SHAMELESS, lewis hamilton¹

48

The crowds were bustling. Even today in both the free practice and Qualifying, everyone was alive in a different way than usual.

It had been like this the whole weekend. Everything full of colour and the atmosphere electric, like the crowd had a heart, beating as one.

Mirabella thought it was beautiful. The way everything worked here, in the Brazilian Grand Prix. She will always think this was the best race week. Yeah, there were others she liked, but at the end of the day, nothing beat Brazil.

She found it almost impossible to not be happy there, getting P2 in Q3 definitely helped her positive and upbeat mood. Also, Mercedes were starting right after each other for the sprint, Lewis in P3, unless the FIA decided to be assholes. Which they shouldn't since they did nothing wrong.

She knew the team had done nothing wrong. Ever since Monza, they were extra careful with the car, making sure everything was according to the regulations and rules. It still didn't stop the FIA from checking her car, including Lewis, Lando, Carlos and Max's as well.

Even if she knew nothing was supposed to be wrong, the uncomfortable feeling in her gut was horrible. Her stomach churned almost painfully as they waited for the results.

At least they didn't just check hers this time. Still though, she felt somewhat targeted. Her lap times were ahead of everyone else by a lot. It feels so predictable that they would check her car for something when she's this close to winning. Abu Dhabi being so soon. It felt like they didn't want her to win. Like they'd do everything in their power to stop her.

After what felt like ages, the results were there. This time the Mercedes' engineers weren't called in. It was Red Bull and McLaren.

They ended up getting a ten-place grid penalty. Meaning Max was starting in P14 and Lando was starting in P15.

She couldn't help but feel angry. Their car broke the relegations, just like she had, but they only got a grid penalty when she was disqualified. Like... what?

She didn't want to throw around the sexism card, but... it seems sexist. It wasn't strange for them to have double standards. Micheal Masi was a great example and his 'human error' in 2021.

It was like they hoped that hers would be the illegal one and they could disqualify her again—not that that worked at all last time. But then hers was as legal as their cars were supposed to be. Then they just gave the guys that actually had an illegal car a grid penalty. Basically a pat on the back and a 'don't do it again'.

Of course Mirabella was angry.

But she couldn't complain about it because then she was overthinking it and being dramatic, and she couldn't be that. No, no. She had to be a good woman and be silent, not complain about anything. Everything is just perfect even if she's oppressed. All rainbows and sunshine, with nothing wrong in the world.

Yeah, no. She's not that naive or that much of a doormat. She never has been and she never will be. Because fuck that.

Anyway. Enough about the FIA and their weird choices in life.

Mirabella had gotten to know Nyalea a little more. She seemed quiet at first, kind of shy. But it didn't take long for her to become comfortable and she was definitely not shy. The Brazilian was an extrovert, to say the least. Very energetic, like a ball of sunshine.

Every time Mirabella came back in from her lap times and got fully out of her car, she saw Nyalea celebrating for her, especially since she literally got the best results.

Except for in Q3. That one went to Kevin, who got pole. Honestly, when she heard that she was so happy, you would have thought she was the one who got it and not him. But she found it impossible not to be, not when he looked so happy. It looked like his smile was permanent.