Julia Erin Wolff is daughter of Toto Wolff, team principal of Mercedes. As a result, she grew up mostly in paddocks or travelling with her parents and always felt a certain connection to driving and F1. Now, when it's time to be on her own, she deci...
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Saturday started off rather uneventful, being my day-off. I reluctantly opened my eyes around nine in the morning, greeted by the radiant rays of sunshine flooding my hotel room, tempted to stay in bed for another hour. After completing my skincare ritual, I picked out the perfect outfit for the day and applied a touch of makeup. The next stop was my favorite spot in the hotel, the dining hall. The sight of the fruit-filled islands, the alluring cereal bar, and the waffle machines always left me in awe. Every year, my dad would go absolutely crazy, anxiously waiting for me to join him after he had already finished his breakfast, while I peacefully took my sweet time picking out my own. As expected, this year didn't fail to amaze me, leaving me in awe once again. So, I guess you could say my morning turned out to be quite eventful after all.
"Julia!" a familiar voice called out, and I turned to see Lando waving at me from a nearby table where Daniel, Esteban, and Alex were sitting. A wide grin spread across my face as I made my way over to them and greeted everyone. Lando greeted me with an warm hug, making me feel even more at ease and grateful that I didn't sleep in.
"If you're looking for breakfast recommendations, Juli, you have to try these waffles. They're absolutely delicious," Lando playfully suggested. However, his words became a blur to me as a swarm of butterflies fluttered inside my stomach when he called me "Juli."
"Yeah, absolutely!" I blurted out, "It's my go-to breakfast here, always!"
"Great, I'll come with you! Second round of waffles, here I come!" Lando exclaimed, making me smile. Oh no.
During this breakfast, I had the chance to learn about Daniel's journey into racing and listened attentively to Alex's heartfelt speech, praising his girlfriend Lily. However, the highlight of the morning came when Lando and I exchanged numbers, with the understanding that we could reach out to one another for hangouts or support whenever needed. Honestly, I was taken aback by how quickly we formed such a close bond. Adding to my surprise, he excitedly suggested adding me to a group chat with other drivers, assuring me that I would absolutely love it. The idea of finally being part of such an exclusive circle filled me with pure excitement.
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For both FP3 and qualifying sessions, I decided to join my dad in the garage. I was thrilled with the overall results as Mercedes secured 4th and 5th place, and my friends Max, Carlos, and now Lando, ended up taking 1st, 6th, and 7th place in FP3. The excitement grew even more when Carlos clinched his very first pole position in qualifying. It was a moment that filled me with the urge to just rush over to the Ferrari garage and celebrate with him. However, after a brief consideration, I decided to FaceTime him instead, eager to plan the celebrations.
"Carlos, aaaaah, congratulations! So, so proud of you, oh my god!" I squealed out of excitement.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, Juli! I just can't believe it!"
"Now it's my turn to ask, whether you're free tonight, because this deserves a big celebration!" I squealed again.
"Yeah, the team, a bunch of drivers, and I are hitting the club tonight to celebrate, so if you're up for that kind of party, you've got to join us!" Carlos cheerfully suggested. Without a moment's hesitation, I enthusiastically agreed and quickly made my way back to the hotel room to get ready for the exciting evening ahead. Little did I know I was about to expierence the most unforgettable night of my life.
