Her || Charles Leclerc

7. Popping The Champagne

It was race day in Miami, and it could be a promising one for Ferrari; Carlos managed to secure the second position, and Charles had locked a third place during qualifying.

Matilde couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and pride as she looked at the red cars on the grid. The hard work and dedication of the entire team had brought them to this moment, and the possibilities were endless. As the drivers made their final preparations, Matilde was standing in front of Charles' car. She was observing the grid; it was stamped with people. Her eyes shifted to the driver and his engineer, who were in a trance and fully focusing on their final briefing. She looked at the second red car; Carlos was in his own world, preparing himself for the race.

As Matilde observed the grid, her attention was drawn to Martin Brundle, who was making his way through the crowd on the grid. He was finding some interesting moments and stories on the grid before the race. He was in his element; chatting with team principals, drivers and guests, exploring the cars and keeping an eye out for any celebrity sightings.

Her gaze shifted to a celebrity who was standing next to Charles' car, striking poses for the cameras. Matilde was surprised the celebrity found space to strike a pose and ask someone to take a photo of her. Brundle, always ready to give a good interview, approached the celebrity.

Matilde watched the scene unfold, curious about the interaction between Brundle and the celebrity. It was clear that the celebrity was more interested in posing for photos than answering questions. As Brundle asked a question, the celebrity appeared to ignore him, focusing on their glamorous appearance. Matilde's expression subtly shifted as she watched the unclassy behaviour toward Martin Brudle. She felt a sense of disappointment and irritation at the lack of professionalism by the celebrity.

In the world of F1, where teamwork, respect and sportsmanship were highly valued, such conduct was considered disrespectful. When attending a race, even as a guest, and walking around on the grid was not just about being a guest; it was an opportunity to engage with the racing community, share the excitement, and, if approached by journalists like Brundle, you would talk to them. And if you didn't want to get interviewed on the grid, then don't show up.

The eyes of Matilde found Brundle's eyes, who was looking around in disbelief. A smile grew on his face, and he stepped towards Matilde. The lips of Matilde curved into a smile, showing she was in for a question.

"Matilde, a quick question," Brundle said.

"You can always ask me any question," Matilde said, sneering at the celebrity.

A sparkle of playfulness was in his eyes, he liked the cheekiness of Matilde. "What are your thoughts on the race?"

"Sainz is starting from the front row, and it gives the team a great chance today. And Leclerc from P3 is in a very strong position to start with. The team has worked hard on the car, and we are prepared for any opportunity. The cars are close to Ma- uh, Verstappen, and I'm sure they will give him a difficult time," she spoke, her eyes briefly flickering to the red cars, a subtle sign of her unwavering support.

Brundle nodded appreciatively at her response. "Thank you, Matilde. Best of luck," he said, acknowledging her professionalism and enthusiasm for the race, for the sport. With that, he moved on to the next interview; Christian from Red Bull.

As the minutes ticked away, the entire grid moved towards the start-finish to participate in the pre-race ceremonies. The national anthem of the United States was performed. Matilde stood in between the two red cars, overseeing the front. As the anthem was playing, peace returned to the entire track. This was the calm before the storm, the moment before the chaos of the race began.