Final Lap | F1 oneshots

replacement | CL16 & CS55

Thursday, 01.02.2024

Wow.

Three letters, one word. That's all Charles had received from his dear friend and team colleague Carlos. It had been minutes that the Monegasque had opened the text, now starring at the short word and feeling all kinds of feelings.

The news just broke out an hour ago and from the reaction of the Spaniard, Charles could tell that Fred hadn't talked to him, like he had promised. Two weeks ago he had been in Maranello for some simulator work with the new car.

Everything went normal until his boss had called him over to his office, telling him that they would replace Carlos. With Hamilton, no one other than the seven times world champion. Charles didn't like him, he never did.

Even back in Abu Dhabi he was rooting for Max, who he was now also one of his best mates around the paddock, but Carlos was more, he was his friend and colleague and Ferrari just kicked him.

The Spaniard hadn't been at the factory that day, as we was celebrating with his dad, who had just won the Rally Dakar. Charles had been proud of Carlos father and he was so happy for his friend and really enjoyed seeing him that happy, until Fred told him.

It wasn't his decision and he couldn't do anything about it. he had told Fred that he wasn't sure if that would be a good idea and telling him that Carlos was a great driver, like he had shown lasts season with winning in Singapore.

But it hadn't been enough, at least not for Fred. During the conversation his boss also said into Charles face, that they couldn't tolerate Carlos making his own strategy and fooling the team, so it was the best for Ferrari if he would go.

But they didn't even gave him the chance to decide, they just fried him more or less. And on top of that no one had told Carlos and he had it read in the news just an hour ago, like the whole world.

Wow.

The word was still shining in Charles face as he was still starring at the text message from Carlos. He felt bad, like he had fired Carlos, but he couldn't had done anything to prevent that from happening.

His finger hovered over the call button for a moment as Charles really didn't want to handle that over text message, but then he stopped and turned of his phone. Quickly he grabbed his keys and slipped into his shoes before leaving his apartment.

Luckily he knew where Carlos lived here in Monaco and as expected some people were already standing in front of his house. Fortunately a car just drove into the garage of the building and Charles slipped also in.

Not two minutes later he was standing in front of Carlos door, a bit scared what to say. Should he apologize or should just hug him, he wasn't sure what Carlos needed in that moment. Charles sighed before he dared to knock.

"Carlos please open up, it's me Charles." the Monegasque said after a while as nothing happened.

"Go away." a muffled voice was heard from the inside of the apartment.

"Please Carlos, let me in, please." Charles tried, after some minutes of silence again.

In the moment Charles decided to go, the door slightly opened up and Carlos face was visible. Even though he had tried to cover it up, Charles could clearly see the red eyes of the Spaniard, like he had cried before.