopped and smiled before stepping inside the door way.

"What's up?" He asked, he walked in and sat down opposite me.

"Is it weird that I'm scared? And nervous"

"Want to know something?" He asked, I nodded "I am to" I let out a sigh of relief. "But I have so much faith, he's ready for this and this is about to be the greatest day we've ever had around a racetrack"

"I just don't know how to act" I laughed "I'm a wreck"

"Well if you've been like that all weekend, then you're hiding it well" Michael chuckled "come on, let's get some coffee and chill" he said

"Oh those magic words" I laughed, I sent my email and stood up and followed Michael out. Trying to put myself at ease, one thing I was grateful of was that Michael said I seemed to be hiding my nerves well, the last thing I wanted to do was be worrying Daniel. Of course I did believe in him, and his abilities. But there was also so many variables and that's where my nerves came from, but I only hoped it all worked in his favour today.

I stood in the garage, my own headphones over my ears to hear the radio and protect them from the noise. On my right was Blake and Michael, who had Ben and Sophie and Jon beside them. On my left was Daniel's family, his parents and his sister. Michelle's husband was in hospitality with Issac and Isabella, as it was safer for them to not be in the garage. Chloe had already text me as well, as she was here with Scotty in the Aston Martin garage for Chloe's brother Lance.

The race had already begun, Daniel started second, right behind Max, Lewis behind him. On the start, Max had an issue which allowed Daniel straight through to take first. Lando managed to push through as well and was now behind Daniel, with Lewis behind him, and with Max behind Lewis. But it gave me hope, Lando would defend and help Daniel push his way through the race.

A safety car was deployed with ten laps to go, due to Charles spinning off which was unusual for him. But it enabled Daniel to make a pit stop for fresh tyres and keep him out in first, the idea was to have Lando pit behind him and keep up the defence but a bad stop, even under a safety car meant he come out behind Max and Lewis. Now Daniel had to defend with his life. I was full of nerves, without Daniel here to calm me, it meant that everything I had been feeling had come to the surface, there was yelling from the garage constantly, Michelle and I were holding hands, almost praying.

"Five laps to go Daniel, five laps"

"Four laps, four laps to go. You're holding strong, gap to Verstappen 0.5 seconds"

"Three laps to go Daniel, Verstappen 0.4 behind

"Verstappen 0.2 behind, two laps to go Daniel, two laps"

"Daniel this is the last lap. Verstappen 0.2 behind, keep pushing. Last lap"

One hand clutched onto Michelle, the other was at the collar of my McLaren polo, playing with a button. Yelling from everywhere, a sea of orange was on its feet in the garage. Lando was p4. Daniel was p1. As it stood, he would win the race, and the championship. My foot was tapping against the shiny floor. The same message in my head replaying. "Come on Danny"

These last laps felt like the longest space of time, but the very last lap felt like years, as I watched the orange car on the screens, Daniel's helmet bobbing along as he turned the steering wheel, following the track, almost perfectly, I had watched enough racing to know how good his lap was, of course I was no engineer but I knew. I could feel it. But having said that, Daniel was defending against his main rival, that at any moment could seize his opportunity and pass him by, becoming the winner himself. I was a mess, I looked up at Michael and his eyes were staring at the screen, I felt like I couldn't watch. But I had to. I had to see him do it. I couldn't forgive myself if I didn't see everything.

This morning I woke up a bag of nerves, a focus on today, my job and doing as much as I could to make sure Daniel was in a good place, make sure he had everyone around him that he needed, regardless of the outcome. Now I was stood in garage, feeling like I was going to throw up. I prayed and prayed it all worked in his favour, and so far it was, the car was perfect, the drive was perfect, the conditions, the opportunities, the strategy, and most importantly, the one and only Daniel Ricciardo was perfect. I couldn't imagine what he was thinking right now, if he was even thinking at all, he was probably doing everything from muscle memory, adrenaline pumping through him and fuelling him for the gruelling drive that held so much pressure on his shoulders.

But now, Daniel rounded the second the last corner and Max locked up a little, increasing the gap a little between himself and my main man. I knew then, for certain what was about to happen, I just knew. Michelle knew it to, she squeezed my hand and we shared a look before I saw everyone dive out of the garage, across the pit lane to the wall, climbing on the fence to welcome him home. Pride bubbled up slowly inside of me, from my belly all the way up through my arms, my fingertips and buzzing in my head. I felt like I was on an adrenaline rush.

When I saw the line, and saw Daniel approaching. Max had no chance now, Dan was about to win the race. Which meant he was about win the only thing he had dreamed of winning so he first knew what a go kart was. I heard him tell so many people before, I heard stories from him and his family before about how much they had done to make this life happen. The sacrifices they made for Daniel, and the sacrifices he made himself. He fell in love with racing from his dad, and they made sure he could do what he wanted to do, he moved away from home at a young age to make this come true, and now his dreams were becoming a reality, to be recognised amongst one of the greats.

"For the first time in his career, the championship is going down under. Daniel Ricciardo crosses the line and becomes a Formula One World Champion. 2022 what a year it has been for the Australian and McLaren, solidifying a second place victory in the constructors championship!"