The bet | Charles Leclerc

• Eleven •

Friday

A smile creeps up my lips. The Saudi Arabian paddock unfolds before me, beautiful and exciting. Today is practice day.

As I walk through the paddock, heading towards Richard's little office building, I notice a few photographers beside me.

They hold up their cameras to their eyes, clicking away on the shutter button... They're pointing the cameras at me, taking pictures of me.?!

I gulp harshly, keeping my eyes straight forward. Sure, my interview has gotten attention, but they only care about Leclerc.

Right...?

As their obnoxious flashes sound, I hurry inside Richards building. I don't like this. I was born to be behind the camera, never in front of it

I'm already late to Richards meeting, and this whole scene, is only making me more anxious. I've already got enough to worry about, I can't deal with photographers as well.

I grab the door handle of Richards office.

Breathe Isa.

I open the door. Inside sits at least 10 other people, all staring at me. In front of them Richard stands, brightly grinning as usual.

"Isa hello!" He happily announces, ushering me inside. Really would've loved a heads up, before you made me meet all these new people, Richard.

"Hey.." I awkwardly answer, unsure of what to do with myself. Great, I'll just stand here, letting them all stare then.

"This is the team! I thought it was by time you meet them" Richard cheerfully explains, introducing me to the team.

I'm assuming he means the rest of the journalist team under Richard, his employees that he's already trained.

"Oh," I quietly say, realization kicking in. "Hello everyone!" I awkwardly greet them, flashing them an incredibly forced smile.

Thankfully, they all smile politely back, a few of them grinning extra widely at me. Relief rushed through me.

They, my coworkers, all seem so sweet, and I can actually see myself getting along, and working together with a lot of them.

"You go sit down in the back" Richard sweetly tells me, a comforting hand on my shoulder, as he sends me to an empty chair at the back of the room.

I do as he says, smiling as politely as I physically can, as I find my seat. Richard winks at me, letting me know it's okay, before his gaze snaps to the rest of the team.

"Okay, so the big news today is that Carlos Sainz has been diagnosed with appendicitis, making him unable to race this weekend" Richard announces.

Wait, what?

A simmer of whispers spread in the room, as the news register in all of our heads. Carlos Sainz won't be driving, and that can only mean one thing..

"Which means Ollie Bearman will take over." Richard declares. F2 driver, and reserve driver for Ferrari. My heart beats a little faster, as I grin.