Turbulence [𝗠.𝗩.]

Saturday, Free Weekend, April

This is why women don't belong in F1! - @User52076

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ENGLAND
NO RACE THIS WEEK
APRIL

Laughter echoes around me as I try to finish my story of how I ended up spilling hot coffee all over James Vowles. Max Verstappen is laughing at me, but Daniel Ricciardo is laughing with me. As I get to the part where I describe how I tried to put the blame on George, the laughter becomes too infectious and I can't finish my story.

It's so strange, to be sat with the two Red Bull drivers, but I wasn't about to say no when the chance was offered to spend time getting to know some of the drivers I hadn't spent more than ten minutes talking to.

"At least you didn't make it look like you pissed yourself!" Max manages to say as he rubs his eyes, shaking his head. "Daniel— he—"

Max is laughing too hard to finish his sentence, which seems to send Daniel into another fit of laughter. They take a minute to compose themselves, right as our drinks and lunches arrive. We thank the server before digging in.

My meal isn't exactly a fun one. I've got a simple grilled fish, with some brown rice and a salad to the side. I don't like these sorts of meals, but that doesn't matter. We have to stick to our diets. Which sucks, because my god do I wish I could eat more than a few squares of chocolate.

As we eat, the clatter of cutlery is all that fills the silence between the three of us until Daniel decides to speak up, nodding at me to get my attention.

"So, how are you finding it with Jaguar?"

"Uh— I'm doing alright." Honestly? I don't know how I'm doing. We're only three races in, where scoring points as a team is everyone's goal - or at least, the Team Principals are making it that. My mistakes are expected, but crashing out in Australia has left a huge stain on my rookie year. I suppose the only benefit I have to it, is that the crash wasn't down to me. That corner had been complete chaos, Yuki had nowhere to go but into my rear, and I couldn't put my foot down without hitting Oscar. It was a shitshow, and all of us weren't pleased...

Actually, that's a lie. The podium sitters were happy with it. After the cars were cleared up, they did a single lap around, behind the safety car, all in the order they'd been in - minus all of us that were out - before the pileup. The only person to miss out - unfairly so - on easy points by simply driving over the finish line was Carlos. The officials slapped a 5-second penalty on him for causing Alonso to spin out.

"That's a crap answer, how does the car feel, how do you think you're doing, are you having smooth races— that's what I'm askin' ya." Daniel clarifies, making me pull my lips into a grimace, mixed with a nervous smile. Max huffs out a muted laugh, which only adds to my embarrassment.

"Well, we've got a decent car, thanks to Horner. Helps that we didn't make one as ugly as the W14." That earns another scoff from Max. It's no secret that part of our surprising ability to compete straight out of the gate has come from the engine we've got from RBPT. The reason we can't make it work as successfully as the two men in front of me have? That's probably a talent issue more than anything. I hate to admit it, but that doesn't make it any less true. "And I've spent some extra time in the sims lately."

Daniel's mouth and brows twist in a not bad gesture as he nods. I'm glad to see I seem to have his approval on how I'm trying to better myself.

"You just have to get better at driving." Max says, without a hint of malice, but entirely smug as he speaks. It prompts a laugh from me, one that feels natural, genuine even.

"Says the person dominating the season already." I respond in jest. Thankfully, Max takes it as it is, laughing with me, rather than taking it badly. "Honestly, though, I know I've got to do better. I guess I didn't think the car would be that quick, and then Australia was just... well, that was chaos. I know you're happy, you guys got a win out of it, but for me personally, a decent race where I could have got some more points was absolutely fucked by that second red flag."