Mystery in Red

Chapter XI - Side by side

16.Mar – Media Day at Jeddah

The long week after Bahrain finally came to an end. I had to visit Maranello a couple of times during the workdays, but it wasn't the same without Carlos and Charles there. A few people from the crew were keeping conversation with me. The most part of the team was still looking at me with a dismissive eye, even though I already was one of them. Maybe the contract wasn't the key thing to accept me as a part of the team. I was trying my best to impress them with my knowledge or abilities, but still didn't get a result. The same treatment, as my words were childish nonsenses. I had to change that, or it was going to destroy me.

#

It was a race week. Again. I was feeling the excitement in my bones, and I couldn't wait to go to the track and see the preparation process from its start till the end. It was my first whole week at the paddock as an official member of Scuderia Ferrari. Nice, ha? But was it so good as in my imagination, I was about to see.

I arrived at Saudi Arabia at the late night on 15th March. I travelled in one plane with the Senior Race engineer, the reserve driver – Robert Shwartzman and several members from the Alphatauri team. During the long flight with a transfer, I had the opportunity to get know better the colleagues from the rival's team and to have a brief talk with Robert. He was a nice guy but, nobody could compare with the company of my friends – Charles and Carlos. I really missed them and was looking forward to seeing them again. I didn't know why we were in separate flights, but Vasseur and Mekies were already there with them both, at the same day's morning. Sainz and Leclerc had found my number from somewhere, probably my CV was the source again, so I received a picture from Charles, of them both during the flight. They were so cute on it, and the little message "Write on us, when you arrive!" under the photo touched my heart even more.

But they didn't welcome us at the airport, there was only a driver sent from the sponsors, with a shuttle bus to the hotel. I felt a bit disappointed when I didn't saw my teammates on the arrival's terminal, but maybe it was better this way. If they were there, I wasn't going to be able to see them from fans wanting photos or autographs. I didn't judge the fan masses, even if I wasn't an employee but a fan, I was going to fight for a place near these nature works of arts.

This time I was at the same hotel with the drivers, and fortunately it was pretty close to the track, so at least I wouldn't need any transport services. Everything was overthought. The sponsors did their best for every team member. I had at my disposal a huge apartment with a big bedroom, shiny bathtub in the bathroom, large terrase with a view to the circuit, and a full minibar at the modern kitchen. Even the coffee machine wasn't for filtered coffee, but it was filled with fresh roasted coffee beans. Only because it was a late night, I didn't try it. The curtains that covered the large windows were remote controlled and I couldn't help myself and played for a little, trying to open and close them with the device. After I finished with the joy of some extremely luxurious, that I have never seen before, I turned the lights at the livingroom off and went at the bathroom to take a warm bath.

The water with bubbles fragranced of rose released my muscles and made me feel sleepy, so after I went out of the bathroom, I laid in my bed and immediately closed my eyes. Before fully falling asleep I took my phone and tried to write a message to one of my mates, but overthought fast and decided not to call none of them, they were probably already sleeping. Then I left my phone on the nightstand and wrapped in the sheets.

#

On the next morning I skipped the breakfast, because I was too excited for the upcoming working day, that I didn't feel hunger. It was going to be a long hot day, so I decided to put some clothes from the new Ferrari collection. I bought them a couple of days before my leaving from Italy, so I wanted to try them as soon as possible. My first "race week look" was composed from simple cotton shirt yellow dress with the emblematic "Prancing Horse" print, tightened in the waist and widened into a flowing fluid skirt, two inches under the knees. I put a black Ferrari belt to finish my vision, then combined everything with my favorite black high heeled boots and black leather purse. After that I put my hair in a braid, a light make-up on my face and my favorite perfume, and I was ready to go to the circuit.