Turbulence [𝗠.𝗩.]

♦ Austria, Sprint Day ♦

PADDOCK RUMOUR: At least 15 of the 22 drivers on the grid are AGAINST the reported plans for a 12th team being accepted into F1 and are in talks with TPs about what can be done to block the FIA from forcing them to accept it - @PaddockRumourMill

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AUSTRIA
9TH RACE WEEKEND OF THE SEASON - 2ND SPRINT WEEKEND
JULY

Qualifying was a nightmare. Lap times were being deleted like no tomorrow. I don't think Austria should host a sprint race next year. Turns 9 and 10 are so vicious, that having just one practice session to remind yourself how to handle them is not enough. And yet, I have a horrible feeling it will be hosting sprint races for the foreseeable future.

I should be preparing for the shootout, but I need to talk to Mick. I haven't had a chance to get him alone, until now. As he's trying to talk to his engineer, I go and yank him away by his arm, not saying anything until I can get him to a quiet corner, where the noise of the mechanics' machines won't allow anyone to overhear us, but is quiet enough that I don't have to shout over it.

He stares at me with furrowed brows, confusion evident. I don't have time to pad out my explanation: he needs to know what Oscar said. We need to come up with a plan.

"Alpine's CEO is looking to fire all of the management." I watch as Mick's brows shoot up, his light blue eyes wide with shock. His expression is a perfect mirror of how the rest of us were when Oscar told us yesterday. "Meo wants to blame somebody over their piss poor performance, and from what I've found out: he's blaming all of the upper management."

"Who told you this?"

"I can't say. I wish I could, but I can't. Just trust me: this person isn't bullshitting. Otmar might gun for their team as well at this rate because he knows his job is genuinely at risk. It's not bullshit. He is on the chopping block. I don't know how he's keeping himself employed right now, because he's not got an ally in Vowles."

"Vowles is only after us, we know that. He's mad about his team's poor performance and all this talk about another team." Mick has kept his ear to the ground, then. I feel like an idiot for not knowing until Oscar told our little rookie group.

"What we need to do is find out if Oliver has spoken to say... Toto, Horner, maybe even to Vowles as well. We need to shift the focus off ourselves so that Vowles sees us as an ally rather than a threat." I'm gesturing wildly as I talk, leaning closer to Mick, fairly animated in my expressions. But I want him to understand that this is something we have to get involved in. We have to speak up, or shit might well and truly hit the fan badly. "Twelve teams would be fucking stupid. If we can convince him that we'd help protest it and push for changes that make things feel fairer for his team, then maybe we can ease the pressure on our team."

"We should talk to other drivers first."

"Already being done. Can you talk to Sebastian, Kimi and Fernando for me? Find out what they think."

"Another driver told you all this, didn't they?"

"I can't tell you Mick. I promised them." I know my words are basically an admission that yes, it was someone on the grid. I don't have any doubt that he's suspecting Oscar. It's hard not to: he's one of only two who would have any reason to take a shot at Alpine and still have insider information.

"Alright." He nods, leaning in and covering his mouth with his right hand. "I'll talk to them, you talk to Verstappen and Ricciardo. Otmar was after them too, right? And you're close to them."