In the Spotlight (Max Verstappen - Book Two)

Chapter Thirty-Seven

"It's a disappointing result for you today isn't it?" Will asks me and I nod as I'm standing alone in the media pen, sipping lightly on my drink with Liv beside me holding her phone up to record the conversation.

"A DNF is never a good result so yeah, I guess disappointing is the right word," I tell him dryly and he chuckles awkwardly as I get distracted by the large board that is showing the race that is still going.

I had come out of the pits, having had a really good stop and was ready to work my way back through the pack to challenge George for first when at turn three, Piastri had turned in too early for the corner and put his front wheels into the side of my car, shunting me off the track and into a wall for what was quite a painful crash. And so the streak came to an end and I was doing media while I should be racing.

I feel Liv nudge me and turn my attention back to an amused Will and realise I must have zoned out watching the race. "Sorry, it's the first time I've gotten to see the race live in like a season and a half," I say smiling as I can't help but glance at the screen once again and see George in the lead, Charles and Lewis behind him and Max just exiting the pits now in the midfield, the only one of them to do a two stop this race.

"I can imagine it's distracting," Will says and I nod, tearing my eyes away from the screen and back to him. "Right, well, what can you say about the crash?"

"Not much to say on my side, I was hit by Piastri, shunted off track and had to retire from the race. I think he's gotten a penalty right?" I ask and Will nods.

"Five seconds," he informs me and my eyes open wide.

"Is that it? What the?...hmm..." I trail off as I try to collect my thoughts instead of word vomiting everywhere.

"Do you not think that's enough?"

"I mean...he took a likely 25/ 18 points from me today in doing so and what...he might lose one or two in exchange. I'm not sure that's entirely fair," I say and I feel Liv nudge me and so I try to lightly correct what I said. "However, that's what the FIA chose, nothing I can do about it now."

"You could appeal it?"

"I don't know, I'll need to talk to the team and Christian and see what they want to do...but honestly I don't think that's a proportionate response," I tell him and just hear Liv sigh from beside me. I hear some gasps beside me and my eyes immediately get drawn to the screen. There are seven laps left now and Max has caught up to the top three, however, he has much newer tires than all of them, although there's a gap to close between second and third and George in first. "C'mon Max," I mutter under my breath as I grip the metal barrier in my hand as I stare intently at the screen. "Wait for the right moment, not yet," I say as though I am talking right to him as I see him eye up Lewis's car. "Now go," I say and as if he heard me, he does, sending it down the inside and hitting the apex perfectly.

Into third.

I smile as I bring my attention back to Will. "That's nice to see, obviously the team still has one car in the race - do you want to see Max win?"

I look at Will incredulously. "Of course I do, not only are we teammates but Max is someone important to me. Of course, I want him to do well," I hear some ahh's just as I say this and step back from the barrier so that I can watch the screen, seeing Max gaining on Charles who wasn't far ahead of Lewis. I bite my bottom lip and bring a hand to my face as I watch him move right behind me before they head up the final straight. Max could still win this but he needed to get past Charles asap because George was a good five seconds ahead. He drives smart and stays right behind him all the way down the first straight and accepts the tow off him down to the third corner and finally makes his move on the DRS straight. "Whoo! Yes MAX!" I yell happily pumping my fist in the air as I pull Liv into a happy hug, completely forgetting the last few weeks and just focusing on watching my teammate do well. I turn back to Will who is laughing at me and I roll my eyes.