The encounter of a lifetime - Charles Lerclerc

Chapter 19

Tonight we are going to eat with the other pilots.  But only with some of the young people like Lando, Daniel, Pierre, Carlos, George and Alex. They are friends and often see each other on Grand Prix weekends. I can't wait to see them again because the last time I couldn't get to know them well. This time I have to force myself to talk a little with everyone.

We eat this time in the Ferrari hotel, in other words here. There is a classy restaurant and a kind of brasserie and we chose to go for the second option. Everyone wanted a rather relaxed evening. For the occasion, I therefore decided to wear dark blue jeans with holes in the knees and a t-shirt from a rock band. I'm not really a rock fan but I really like the style of these t-shirts. We go down with Charles and we join Carlos who is already seated at the table. The others arrive later.

I sit in the middle of the table, the last time I was near the edge and I really didn't talk to anyone. We decide to take small tapas dishes and share everything together so it's more convivial.
We all start to tell a little about childhood memories and we compare them, it's really funny and we learn more about the others. Daniel says that when he was young he was a fan of Britney Spears, he even knew the choreographies of her clips. He tells us what the 90s was like, he's the only one who was born in the 80s even though it was in 89. All the others were born in the second half of the decade.

Come the turn of Lando who tells us about his childhood in the English bourgeoisie. Then the turn of Charles who tells how his father transmitted his passion for motorsport to him. Everyone is moved because they know that his father has passed away.

Lando: Okay, Emma, we also want to know a story from your childhood. We are listening to you.
Carlos: Yes go ahead tell us everything.
Emma: Uh okay. Well, I was already born and have always lived in Switzerland. I have always been skiing since I was born, moreover I have a chalet in the mountains and I go there often. What else can I tell you... A few things that may be funny for you is that with my sister when we were little we watched all the grand prix together and we dreamed of one day go see one and now I'm here. So we can say that I realized my dream.
Carlos: Oh that's cool. Who does your sister support?
Emma: She supports Ricciardo.
Daniel: Ah finally a person with good taste. I
When will I meet this girl I can't wait to tell her she knows who to support.
Lando: In the meantime I always do better than you so I don't know if she tastes that good.
Daniel: Mh, the kid will calm down there. Where are his parents?
Lando: And when is the grandpa going back to the retirement home, huh?

He pats his shoulder and laughs. It's like that between Lando and Daniel, they say bad things to each other but they love each other a lot.

George: For me the important info that I retained is that you have a chalet in the mountains. When are you inviting us?
Emma: I would like to invite you but it's not a mansion huh. I don't have 170 rooms. On the other hand if once you want to go skiing no problem but maybe you should rent a house because you are a lot anyway. Especially since I think you'll each want your room.
Lando: Ah well yes clearly.
Pierre: On the other hand, you will have to go to the French Alps, not the Swiss ones, the Swiss suck.
Emma: Oulala we will calm down Pierre. If we go skiing we have to go to Switzerland, Switzerland is the country of skiing and fondue it's not negotiable and so I could show you a few things like for the moment I've been me in your world. You will have to find mine.
Pierre: Mh yeah if I come to Switzerland I want a ton of chocolate.
Emma: It can be arranged.

We finish our meal quietly while continuing to laugh all together. They are really all too nice, it makes me too happy to get closer to them.

***

Today is the grand prix, as usual I head to Charles' garage to watch it from there. I pass in front of the garages of the other teams and wish good luck to my new friends. I want them all to win the race but unfortunately it's not possible.
The race is quite calm. There are a few overruns but no accidents. In the end it's Carlos who wins, Charles is behind him he unfortunately had a problem during his pit stop, and in third place it's Pierre. I am really very happy for Pierre. He hasn't had much luck this year with his car, which is not in top form, so it's really nice to have a podium finish.

Tomorrow we are leaving with Charles for Japan. Next week the grand prix is happening there so we're going to take the opportunity to do a 2-day visit together before he has to go back to work. I can't wait because I've never been to this country. And Charles promised me that we could take advantage of this trip to talk about all the problems we had in Monaco. This trip promises a lot of luck.

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