You forever ClxMv Lestappen

Spa

Max was looking forward to Spa. He had a new teammate called Alex a
Albon. He knew Alex pretty well and was good friends with him.

We had just finished qualifying and I was telling the media about how our day had gone. That's when it happened.

Growing up on race tracks you become accustomed to the sound of incidents. After all it wasn't uncommon that there was an incident in another race while you were in the garage waiting for your next race. Most feeder series had multiple races and multiple classes of car at one track.

This time was different Max knew immediately. The horrible sound of carbon fiber and metal hitting the wall and then hitting other cars seemed to go on forever. Still it wasn't like Max hadn't witnessed bad accidents before. He told the reporter that he hoped the driver was ok and left to do his debrief with him team.

Eventually someone had turned on a tv in the debrief room and a solem commentator was reading out a statement from the Fia. To put it simply Antoine Hubert had been killed in a crash at the top of eau rouge. An f2 driver. Max of course felt bad after all racing was a small community and it was very uncommon something like this happened these days. Still he hadn't really known Antoine so he thought it better to go back to his motorhome and let things calm down a bit before he asked any questions. He had looked up the name and seen Antoine was french and also pictures of him with Pierre. Max tried to call Pierre but there was no answer so he quickly texted him to ask how he was feeling. He had decided to get ready to leave as the atmosphere around was horrible and he wanted to get away from it. Just as he was packing some things there was a knock at the door.

*Charles pov*
The last 45 minutes had been a rollercoaster of every single emotion. I had been in a debrief with my team when Mattia had called me outside. He put a hand on my shoulder and told me "Charles Antoine Hubert has been killed, I'm sorry I know you were friends with him". I felt numb I didn't know what to say, it was as if someone had punched me and I couldn't breathe. Why did this stupid world have to take everyone from me? I had been friends with Antoine a long time ago. I hadn't seen him for a while but it still hurt more than I ever thought it would. How could something like this happen? F2 cars were meant to be almost as safe as F1 cars. I had tried to find Pierre but I couldn't see him or Esteban anywhere. People were crying in the paddock and I just stood there like an idiot. The scarlet red of my Ferrari t shirt wet with drops of tears. I knew Max would be in his motorhome and I needed to be with someone right now. People left me alone probably not knowing what to say as I walked to Max's motorhome. I got there and knocked on the door

**
Max opened the door and there he was. He hadn't even thought about Charles. But there he was looking in so much pain.

*Max pov*

Charles said "Mm-Max can I-i be here please" tears streaming from his eyes now. I grabbed him and wrapped him in a tight hug, I didn't really know what to say, I just kept saying "Im sorry Charles it will be ok"over and over again. I sat him down on the sofa and stayed hugging him letting him cry against me. I was on the edge of tears now aswell but I needed to be strong for my friend. Eventually Pascale Charles mom turned up at the door. She had been looking for him and looked like she had been crying as well. Charles looked up and whispered "Thank you Max" before almost running over to his mom who brought them both outside and away.

I stayed there for about 15 more minutes and shed a few tears for Antoine as well. I finished packing my things and went back to my hotel. There was still a race tomorrow.