Driven by Fate- CHARLES LECLERC

On Top, But What Comes Next?

POV: Carlotta Damian

Practice 3 was perfect. The car felt electric beneath me, humming with power as if it wanted to prove a point. Yuki always had trouble getting the most out of it, but me? This car understood me. Or maybe I understood it. Either way, we were in sync. Every lap was faster, tighter, smoother. As I hit the straights, I felt the engine pushing, demanding more. I crossed the finish line for the final time, and Simon's voice cut through the noise in my helmet.

"Damian, that's P1 again. Leclerc behind by two-tenths, Perez P3. Verstappen's down in P5, and Daniel's right behind him. Oh, and, by the way, you've just broken your own lap record."

I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. "Not bad," I replied, trying to sound calm, but inside, I was grinning. "Let's keep this going."

As I rolled into the pit lane, my team swarmed the car. Everyone was all smiles, clapping me on the back, congratulating me. There was a lightness in the air, the kind that only comes when you know you've done something special.

"Carlotta, that was brilliant!" one of the mechanics shouted over the noise of the garage.

Jeff, the team principal, came up, a rare smile on his usually stern face. "If you keep driving like this, Ferrari's going to be knocking at your door. Heck, Red Bull and McLaren aren't far behind either."

I laughed, though my mind couldn't stop spinning at the thought.

Ferrari? Red Bull? McLaren?

They were all giants in the sport, but I wasn't sure I was ready to leave F2. Ollie, Kimi, they were more than just teammates. They were family. Moving to F1 full-time would mean leaving them behind.

I grabbed a plate and made my way to the gazebo where Daniel, Max, and Sergio were already sitting. Max looked up as I approached, his smirk already forming.

"Here she comes. Don't get too used to P1, Damian," he teased. "You know I'm just getting warmed up."

I rolled my eyes, taking a seat next to Daniel. "Yeah, yeah, Verstappen. We'll see who's warming up by the time qualifying is over."

Daniel, as usual, was cracking jokes, keeping the mood light. Perez sat quietly, but always with a warm smile. Carlos and Charles wandered over a few minutes later, joining the table, and soon the banter was flying in every direction. Max and Carlos started teasing me, but I held my ground, throwing it right back at them.

Lando, always with his phone in hand, filmed part of the conversation, catching the moment when I fucked Max off.

Carlos, mockingly horrified, gasped. "Damian, that's not very ladylike."

I smirked, fucking him off too. "Oh, it's very ladylike. Women are just superior to men, that's all."

Daniel chimed in with a grin. "I don't know, maybe we should start shipping Carlotta and Carlos. I'm sensing a vibe here."

Everyone burst out laughing, but I just shook my head, smiling. We were racers, but moments like these reminded me how much fun it could be to share the track with these guys.

Qualifying. This was it.

The pressure was on, but I thrived in moments like this. As I flew through the track, everything around me blurred, leaving only the car, the road, and the numbers. I could feel every turn, every bump in the road, every vibration of the engine. I pushed the car as hard as I could, knowing that pole was within reach.

When I crossed the line, my heart raced as I waited for the final results.

"P1!" Simon's voice was filled with excitement. "Carlotta, you've done it. Pole position!"

I grinned as I completed my cool-down lap, the crowd's cheers roaring in my ears. As I rolled into the pit lane, I raised my hands, forming my signature gesture—rock horns, fingers outstretched, fists closed. The fans went wild, chanting "Damian! Damian!" in unison, the sound washing over me like a wave.

Max finished second, Charles third, and Daniel eighth. It was my moment, but I knew it wasn't over yet. Tomorrow would be the real test.

Back in the garage, the team gathered around, celebrating the pole position. I couldn't stop smiling.

"That was incredible!" Jeff said, clapping me on the shoulder. "You're setting the bar high."

Max walked over, his expression a mix of admiration and competitive fire. "Enjoy the pole, Damian. But remember, tomorrow's race day."

I smirked. "I'm not planning on letting it go easily."

Charles was next, offering a handshake. "Amazing lap, Carlotta. I'll do my best to catch up tomorrow."

"Good luck with that," I teased, shaking his hand. "You'll need it."

That night, we decided to celebrate. I slipped into a sleek electric blue jumpsuit, paired with white boots. It was a look that made me feel confident, strong—exactly what I needed after a day like today. Daniel knocked on my door, grinning as he offered me his arm.

"Ladies and gentlemen, take a moment to congratulate me for escorting the most beautiful woman in the paddock," he announced as we walked into the club.

Max, ever the joker, bowed dramatically. "Your Highness," he said with a smirk, linking his arm with mine as well.

Charles smiled, genuinely complimenting me. "You look stunning, Carlotta."

We entered the club in high spirits, the music loud, the lights flashing. I headed straight to the bar, ordering a vodka lemon while Lando and Charles grabbed their own drinks—beer for Lando, a martini for Charles.

As the night wore on, Charles started to get tipsy. I noticed him unbuttoning his shirt, laughing a bit too loudly with a girl nearby. My face flushed as Lando chuckled at the scene.

"Didn't expect that from Charles," I said, amused.

Lando grinned. "He's full of surprises."

Soon, Charles disappeared with the girl, leaving the rest of us to continue the party. Pierre, clearly tipsy, leaned in close to me, his voice low.

"He's always liked you, Carlotta," he admitted, slurring slightly. "Ever since your first race in F1 as a reserved driver he liked you."

I blinked, taken aback, but before I could respond, Charles returned, lipstick smudged on his cheek. He sat down next to me, ordering a vodka shot, clearly unfazed by his recent adventure.

I took a deep breath, grabbed my lipstick, and planted a kiss on his other cheek, leaving a bright red mark. He looked at me in surprise, then smiled, leaning in to return the favor with a kiss on my cheek.

"Alright, alright," Daniel interrupted, laughing. "Time to get you guys back to the hotel before this gets out of hand."

We stumbled back to the hotel, Charles barely able to walk straight. With Daniel's help, I guided him to his room, where a half-naked Carlos was waiting, already half-asleep with only pants on.

"Looks like someone had fun," Carlos muttered, helping us settle Charles in, taking off Charles' shirt.

"Goodnight" I said walking out of the room that was being a little too hot for me.