Enemies to lovers // C. Leclerc x C. Sainz

Chapter 3: Tempers Flare

{{[SAME POV AS CHAP 1+2]}}

The paddock was buzzing with activity as the teams prepared for the next race. The tension from the previous race still lingered in the air, and I could feel it gnawing at me. Max Verstappen's aggressive move had cost me valuable points, and the frustration was still fresh in my mind. As I walked through the paddock, I spotted Max talking with his team. The sight of him, so casual and indifferent, made my blood boil. I couldn't let it go. I needed to confront him, to make him understand that his actions had consequences. I marched over, my steps heavy with anger. "Max," I called out, my voice sharp. "We need to talk." 

He turned to face me, his expression unreadable. "What is it, Charles?"

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my temper in check. "You can't just hit people off the track and act like it's nothing. You cost me the race."

Max shrugged, his demeanour infuriatingly casual. "It's racing, Charles. Sometimes things happen."

The nonchalance in his voice was the last straw. "You think you can just do whatever you want and get away with it?" I snapped, my voice rising. "You need to take responsibility for your actions." 

Max's eyes narrowed, and I could see the anger flicker in his gaze. "Maybe you should learn to handle the pressure better," he retorted, his tone mocking.

The words hit me like a slap, and before I knew it, I had stepped closer, my fists clenched. "You have no idea what you're talking about," I growled. The tension between us was palpable, and I could feel the eyes of the paddock on us. The situation was escalating, and I knew it was about to boil over.

"Back off, Charles," Max warned, his voice low and dangerous.

But I couldn't back down. The anger, the frustration—it all came to a head. "Make me," I challenged, my voice shaking with rage. Before I could react, Max's fist connected with my jaw, sending a sharp pain through my face. I stumbled back, tasting blood on my lip. The world seemed to blur for a moment, but then everything snapped back into focus. The anger erupted inside me like a volcano. I lunged at Max, my fist swinging, but before I could connect, strong arms pulled me back. "Charles, stop!" It was Carlos. He held me firmly, trying to prevent the situation from escalating any further. "This isn't the place for this." Max stood his ground, wiping his knuckles and giving me a defiant look. "Yeah, listen to your teammate, Charles." I struggled against Carlos's grip, the rage still burning inside me. "Let me go, Carlos! He needs to learn he can't just do whatever he wants!" 

"Enough!" Carlos's voice was firm, and he tightened his grip on me. "This isn't going to solve anything. Calm down." The other teams and personnel in the paddock were watching, their expressions a mix of shock and curiosity. The last thing I wanted was to cause a scene, but my emotions had gotten the better of me. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. Carlos slowly released his hold, but kept a wary eye on me. "You need to cool off, Charles. This won't help anyone."

I wiped the blood from my lip, glaring at Max. "This isn't over, Verstappen."

Max smirked, his confidence unshaken. "Looking forward to it, Leclerc."

Carlos guided me away from the crowd, his grip still firm on my arm. "Come on, let's get out of here."

As we walked away, the reality of what had just happened began to sink in. My lip throbbed with pain, and the taste of blood lingered. I felt a wave of embarrassment, realizing how out of control I had been. Carlos led me to the Ferrari garage, where the team gathered around, their expressions a mix of concern and disappointment. I could see the questions in their eyes, the unspoken worry about how this incident would affect the team's dynamic.

"What were you thinking, Charles?" one of the engineers asked, his tone both stern and sympathetic.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't know. I just... I just lost it."

Carlos stepped in, his voice calm and steady. "He was frustrated. Max pushed his buttons, and he reacted. We all have moments like that." The team nodded, understanding but clearly concerned. They knew the importance of maintaining composure, both on and off the track. "Look," I said, my voice quieter now. "I'm sorry. I know I need to handle my emotions better. It won't happen again."

The team accepted my apology, but I knew the trust would take time to rebuild. I glanced at Carlos, who had been the one to pull me back from the brink. "Thanks, Carlos," I said, my voice sincere. "I appreciate it."

He gave me a small smile, his eyes filled with understanding. "We're a team, Charles. We've got to look out for each other."

As the day went on, I tried to focus on my training and preparations for the next race. The confrontation with Max lingered in my mind, a reminder of the volatile emotions that came with this sport. I knew I needed to find a way to channel that intensity into something productive. In the quiet moments, I reflected on the events of the day. The anger, the frustration—it was all part of the journey. Racing was a test of not just skill, but also character. And today, I had learned a valuable lesson about control and composure. As the sun set over the paddock, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the challenges ahead. The road would be tough, but I was ready to face it with determination and resilience. The game had changed, but I was still in it to win.