Red Silver

S2.C3 - Red flag (Jeddah)

The next week we are already racing again, round two, Jeddah.
"Isn't it strange?" Lewis asks while we are both getting ready
"What?"
"You and me, here. Last year we met here"
"It isn't strange. Do you want a water bottle?" I say joking, he gets the reference and starts laughing
"Have you seen Angela?"
"Nope" I say getting closer and giving him a little kiss "I'd love to stay here but I have a reunion with the team and you have that sponsor presentation"
"Mh too bad, see you tonight then?"
"Yes"

L- Where are u? It is 1 am-
L-Isabelle?-
L-It is 2 am where the fuck are you?-

I enter the hotel room at almost 3 am.
"Isabelle!" I hear Lewis screaming "Where were you? I have been texting you for two hours, I was worried"
"My phone died a couple of hours ago and I didn't even notice it till now, reunion was longer than expected"
"I called Luke and he said the reunion was over by 11pm but you stayed there working"
"I had to finish a thing" I say touching my notebook
"You can't work like that"
"I can and I have to, do you wanna win? Do you wanna a good car?"
"I want you not to burn out for this job"
"I am not"
"You are" he raises his voice again then he takes a deep breath and gently says "you are, little star. Now come to sleep"
I don't say anything, I am too tired to say anything, I change and lay down next to him in the bed falling asleep in just a couple of minutes.

On Friday I arrive at the paddock with Lewis and we both go straight to a meeting with the rest of the team.
"There have been more changes to the car" says Toto, I sit down near to Lewis and grab a pair of headphones, my hands are shaking a little because of the just few hours of sleep I got lately.
"I ask both drivers to consult their engineer before the first free practice to have a closer look to the changes, now we need to talk..." I look at Lewis, he takes my hand and put it on his lap giving me a little smile.

"The car is even better than last week! What did you guys do?" Asks George at the end of the day
"Do you like it?" I say taking my headphones off
"Love it"
"I'm happy" I say and grabbing my bottle it slips from my hand and hit the floor
"Isabelle? You ok?"
"Yes, why?" I pick up my bottle and drink
"Nothing, you just look tired" he says touching my shoulder
"I'm fine" I smile "Now go, the debrief will start soon"

On Saturday after the quali I go out from the motorhome and walk a little in the paddock.
"Heard the nice new car shape is your idea" Max appears from behind me.
"Not completely true, we are a team, the team did"
"Mh" he turns to me "We will be your next team I heard"
"From?"
"Christian"
"Sorry to inform you but no, you won't be my team, I gently decline the offer"
"I thought so" I look at him "I mean you and Lewis, c'mon you won't leave him"
"He's just one of the many reasons"
"Anyway when you are ready to win not races but championships we are over there" he says indicating the RedBull motorhome
"Can't say the same because we have our drivers and no free seats but when you want to see how to win clearly you can look over there" I say smiling and indicating our motorhome "bye Max"

The race is awful, a second red flag, I turn around and see George rushing inside the garage not really happy with our strategy decision of pitting early.
"I go just a second outside" I say to Luke
"5 minutes" he says and I nod.
I walk outside the garage and go to Lewis car, he is not the kind of man you want to disturb when he is in his zone so I just wave at him and he smiles back, I look at the RedBull cars on the pit lane and walk to them. I look at the front wing looking for a small detail that is driving me crazy lately

"Isabelle"
"Mr Horner"
"Watching your future car?"
"Pretty sure this is not W15"
"Nice joke but I know you received my offer"
"Yes and I am sure Max told you I said no"
"We'll make sure you change your mind"
"I don't think so" I say playing with the wire of my headphones
"When we will be the champions again maybe"
"I am not that kind of woman and I am not even sure you'll be the champions this year"
"Love, love is a stupid thing"
"Love is the reason why you are fighting and not just getting that championship so I guess it must be stupid for you"
"I prefer you now, at your full potentials"
I look at him not sure then I give a last look to their car and finally see the detail I was looking for "Bye Mr Horner"

Lewis wins, the crowd goes wild and the garage does too. The celebrations are over very quickly and all soaked in champagne we go back to take down the garage.

"How did he do that?" I hear the scream from the near garage "How the fuck"
Horner enters the garage as I am still chatting with a colleague and grab my shoulder "What did you do?"
"What?"
"Before the red flag he was slower than Max and suddenly he is too fast for Max, What did you do?"
"I am sorry but I haven't done anything, we just went to full power mode"
"You were looking at our car"
"I was, yes, and that's not illegal"
"Watch your actions miss" he says pointing his finger to my face
"Excuse me, Christian I ask you to step back and exit this garage" Toto comes from behind and gently pull me away from Horner.
"Toto, she..."
"She is fine and she is with me, so please go"
Christian exits the garage angrier than how he entered it.
"You good?" Toto asks me
"Yes, yes, I don't know..."
"He is angry, not everyone says no to a job offer like the one he did to you"
"I was going to tell you"
"I know but next time call right away, ok?"
"Yes"
"Perfect, now let's go home"