The 2023 Formula One World Champion

Chapter 2

I had qualified to start 5th on the grid, Christian was impressed with me, but I hadn't told him I had held back on the practise laps and qualifying. I needed to prove myself and showing off during practise and qualifying would do nothing, I needed to place during the race to prove my worth. Imogen had come up with the plan, she had come up with it while we were drunk and celebrating my signing.
"I'm going to have to prove I deserve this seat Immy" I slurred
"I already know how" Imogen smiled the evillest smile I had seen.
"How? Or do I need to be sober for this?" I laughed
"You take it easy for the practise and qualifying, get at least a p10 if not higher, then work your arse off in the race to bring it back to a place. People are going to expect you to be good at Red Bull, so they won't question a P10 – P5 then you just place and blow them all away" Imogen explained
"I love it".

"You ready?" Imogen asks as I pull on my race suit
"Ready to blow these guys away" I say
"That's my girl" Imogen says handing my helmet, "One for insta?" Imogen waves her phone and I nod as she takes a selfie of us both and then we walk out of my room, I quickly put my ear buds in and walk towards where my car is parked in the garage, I look it all over, looking for any imperfections in the car before they call it's time for me to get in it. I pull on my helmet and hook on the neck brace before climbing in. I prepare myself, and then am handed my steering wheel. I place it in and start the car it rumbles around me. I take a deep breath before moving the car forward as signalled by the pit crew. Each one of them touches the car gently as I move off, a way of wishing me luck. I head out of the pits and onto the track, weaving to warm the tires as I go. I pull into P5 on the grid and quickly look around. Max was in pole position. 3 cars between me and him. I hope he was ready for the race of his life. |
"Radio Check" Troy's voice came through
"Check, I can hear you" I answer
"Okay focus on those lights and be ready for the fight, as soon as those lights go" Troy said
"Copy" I said my eyes focusing above me as they slowly turned, one, then two, then three, then four and finally five, a pause and then we are off. I quickly make my move to the inside speeding up to overtake Charles.
"Good job, get through this first corner" Troy sounds off in my ear
"Copy" I say moving to the inside where it's safe. I get through the corner safely and the cars begin to separate.
"P4 Eliza" Troy says
"Let's make it P3" I say as I move to overtake Carlos in front of me and then make the push to distance us.
"Time to keep this pace and put some distance between you and mid-field" Troy says
"Copy" I say. I manage to keep P3 for the entirety of the race, but just as we get towards the end "Troy, I'm going for P2" I say
"Can you do it?" Troy asks
"I've got this" I say catching up quickly to Alonso who is in P2. We weave back and forth for a few laps before I finally take P2 from him as we race through the checkered flag.
"P2!" Troy yells "I think this is the best debut placing we've had"
"Yes, thank fuck" I say waving to my team.
"Well done Max and Eliza, P1 and P2 couldn't ask for a better start to the season" Christian's voice comes through.
"Thanks Christian" I say as I pull up next to Max who is standing on his car hands in the air. He runs over to our team as they hug him and cheer him on. I get out of my car and head over. Max puts a hand on my shoulder.
"Beginners luck" he says loud enough for only me to hear before hugging me.
"It won't be beginners' luck for long Verstappen, you'll be fighting for your place" I say back before the team manages to grab me and pull me into them cheering loudly.
"They want to interview you" someone says pulling me away from the team to where Max stands waiting for his team. I take my helmet off and carefully brush some of the fly-aways from my braids into place and someone hands me a Red Bull cap.
"Eliza" The interview says waving me over, Fernando grabs my arm as I walk past pulling me into a hug.
"Congratulations, you drive well" he says before letting me go.
"How are you feeling Eliza, your first F1 race and you place 2nd?" The interviewer asks
"I am on cloud nine at the moment, this is an amazing feeling, and I can't believe I'm here" I answer
"And what were some of your tactics you had on the track?" The interviewer asks
"I was keeping calm and pushing as hard as I could, getting ahead as much as possible at the start really helped" I answer
"And what are you expecting from the next race in Jeddah?"