The Racing Line | M.V.

9. Pre-Season

Liv felt great coming back to the garage. She felt right in her element. This year's Porsche's car looked fantastic and she couldn't wait to get a few more podiums and maybe her first race win. Just like anybody else in the grid, she wanted to be a world champion. She knew she had it in her too, and she believed Porsche were closing in on Mercedes a little bit more every season.

That's why when she was given the option to extend her contract or go somewhere else, she chose to stay.

"It feels good to be back" she said as she closed up her racing suit, ready to get in the car.

"Go get them Liv" said Leo, her race engineer, as she put on her balaclava and helmet.

"This boys aren't gonna know what hit em" she said as she hopped in the car for the first time that season. It was that blind confidence in herself that made her such a good racing driver after all.

As she drove on to the track, she started feeling the power in her hands. That strength and control she loved to feel whenever she drove a Formula 1 car. It was something completely indescribable. There was nothing she couldn't do when she was driving. As she ran her first lap and warmed up her tyres, she got ready to start truly accelerating. As she crossed the finish line she floored the pedal "Let's see what you can do" she talked to the car.

It was always the same feeling: the adrenaline, her heartbeat rising and feeling like her chest might implode. The sensation of having total control and yet no control at all over what might happen next. Her muscles tensing as she gave the car her all through every curve and every straight line. She could feel the speed throughout her entire body, this year they were truly faster than before. She could already see it, that P1 trophy in her hands.

Suddenly there was this car overtaking her on her right. She turned to see the classic blue, red and yellow livery. It passed by her with ease and kept on driving, getting away. Olivia couldn't believe it, at what speed must it have been going to overtake her so effortlessly? Then Liv spoke on the radio "Holly shit, was that a car or a fucking rocket?" she said.

"That was Verstappen's Red Bull" said Leo "You're doing great Liv, keep pushing".

Once the session was over Olivia got out of her car and took her helmet and balaclava off. The weather was hot and she let her racing suit hang around her hips as she left the garage and walked over to Red Bull.

"Chequito!" she said giving her brother a hug with a bright smile as he stood outside the garage "You guys seem to have made a grave mistake" she said with a serious look on her face as she turned from Checo to Christian, who was a few meters away and turned to her curiously to see what she was talking about.

"What mistake is that?" asked Checo.

"You had to build a car not a fucking rocketship" said Liv "Give the rest of us a fighting chance".

They laughed "Sorry Liv, but you can still fight for P3 this year" said Christian.

"Oh no, this year I'm getting that first win, I can feel it" she said confidently.

"I'm sure you will" said Checo as he placed his arm around her shoulders.

"You know Christian, if Checo ever gets sick I can drive the car for you, I'm sure no one will notice. You can just say it's 'Perez' who is driving" she joked. Checo pushed her to the side with a laugh.

"You wish" said Checo.

Then Liv spotted Max getting out of his driver room "Be right back" she said as she walked over to him. He hadn't spotted her before she jumped on his back.

"Ugh Liv you gotta stop doing that" he said with a chuckle as he dropped her on the ground, almost falling.

"I'm just testing your reflexes Maxie" she said.