Here and Beyond

Messy

CHAPTER 17
Messy

The tension was pretty obvious when I arrived at the garage. I went straight to the mechanics instead of hanging around with the crowd at the hospitality. Saeri, who was the person in charge when it came to coordinating with the mechanics, welcomed me with a small smile. I opened my arms for an embrace, trying to ease both our nerves. The last practice will start in an hour, and we are currently checking for more faults in our cars. We do not want to experience the incident I had with a certain driver from McLaren yesterday. 

"So far, they managed to fix the issue, it's safe to say you won't be experiencing it this Free Practice," my race engineer stated, "However, we will be checking if the issue comes back again." 

I shrugged, "I hope it doesn't," and paused for a bit, "We don't want a shit car and a shit race, no?" 

My comment managed to earn a chuckle not only from Saeri but from the whole team. 

"As long as you can race without bumping into another driver, we're good," one of my mechanics replied. I playfully rolled my eyes at him, which he found amusing considering he had a smirk etched on his face, "Have faith in me, John, I can do it," trailing off to think of more good comebacks, "And it wasn't my fault that it happened. He was at fault, even FIA announced it." 

It turns out, I wasn't in the wrong as I was slowing down because of my problem and he was speeding trying to pass me. In the end, it was an incident because he did not know about my sudden issue with the steer and we were having an ongoing drive. They declared it as a late relaying of messages by both parties. I would have liked to clarify that I informed them well and quickly, but instead, I kept my mouth shut as I let Toto, and the team handle it. 

"Okay, I believe you," John sighed. 

All the jokes disappeared once the clock hit thirty minutes before Free Practice 3. Mercedes' garage was more eerie, waiting for the next order from our Team Principal. Experts of their own, necessary, jobs are stationed at different booths while some are working on my car. George and I's race engineer was called by Toto and escorted to some small, isolated, room at the inner part of the garage. Both of us stood there, eye to eye, and confused. 

"You know what that means?" He pointed at the closed door. 

I shrugged, "Change of plans, I guess?" 

His face scrunched up, which I find entertaining because of how funny it is, before he commented on the idea I brought up between us, "Think it's because of your crash?" 

"Maybe... you?" I asked.

"Surely not me, mate," he defended himself. I laughed, "No, what I meant to say is... what do you think? Was it really about my crash?" Slowly, George Russell, my teammate, nods at himself. 

"T'was the only problem we had this weekend, so..." 

Despite the feeling of deject creeping in, I agreed, "Good point." 

"No offense, Maxime. You had a great start in FP 1, but that collision with Lando changed everything," I gave him a small smile, convinced by his words but not happy with his name being spoken, "None taken," I replied. 

Drive to Survive's camera was pointed at us while we were talking. I was the first to notice it before I gave him a look of knowing. Once he realized what is it about, he proposed a silly idea, "What if we pose in front of the camera?"