The 2023 Formula One World Champion

Chapter 3

When we arrive at the Gala it is already in full swing, people walk under the sparkling lights carrying glasses of champagne.
"Drink?" Max asks me
"Please and Thank you" I answer and follow him towards the bar.
"A gin and tonic and whiskey on the rocks please" Max says to the bar tender who nods and prepares our drinks. As we wait, I feel an arm wrap around my shoulders.
"Eliza" Fernando smiles
"Fernando, how are you?" I smile back
"I'm good but this old man is very tired after today's race" Fernando laughs
"So am I. How long before we can sneak out of this place and to bed?" I laugh
"It usually runs until about midnight and then they break off to smaller afterparties" Fernando answers
"F1 knows how to party from the looks of this" I laugh as Max walks over and hands me a glass
"Ah Max, are you two finally getting along?" Fernando asks
"No" Max and I both say at the same time
"You two have an interesting dynamic for a team" Fernando laughs
"Fernando, Max and Eliza" Carlos says as he walks towards us Pierre Gasly following behind him.
"Hi" I wave to them
"Pierre have you met Eliza?" Carlos asks
"No I haven't had the chance to" Pierre smiles "Nice to finally meet you"
"Nice to meet you too" I smile shaking his hand
"It's definitely nice to have another pretty face on the track instead of all these guys faces" Pierre jests with Carlos
"Hey, my face is very pretty" Carlos says his accent thick "You think my face is pretty don't you Eliza?"
"It's very pretty Carlos" I answer laughing
"What about mine?" Fernando asks
"Also very pretty, with a stunning personality to match" I laugh as more of the drivers join our group.
"Lewis" Lewis Hamilton says as he steps into the group next to me.
"Eliza" I answer, "Nice to meet you"
"How does it feel being on the podium on your debut race?" Lewis asks
"It's surreal" I answer
"You deserve it, I watched the highlights you can really drive" Lewis says
"Thank you, that means a lot coming from you" I say
"Surely Max is saying the same thing" Lewis says taking me by surprise.
"Yeah, he is but you know I've always been a fan of yours" I say and Lewis smiles
"Well now I'm your fan" Lewis says causing me to smile

A few hours of socialising later and many drinks later Carlos has linked arms with me and is leading me to the door.
"You are coming to the drivers afterparty" Carlos stats as I giggle uncontrollably at his side
"Wait I really need to go to bed" I laugh
"Oh no, this is your first driver's after party you are not missing out" Lewis laughs grabbing my other arm
"Oh gang up on the rookie, I see how it is" I say through giggles, all 10 driver pile into a van which brings us to another hotel. Carlos leads the way up to a room which I assume is his. He knocks on the door and Charles opens it.
"Oh, finally you are back" Charles says opening to reveal him, Lando, Oscar, Esteban, Nico and Yuki all lounging around the room.
"Uh the champions return" Lando slurs obviously a few drinks deep.
"How many drinks did you feed him?" Carlos asks and Charles shrugs his shoulders before slumping onto the couch.
"We were drowning our sorrows" Charles laughs as we all pile into the room minus Fernando, Valtteri and Lance who must've retreated to their rooms. I sit down on the floor next to Lando and watch as Max heads to the table filled with alcohol and pours a glass before walking towards me and handing it to me.
"Thanks" I mumble, as he slumps on the couch just out of my line of sight.
"Okay first off welcome to our newcomers Oscar and Eliza!" Charles announces and everyone cheers
"Thanks" I smile at them all
"Thank you" Oscar says, he is obviously sober still from his awkwardness.
"How do you both feel?" Carlos asks
"I feel great" I answer
"I'm a little low, not finishing your first race kinda sucks" Oscar says
"Don't worry Oscar, the next race will be better" I say and Lando smiles
"Yeah next race McClaren will be on the board!" Lando cheers
"It'll still be behind Red Bull" Max says causing everyone with a pillow in reach to throw it at him. Max laughs as a few hit him and a few go very wide.
"Red Bull has it in the bag though" I laugh "I'm going to smoke all of you"
"Max throw us back those pillows we need to throw them at your teammate" Lando laughs
"Lando they would probably hit you just as much as me" I say giving him a nudge
"Okay just pass me one and I'll smother her with the pillow" Lando says seriously causing everyone to burst out laughing
"Is that how you plan to get on the podium Lando? Just start murdering the competition?" Charles laughs
"I mean it would work, wouldn't it?" Lando says shrugging his shoulders
"I think I'm going to move over there" I say pointing across the room laughing
"No, don't leave me" Lando says laughing.
We continue laughing and bantering for a couple hours before Max walks over to me.
"You ready to go?" He asks
"Uh why?" I ask
"Well we have to go back to the same hotel, it'd be easier to just go together" Max answers
"Good point, I just need to use the loo and then we can go" I answer getting up, Lando immediately grabs my arm.
"Where are you going?" Lando asks
"The loo?" I say
"Ohhh okay" Lando lets me go and I head towards the bathroom, the door is locked so I wait a minute leaning on the wall next to the door and Charles comes out.
"Oh sorry, you weren't waiting long, were you?" Charles asks
"Nope only just got here" I say popping the 'p' of my nope
"Hey, you know you are a really fantastic driver, I was impressed watching you" Charles tells me
"Thanks, I appreciate it" I say
"I can't wait to see what you do at Jeddah, hopefully I get to give you a run for your money" Charles says leaning on the wall above me.
"I'd like to see you give me a run for my money" I smirk
"Oh that is the face of someone who doubts my words" Charles says gently tapping my chin so I'm looking up at him.
"This is the face of a girl who need the bathroom" I smile
"Alright, alright sorry. I will let you go. Just know if you are ever looking for some fun, I'll be around" Charles winks causing butterflies to flutter in my stomach. Shit. I head into the bathroom and take a deep breath. I cannot fall for a rival team driver. I tell myself in the mirror.