The bet | Charles Leclerc

• Sixteen •

Monday
Isa's POV

The lights are dim, the walls are gloomily grey, the whole room casted in dark shadows.

My heart beats a fast rhythm in my chest, my breath tight and unstable. This is it. This is fucking it.
I'm getting the biggest interview of the year.

My gut is telling me. Telling this will be, big.

Lewis Hamilton.

A departure from Mercedes, his team.

A new chapter, a new team to overtake.

This is all one hell of a story, one hell of a chapter in the future history books, and yet Hamilton hasn't spoken to a journalist about the situation.

Or well, until now..

"Welcome Lewis." I hear Richard greet the seven time world champion behind me. His tone is serious, and I can imagine his stiff expression.

I asked him to do that. I asked for the dark room too.

I know exactly how I want this interview, exactly how the mood has to be. And I'll go lengths to make it all happen.

I turn on my heel, facing Hamilton.

Stylish outfit, braids in his hair, Lewis Hamilton flashes a grin at me.

Leclerc got me this interview, secured it just last night. How he did that, I don't know.

"Hamilton" I greet him, smile soft as I reach out with an offering hand. In my family, it's almost criminal to say his name out loud.

"Verstappen" He acknowledges, accepting my hand with a firm handshake. Shivers run down my back. Somehow, he made my last name sound like an insult.

"You're welcome to take a seat" I say, signaling towards a chair standing in the middle of the dark room, spotlight shining right down on it.

Hamilton accepts my offer, sitting down on the chair, lights flashing on his face as he adjust himself.
I myself sit down behind the camera, exactly where I like to be, darkness spreading over my face.

The interviewer and the interviewee.

We exchange firm nods, confirming we're ready.
A little ding fills the room as the crew press record.
Action.

"Hamilton, you've been with Mercedes for 11 years, you've won six world championships with them" almost seven...another family scandal.

"So why are you all of a sudden leaving, and instead joining the iconic Ferrari red?" I ask, hands in my lap. I know the answer, everyone knows the answer.

"First of all, this has been the hardest decision of my life" Hamilton begins.

"But I feel the time is right to make a change and take on a new challenge. I still remember the feeling of taking a leap of faith into the unknown when I first joined Mercedes in 2013." Hamilton continues.

"I know some people didn't understand it at the time, but I was right to make the move then and it's the feeling I have again now" He answers.