Roads of Redemption | F1 | Toto Wolff

04 | Condemnation.

Valentina arrived at the briefing room just in time, her pace quickening as she saw Max and Checo already engaged in a discussion. The tension from the recent incident between Max and Lewis was obvious, and she knew they needed to address it head-on. After all, Lewis is a seven-time world champion with no desire to step back, only to keep moving forward. This determination puts a lot of pressure on Max, testing his already intense temperament.

"Good, you're both here," Valentina began, placing her notes on the table and taking a seat. She made a point to connect with each of them, showing her understanding and support. "We need to be prepared for the media briefing. The incident last weekend has put us under the microscope, and it's crucial we maintain a united front."

Max leaned back in his chair; frustration evident in his eyes. "Yeah, the media is going to try and twist our words. We need to be smart about this."

Valentina nodded, noticing the stress in Max's voice. "Exactly, Max. It's important to acknowledge what happened, but we mustn't let it overshadow our focus on the future and our strategy moving forward. Remember, what we can control is our reaction and our performance."

Checo, with his calm and steady presence, added thoughtfully, "We also need to emphasize our team dynamics. They might try to pit us against each other, but we need to show unity."

"Absolutely," Valentina agreed, her gaze firm but encouraging. "We support each other and work as a team. Unity, focus, and moving forward. Those are our key messages."

Valentina understands that it isn't easy to get Max—or any other driver—to deeply consider and understand things from this perspective, especially since they're all competing against each other. As Senna once said, "If you no longer go for a gap that exists, you're no longer a racing driver." And some more than others, but at the end, all of them think in this way.

She then pulled up the latest data on her tablet, displaying charts and graphs from the previous races. "Now, let's review our performances and identify areas for improvement."

Max leaned in, his competitive nature surfacing. "My cornering speed was excellent in the first half, but we saw a drop-off after the pit stop. I think we miscalculated the tire wear."

Valentina made a note, her tone supportive and constructive. "Good point, Max. We'll consider a different compound for the next race. Checo, your lap times were consistent, but we need to work on your starts. You're losing valuable positions in the first few laps."

Checo rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I've noticed that too. Maybe we can adjust the clutch settings?"

"We'll definitely look into that," Valentina replied, determined. "Overall, we need to leverage our strengths and minimize these weaknesses. Let's coordinate with the engineers to make the necessary adjustments."

As the briefing concluded, Valentina sensed that Max had more on his mind. She decided to take a moment to address his emotional state.

"Max, can we talk for a second?" she asked, motioning for him to step aside. They moved to a quieter corner of the room, away from the buzz of the team.

Max's usual confidence wavered slightly as he met Valentina's gaze. "It's been tough, Valentina. The incident with Lewis... it's all anyone wants to talk about. I feel like I'm constantly defending myself."

Valentina placed a reassuring hand on Max's shoulder, her voice steady and confident. "Max, I get it. The pressure is immense. But let's break this down. What exactly are you telling yourself about the incident?"

Max frowned; his frustration evident. "I keep thinking I messed up. That I should have handled it differently."

Valentina nodded. "That's a tough thought. Let's challenge it. What's the evidence that you made a mistake, and what's the evidence that maybe it was just a tough situation?"