The Limit (Sebastian Vettel)

54. First Race Nerves

Lily felt sick.   She'd never felt this sick before a race before.  She knew it was nerves, and not something she'd eaten. 

She felt her stomach churning, invisible hands inside her twisting her intestines until she wanted to scream out loud.  

The day had come.  Finally she'd be racing in the red of Ferrari.  

She sat on the edge of the sofa in her driver room, her elbows on her thighs, her face in her hands.   She was already sweating from the heat and in just ten minutes she'd have to go to take the car out to the grid.  

She'd been absolutely fine throughout Free Practice, and even through quali, which had seen her qualify in eighth.  She'd even been fine during the driver parade just minutes earlier. It was when she had zipped her race suit up ready to go to the garage that everything had hit her like a double decker bus.  

"Lily, Lily, come on.   It's time."  She could hear Luca's voice, but she couldn't respond.  She was thinking of her dad.  

He'd won his championships with McLaren, but he'd also had four years driving for Ferrari.  He'd won ten races for them.  Could she do as well as him?   According to the press, no.  She was a girl, not mentally or physically strong enough to fight for victories.  Plus, also according to the press, she was there as a number two driver, wing woman to il Predestinato, Charles Leclerc. 

She had no idea how much time past, but she soon heard Luca's voice again, although this time he was talking to someone else. 

"She's not responding. I don't know what's up with her.   You have to talk to her. I didn't know what else to do."

"Lily, Lils, I'm here."   She heard her brother's voice and felt his arm go around her as he sat down next to her.   "I have to be in the garage in five minutes.  I can't stay.  Please speak to me."

"Dad," she said, her voice cracking with emotion.  "I....he drove for Ferrari.   What if I fail?  What if I tarnish the Scott name?"

"What a load of bollucks.  You're not some wet behind the ears rookie.  Ferrari believe in you.  I believe in you.  Dad believed in you.  You need to believe in yourself."

"The press...."

"Talk bollucks.  You're mentally strong enough.  You're physically fit enough.  The only thing holding you back is yourself."

Lily lifted her head and looked at him.   "Do you honestly believe that?"

"Yes," Joel said without hesitation.  "Firstly, Ferrari wouldn't have given you the seat if they didn't believe in you.   They ditched a four time world champion for you.   Secondly, your results speak for themselves.   You've won F3, F2, and had a couple of podiums in the tractor Haas gave you.   And lastly, because I know you Lily.  You're the most driven, determined, competitive person I've ever  known, not to mention the most stubborn. You've come through so much, and you've always come out fighting.  This will be no different.  You will fight and you will show everyone who Lily Scott really is."

Lily took a deep breath and released it.   Was Joel right?

"Plus you're starting behind Seb and I know full well you won't want him getting the better of you," Joel added, knowing the mention of the German driver would fire her up.

Lily shot to her feet, proving Joel's theory right.  There was no way she was going to crumble before  she'd even started a race.    She was here to fight, here to win, here to show Sebastian Vettel just who she was. 

"You ready now then?" Luca asked from the doorway.  Lily nodded and grabbed hold of her Ferrari water bottle.  Luca walked over to the table and grabbed her HANS and her blue and silver helmet.