Just Us-Oliver Bearman

1. New season, new teammates

The narrow streets of Grisignano di Zocco quickly slide out the window of my car.
Now these small streets, which I have learned to call home, seem to me more familiar every day.
I literally grew up with my team, Prema.
I first walked through the doors of this factory when I was only 14. I followed my brother Mick like a shadow. I didn’t like being alone. When I got lost as a child, in a mall or in the square of my city, I panicked. In a few seconds, I felt the anxiety inside me, I felt my knees tremble and the tears were rolling over my face. I simply paralyzed. I couldn’t think straight or move.
I just froze.
That’s why my brother, he wasn’t exactly thrilled to take me to his Formula Four races with him.
Yet he finally convinced himself. Perhaps because he had noticed my most utter need to get out of those four walls of my house.
Being the daughter of Michael Schumacher, I was forbidden everything.
No public school, no friends.
At least I kept racing karts.
So, finally, I was on a plane to Spain.
I remember well that the stage of the championship in which my brother competed, was also shared by Formula Regional and Formula 3.
So I was forced to relate, at least a little, with guys, definitely older than me, obviously all friends of Mick.
That was the worst trip of my life, but it upset her, making her what she is now.
I owe it all to that damn flight.

Angelina’s voice brings me back to reality, and when I realize we’re here, I leave my memories behind and get out of the car.I just realized how much I missed this place. I almost didn’t come there much during the winter break and coming back for the tests at the beginning of the season always arouses a bit of nostalgia.
Also today is a great day, I should meet for the first time my new teammates for this my first season in Formula 3. For reasons of confidentiality we were not allowed to know them in advance, in fact I can only do it today, since they will also announce them on social media.
So while I’m packing my bags, I see a familiar face on the door.
"That’s who you see, my favorite Monegasque! Come here let me hug you."
I think I can now consider Arthur Leclerc my best friend. We met many years ago, he followed his brother and I followed mine. We are very similar in this aspect. He understand how it feels to live in someone’s shadow. So, we decided to carry this burden together, and from that day it seems to weigh much less.
We stay a few minutes to tell of our break, which he has strictly spent traveling around the world.
"Anyway before I lied, Lorenzo is definitely my favorite Monegasque."
I know he was gonna come after me, so I can run out of the room at lightning speed. He almost caught me when he slow down. I’m going to do it, too, but I suddently hit what I discover to be René, my team principal.
He looks at me sternly, I’m about to wait for a good rebuke, when he smiles and hugs me. That man is just not able to remain serious.
I also stay to talk to him, until Angelina tells us that we are all and we can finally meet our new team-mate. One is Arthur, and that’s for sure. The other, well, could be anyone. I have to be honest, I’ve already been lucky to be joined by Arthur and another experienced driver would be useful to the team.
I wasn’t very surprised when Prema offered to race in Formula 3 with them. Now this is the third season in which I race with the team of Vicenza. In 2020 I competed with them in Formula 4, both Italian and German, but I came second in both. In 2020 I competed with them in Formula 4, both Italian and German, but I came second in both. I played it with a cocky, self-centered British kid until the last round, where I lost the title. I didn’t easily overcome the defeat, and I still remember the disappointment I felt when I crossed the finish line, a few seconds after the Van Amersfoort Racing car. My team was satisfied anyway, so I was confirmed in Formula Regional by Alpine for the following year.
This time I won the title, earning the renewal from the Ferrary Driver Academy. So this year they gave me one of the three seats in F3. Some people say it’s still too early, I’m only 16, but I’ve worked so hard to make my way in this world, and I don’t want to waste any chances.
This time I won’t let anyone stand in my way.

Or so I thought, since it takes me a few seconds to recognize Oliver Bearman getting out of his car, wearing the team’s Merch.
Oliver, I know everything, Bearman.
I hope this is a joke.

My new teammates lays his suitcase on the ground, greeting the team with hugs.
He even hugs Arthur I don’t even think he knows.
When he comes before me, a disturbing silence falls around us and everyone stops to look at us.
We stare for a few seconds, as if we could jump at each other at any moment.
We hold both the breath, waiting for the other’s move. Unfortunately, I’m proud to death. I’ll never give in first.
I think it’s been a minute, and we’re still watching eachother. Neither of us looks down, neither of us wants to give in to the other.
Until, instead of the warm embrace that he has reserved for all the team members, he stretches a hand, which I shake, not very willingly.