Rivals - Charles Leclerc

Revving Rivalries

Chapter 2

I knew today was going to be interesting. The team had been buzzing with speculation about who would fill the second Red Bull seat next season. Everyone at Ferrari seemed on edge, wondering how it would impact our chances. Whoever got that spot could shape our entire strategy for the year, and the tension was palpable.

With all this uncertainty swirling, Frederic Vasseur, our team principal, had called us into headquarters to watch the announcement live. The stakes were high, but truthfully, I wasn't as anxious as everyone else seemed to be. I always believed in focusing on what we could control, not getting swept up in the speculation. But Ferrari isn't exactly known for taking a relaxed approach to anything. As I walked into the building, it was clear that everyone was on edge, with nervous energy filling the air.

"Who do you think it'll be, eh?" Carlos nudged me, his playful grin masking the anxiety beneath.

"I honestly don't care that much," I replied, my tone flat as I shrugged. Carlos stopped in his tracks, surprised by my indifference.

"Seriously? This is a big deal for us," he said, raising an eyebrow, but I just shook my head, a small smirk playing on my lips.

"We're about to find out anyway. No point in guessing, right?" I chuckled, trying to ease the tension. Carlos laughed too, but I could see the concern in his eyes. He was more worried than he let on.

As we stepped into the conference room, I took a seat by the wall, keeping myself out of the fray. The room was buzzing with anticipation. Then, the announcement began, and suddenly, gasps erupted from all around me. I looked up at the screen just in time to see Christian Horner reveal their new driver.

Ava Martin.

"A female driver? Are they mad? This has to be a publicity stunt," Frederic boomed, pacing the room like a man possessed. His disbelief mirrored my own shock.

Replacing Checo with a rookie—let alone the first female driver in Formula 1? It was a bold move. I'd seen a bit of her racing; she had talent, no doubt. But jumping straight into a top team like Red Bull? That was an enormous amount of pressure.

"She's actually good. It makes sense," I said, hoping to steer the conversation away from the immediate backlash.

Frederic scoffed, throwing his hands up in frustration. "Good? This is a cash grab, plain and simple. They're banking on the headlines, not her skills."

But I didn't buy that. Christian Horner wasn't the type to compromise Red Bull's success for some cheap publicity stunt. He wanted to win, and my gut told me Ava was there to help him do just that. Paired with Max, Red Bull would be a force to reckon with.

"I didn't see this coming," Carlos muttered beside me, his voice low and full of surprise. I glanced at him, his eyes fixed on the screen, and nodded in agreement.

"Neither did I," I said, my voice barely a whisper. My attention was locked on the screen too, but not just because of the shock factor. Ava's presence was magnetic. As the room erupted in discussions and Frederic ranted about the "madness" of it all, I couldn't pull my gaze away from her.

Her smile was confident, but I could see the subtle signs of nerves—the way her fingers fidgeted with the microphone, the slight tapping of her foot on the stage. She was composed on the surface, but I could tell she was feeling the weight of the moment. And yet, she handled the reporters' questions with ease, her answers smooth and assured.

I would be lying if I said she wasn't stunning. Even through the TV screen, her piercing eyes captivated me. Her voice, calm and steady, seemed to drown out the noise of the room. It was like everything around me faded, leaving just her voice echoing in my head. There was something about her that I couldn't shake, something that kept pulling me in.

Why was I so drawn to her? I couldn't explain it. Maybe it was the confidence she exuded, or the way she seemed to carry the weight of this historic moment with such grace. All I knew was that I had to meet her. I had to talk to her. I needed to understand why I couldn't get her out of my mind.

But at the same time, I knew that she was about to become my fiercest competitor. This was going to be one hell of a season, and if Ava Martin was as good as I suspected, beating her wouldn't be easy. Still, I welcomed the challenge. For now, though, I couldn't help but wonder what this meeting would lead to, both on and off the track.