Raging Bulls || Max Verstappen MV

17. A Thousand Bad Times

"Cause I can take anything that you give me

It's gonna take a lot more to kill me, bitch

So thank you for the grave I needed me a place to sleep"

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"YES YES YES!" Seb's voice crackles through the speakers in my helmet. My fists pound into the wheel as a wild grin spreads across my face.

"That's P2 Mati, great job. Great result for the team." Christian takes a moment to congratulate me as the muffled cheers also find their way through the radio.

The team.

This didn't feel like a team as both our crews waited to congratulate us. This didn't feel like a team as my teammate climbed from his race winning car without a hint of amusement. This didn't feel like a team when he didn't even pretend to congratulate me. This didn't feel like a team as we were brought to the podium, a place meant for joy and pride, turned sour as the boy who was supposed to be my teammate just clasped hands with Hamilton who occupied third position.

I tried to force those negative thoughts from my head as I walked back to the garage. Rounding the corner my crew exploded into applause and cheer. Sebastian and Daniel were front and center, both grinning from ear to ear. The Australian lifted me into the air and I let myself laugh, the cheers began once again. My feet hit the ground and Seb approached next. I couldn't make out the emotion that danced in his eyes but he pulled me in for a quick hug.

"Holy shit what a race!" Voices boomed from behind me. Logan and Oscar both stood in the garage opening. I ran to my two friends and hugged them both. Oscar lingered just a second longer as he glanced over my shoulder.

"Oh stop Oscar. You know Sebastian likes you." I chuckled at my friend's hesitation.

"And I want to believe you Mat, I really do. But everytime I come around...I feel like he's watching me."

"I mean you are a mini version of his ex-teammate and rival who he still talks about and had many intense battles with. But hey...why would he not like you." I schooled my face into dead seriousness then watched as Oscar's breathing hitched.

"Mati–" he started and I couldn't hold it together anymore. The laughter burst from me along with Logan. "That is NOT funny...at all!" But our friend couldn't hide the ghost of a smile from his face either.

"Have you guys seen Leo?" Both boys seemed to startle at the question.

"Um–he's–he's here?" Logan raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah! I haven't seen him since the podium though. Why do you sound so surprised?" My friends shared a look that I couldn't read.

"No we're not! I just didn't think he would come. With him being so–" Oscar started,

"Busy and all!" Logan finished. All conversations halted on my side of the garage as a cold wind caught me off guard. The other side of the Red Bull team erupted in cheers as my teammate strode through the door.

"For someone who just won the entire fucking sprint and is starting on pole tomorrow, he sure looks pissed off." Oscar's words pounded through my head with every step the other Red Bull driver took into our garage.

My friend wasn't wrong though. The reigning world champion only clasped hands with a few of his mechanics, pit crew and race engineer. His smile didn't even show teeth as he had a brief conversation with Christian and settled into a chair to review some of the recorded segments.