Horner's Daughter- A Lewis Hamilton Fanfiction

Chapter 48- Intimidating Interviews

As Charlotte arrived at the Canadian Grand Prix with Lewis on Saturday, the air was thick with anticipation and speculation. The mere proximity of the two caused a stir among the photographers, who bombarded her with questions and assumptions. "Is Lewis your new boyfriend?" "How is Max going to feel?" "What does your dad think?". Their shouts echoed around her, but she took a deep breath and tried to ignore the clamour.

Entering the Mercedes garage, Charlotte's presence elicited a few shocked reactions. Toto, the team principal, approached her with a smile. "Charlotte, I'm pleased to hear you will be with us all weekend," he greeted her warmly.

Returning the smile, Charlotte replied, "Thank you for having me here."

Toto's expression turned more serious as he added, "Listen, any intel you have from Red Bull or just from your father is required for you to be here." He smirked slightly, and Charlotte chuckled in response, feeling more at ease in the environment of the Mercedes garage.

As qualifying commenced, Charlotte watched anxiously, her eyes glued to the screens displaying the action on the track. The tension was palpable as Lewis secured pole position, whilst Max would be starting from P2.

As the post-qualifying interviews commenced, the atmosphere in the paddock was tense with anticipation. The cameras zoomed in on Max Verstappen as he took his seat, the interviewer ready to ask the burning questions.

"Congratulations on securing second place in qualifying, Max," the interviewer began, his tone professional yet probing. "How are you feeling ahead of tomorrow's race?"

Max flashed a confident smile, though there was an underlying tension in his demeanor. "Thank you," he replied curtly. "I feel good about our pace, but we'll need to stay focused to convert it into a strong race result."

The interviewer nodded, sensing the apprehension in Max's response. "Understandable. Now, there's been a lot of speculation about your personal life recently. Can you shed some light on the rumors surrounding your relationship with Charlotte Horner?"

Max's expression hardened slightly, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features. "Look, I'm here to talk about racing, not my personal life," he responded tersely. "Let's keep the focus on what matters."

The interviewer pressed on, undeterred by Max's deflection. "Fair enough. Moving on to tomorrow's race, how do you plan to approach it given the competitive field?"

Meanwhile, in another corner of the paddock, Lewis Hamilton sat down for his own interview, the cameras capturing every nuance of his expression.

"Lewis, congratulations on securing pole position for tomorrow's race," the interviewer began, his voice exuding professionalism. "How are you feeling heading into the Grand Prix?"

Lewis offered a gracious smile, though there was a hint of weariness in his eyes. "Thank you," he replied, his tone measured. "I'm feeling positive about our performance today, but we know there's still work to be done in the race."

The interviewer nodded, acknowledging Lewis' response before delving into the more contentious topics. "There's been a lot of speculation surrounding your personal life recently, particularly in regards to Charlotte Horner. Can you comment on the nature of your relationship with her?"

Lewis' expression tightened slightly, a flicker of discomfort crossing his features. "Charlotte and I are good friends," he replied carefully. "We've been through a lot together, but right now, my focus is on racing."

The interviewer pressed further, eager to glean more insight. "And how do you plan to maintain your focus amidst the distractions?"

Lewis offered a diplomatic response, his words carefully chosen. "I'm fortunate to have a great team around me who help keep me grounded," he explained. "Tomorrow, my focus will be on delivering the best performance I can on track."

As the interviews concluded, both Max and Lewis retreated from the spotlight, their minds undoubtedly preoccupied with the challenges that lay ahead on the racetrack.

However, amidst the chaos, Charlotte also felt a strange sense of discomfort being here without speaking to her father. Her thoughts were interrupted as she watched an interview between Simon Lazenby and her dad.

Simon started the interview by saying "Christian, you've got Red Bull as P2 and P3 for tomorrow's race. Both Max and Checo have been showing some confidence for the upcoming race. How are you feeling ahead of the race?"

He smiled and responded "Thank you, Simon. Yes, it's been an interesting day for the team, and we're looking forward to the race tomorrow".

Simon nodded, he raised his eyebrow and enquired "I noticed Charlotte Horner in the Mercedes garage this week. Any particular reason for that?"

Her father's discomfort was palpable, but he tried to give a diplomatic response. "Well, if you know anything about my Lottie, she doesn't like to stay in one place all the time," he said with a forced laugh.

Simon pressed further, "But surely, in this close fight, she should be supporting you and Red Bull, right?"

Christian's expression tightened momentarily before he regained his composure. "Look, I don't want to make a big deal out of personal things, but she did just break up with Max. You can understand why she wouldn't want to be there. It's hard when two people who loved each other are now no longer together."

As Charlotte watched the interview, she felt a mixture of emotions. She realised that even if she didn't speak to her father, he could still manipulate the reality of her life.