New driver in the paddock

Night of celebration

Y/n had barely started to relax after her conversation with her mom when she heard a knock at her hotel room door. She groaned softly, pulling herself up from the bed, half expecting it to be a team official with some post-race debrief or another meeting. But as she opened the door, she was greeted by the grinning face of Amy, her closest friend in the paddock and the team’s press officer.

“Get up, superstar!” Amy beamed, her eyes twinkling with excitement. “We’re going out to celebrate, and you’re not staying in here like a hermit.”

Y/n chuckled, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten as she saw the mischievous look on Amy’s face. “Amy, I was just about to crash. It’s been a long day,” Y/n protested, though the idea of a night out with the other drivers was becoming more tempting by the second.

Amy shook her head, already stepping into the room. “No way! You just won one of the toughest races of the season, and the guys are all meeting up at a bar nearby. We’ve got the whole night off, and everyone wants to celebrate. Even Lewis and Charles are coming. You’ve got no excuse!”

Y/n sighed dramatically but couldn’t hide the smile creeping onto her face. “Alright, alright, give me five minutes to change,” she said, relenting as she grabbed some clothes from her suitcase.

Amy plopped herself down on the bed, watching as Y/n rummaged through her things. “You know, it’s not every day you get to party with the entire grid after a win like that. Plus, Max is coming too, so it’ll be interesting to see how that dynamic plays out.”

Y/n paused for a moment, the mention of Max bringing a slight edge back to her thoughts. The tension between them had been palpable all weekend, and it had only grown after the team orders during the race. Still, a night out with the other drivers sounded like the perfect way to unwind and maybe even clear the air a little.

She quickly changed into something casual but stylish—black jeans and a fitted top—before tying her hair back. “Okay, let’s go before I change my mind,” Y/n said, grabbing her jacket as Amy jumped up, ready to drag her out the door.

The bar they arrived at was tucked away in a cozy corner of the city, dimly lit with an atmosphere that buzzed with energy. The moment they walked in, Y/n could hear the familiar voices of her fellow drivers. Laughter echoed from a booth in the back, and she spotted several of them already gathered, drinks in hand and in high spirits.

Lewis was sitting with Lando and Daniel, the three of them laughing at some joke that Daniel had clearly told. Charles and Carlos were at the bar, engaged in what looked like an intense conversation, though both of them waved as Y/n and Amy approached.

“Y/n! You made it!” Lando called out, his face lighting up as he waved them over.

Lewis, sitting beside him, gave her a knowing nod. “You’ve earned a night off, champ.”

Y/n felt a warmth spread through her, realizing how much she had missed moments like these—where the competition was left at the track, and they were just a group of people unwinding after a grueling weekend.

Amy nudged her towards the bar. “Go grab a drink. I’ll join you in a sec.”

As Y/n made her way to the bar, Carlos nudged Charles with a smirk. “Look who finally decided to join us.”

Charles turned and grinned, raising his glass in her direction. “About time! I thought you might’ve bailed after that intense race.”

Y/n shrugged with a grin, sliding onto the stool next to them. “I almost did, but Amy wouldn’t let me.”

Carlos laughed. “Good. You deserve to celebrate, especially after that fight with Lewis today. That was some proper racing.”

Y/n smiled as the bartender placed a drink in front of her, the weight of the race lifting even more as she took a sip. “Thanks. It felt good, though I think I’m still coming down from all the adrenaline.”