Mi campeón - Carlos Sainz (EN)

Chapter 6: August 22, 2023

Talia woke up excitedly that day, knowing she would spend a special day with the Formula 1 drivers. Lando had even lent her one of his McLaren t-shirts to mark the occasion. She headed to the race venue, impressed by the transformation since her last visit. The calm and serenity of the Friday lounges had given way to a bustle of activity and people. The circuit was now alive, ready to welcome the excitement of Formula 1.

Throughout the day, Talia was accompanied by Flavie, Oscar Piastri's guest who had arrived that day. The two women seemed to have very different personalities. Talia was discreet, preferring to enjoy the moment without worrying about capturing every moment through a screen. Flavie, on the other hand, seemed constantly immersed in her phone, adjusting her makeup at every mirror she passed. She was constantly filming herself, creating a sort of virtual cocoon around her.

This behavior began to annoy Talia, who found it difficult to connect with Flavie. She felt the young woman was superficial and seemed to steer every conversation back to herself. Despite this, Talia remained courteous and friendly towards Flavie, trying not to judge her too quickly.

To escape this dynamic a bit, Talia focused more on the drivers and the day's activities. She was thrilled to be able to attend some of their training sessions, especially the race simulation. It was a unique opportunity to see up close how they prepared for the upcoming races.

It was undeniable that Talia's presence was a comfort to Lando. At just 21 years old, he already had an overwhelming amount of responsibilities and obligations in the world of Formula 1. The pressure on his shoulders was enormous, and sometimes he forgot that he was just a young man who still had to face many challenges. Having Talia by his side was like balm for his soul, invaluable support in this competitive jungle.

Talia, curious and eager to learn, returned to Dewey, the instructor in charge of the simulators, to learn more about how these complex machines worked. She asked questions about the different buttons, pedals, and anything else that intrigued her. The three mandatory simulation hours for the drivers passed quickly, with Talia remaining focused and eager for knowledge. She had to look away a couple of times, unable to bear the sight of Lando's car hitting the edges of the track.

To Lando's surprise, as most of the staff had gone to the meeting room for data analysis, Talia was offered the chance to try the simulation herself. She accepted, encouraged by Lando, who helped her slip into the machine. He was amazed to find that the young woman already had a good understanding of gear systems and pedals. Of course, the machine was set to "easy" mode so she could focus on basic elements like gear changes, but that didn't diminish Talia's performance.

When Talia tried to launch the virtual car onto the track, it took her a few tries before she succeeded without stalling. She was surprised to feel the vibrations in the machine, which seemed to faithfully reproduce the sensation of being on a real race track. The centrifugal forces pressed her against the sides of her seat as she turned, and she was amazed by the immersion the simulator offered.

Lando, seeing Talia's excitement, couldn't help but laugh, teasing the young woman by reminding her to be careful because even though the impacts were well simulated, she didn't want to hurt herself. But an aspect of Talia's personality that Lando hadn't yet discovered revealed itself: she was fearless, constantly seeking adrenaline. After testing sudden brakes and making tight turns, she embarked on riskier maneuvers, completely ignoring the fear of skidding or ending up in the fences. The machine shook her violently, but she loved it. She enjoyed pushing the limits and experiencing the thrill of speed.

When it was finally time to leave the machine, Lando had to help Talia walk to a chair because her legs were trembling with excitement.

Lando: You're completely crazy, Talia.