To fly you only need two wheels

thankful

*Marc*

The interviews had been emotional, kind of. It had felt good to be the winner once again and to talk about the race with a smile, rather than in pain once again over a crash.

I had had tears in my eyes over and over again and had fought really hard against letting them run free. I hadn't wanted to cry in front of the press, but when I got back to the pits and my whole team started clapping, I couldn't keep the tears in. Alex and Dad were there, too. My heart sank and I started to cry.

My brother was the first to give me a hug.

An infinitely heavy stone fell from my heart. I had hoped so much to win again someday, had worked so much for it, given everything for it and today it had finally come true.

All the work had paid off.

But it wasn't my work alone. It had been the work of all the people here. Many more people who had accompanied me on my way and it felt so good to finally be able to enjoy a victory again.

Alex hugged me tightly and patted me on the back before letting go.

Dad took me in his arms with a warm smile. He patted me on the back, then I could hear him sobbing too "I told you you'd make it back someday.".

He really had. He had always encouraged me to keep going, to keep fighting when it had been darkest around me.

"Thank you.", I sobbed "But I only have my team to thank for this.", I lifted my head and looked at my crew who were now starting to grin "I could never have done this without you.", I lowered my head a little "This is your victory. Our victory. A team victory.", I said and those words had perhaps never been so honest as they were now.

I could still have ridden as good as I wanted today, if the bike hadn't fit as 100% as it had, if the strategy hadn't been so 100% tuned to me, I certainly wouldn't have made it.

Otherwise, it had always been more of an individual sport for me. I was racing against the rest of the grid. But this time I had relied on my team. I relied on them to give me the right tactics, to set up the bike the way I needed it, to guide me. That Kari was guiding me.

I had trusted her so blindly that it surprised me myself. I was actually so critical and questioned everything.
Not with her. I had trusted her and my trust had been more than rewarded. It had been her words that had guided me. Her voice that had led me to victory in the sprint and race.

Her.

Immediately my eyes searched for her, but there was no sign of her or Leo. I would look for the two as soon as I had time, because they had the lion's share in my victory and I would thank them for it.

But first I opened a bottle of champagne and drank to the victory with the whole team. It was a liberating feeling.

"Great race, man," I winced a little when I heard the familiar voice behind me.

Max Verstappen was standing behind me, along with Charles Leclerc. The two of them nodded before we hugged briefly. I couldn't hide the confused look towards them though.

"We're here because of Kari. Or through Kari." laughed Charles "We came with her brother Pierre."

"She didn't tell me," I said, amused.

"She didn't know about it until after the race either." laughed Max, then shrugged "But we couldn't miss it.".

A smile slipped across my lips "She really is brilliant.", I nodded.

"Oh don't tell her that." laughed Max "She can't take that kind of praise, then we'll never catch her again."

"I already told her a couple of times this weekend. Without her, no chance.", I said and was absolutely convinced of it.