Three best friends have been there for each other since their 12th. Sienna is the little sister of Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, she's a feisty girl with a strong character. Maeve Vettel is the daughter of Sebastian Vettel and she's a Red Bull driver...
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Sienna's point of view
The dim, golden glow of the venue creates a cozy environment as we settle in for the evening. It was mine and Luci's idea to organize this 0.0% wine-tasting night because the drivers can't drink for tomorrow. Seeing everyone laughing, relaxed and happy the evening before tomorrow's big race makes it feel so worth it.
The energy is calm, not electric like tomorrow night, no there is no stress here, no expectations, just good company and laughter.
I glance over at Lando, who is scanning the room with an expression of excitement and curiosity. I poke him lightly, catching his eye.
'Welcome to your surprise. We didn't trust you guys not to grab a real drink, so we planned this, fully controlled and monitored', I tease, a grin spreading across my face.
'What, you didn't believe I could resist? I'm hurt, sweetheart', he laughs, slipping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me close.
Carlos walks over to us and I notice he's already relaxed, laughing with Rebecca at his side. This is their first big event together since they went official and seeing them so happy makes me smile.
Carlos glances over, chiming in with a chuckle. 'Don't even pretend, my muppet friend. I can see the temptation in your eyes!'
Rebecca leans into Carlos, laughing, and we all exchange amused looks. Maeve and Luciana come up beside us, and I can't help but beam. Maeve looks stunning, her usual intensity softened into a relaxed happiness that's hard to miss.
'Sienna, this place is amazing', she whispers, nodding in approval as she scans the room. Her gaze catches Max's, and I can see the unspoken connection between them, a quiet acknowledgment of their relationship, one they both manage to keep private and beautifully understated.
Luciana joins us, her eyes wide as she surveys the place. She grins at me, her happiness visible. 'Leave it to us to create the perfect event, Sienna. Look at them, everyone's actually relaxed!'
'That was the plan. Mission accomplished', I wink back at her. Watching everyone enjoy this night feels like a little gift to each other, the last hours of laughter before the high-stakes weekend ahead.
Luciana's point of view
Seeing everyone so happy, so completely in the moment, makes my heart swell. It's rare, especially for Charles, to let his guard down the night before a race. But here he is, at ease, laughing and making toasts. I watch him lift his glass in a heartfelt salute toward Sienna and me.
'Here's to our brilliant organizers', he says, his gaze warming as he looks between the two of us. 'Thank you for keeping us out of trouble, as usual'.
Everyone clinks glasses, and the cheerful noise fills the room.
Charles turns to me with a soft smile, his hand finding mine. 'I'd never even think to organize something like this, princess', he admits, almost sheepishly.
'Exactly why you need me', I tease, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. 'You'd be locked in your hotel room by now, dissecting every corner of the track'.
He chuckles, nodding. 'Probably. But it's nice to just... be here, you know?'
I do know. I lean closer, murmuring so only he can hear. 'See? You deserve to unwind. Tomorrow will come soon enough'.
Across the table, I catch Maeve and Max in a playful argument, their faces animated and full of affection despite their good-natured teasing.
Carlos, the observant guy, raises his glass toward me with a knowing look. 'Luciana, don't let Charles fool you. You're probably the only reason he's managed to stay this relaxed all week'.
Rebecca laughs softly, nudging Carlos. 'I've heard all about the "Luciana Effect." We should bottle it as a secret weapon'.
I laugh, feeling the warmth of everyone's love and humor, but also that other people acknowledge that Charles and I are truly made for each other. 'I'll just keep it for tomorrow's luck, thank you very much', I laugh.
He squeezes my hand, eyes meeting mine and in his expression, I find all the reassurance I need for the weekend. The closeness of this moment makes me realize just how far we've come, from our secret rendevous/PR relationship to openly sharing our lives with these friends who mean so much to us.
Maeve's point of view
Sitting next to Max, I feel like the weight of the season has been momentarily lifted. The tension that usually hangs around us before a race has dissolved in this room, with its golden lighting and soft laughter.
I swirl the dark red liquid in my glass, lifting it to my nose and inhaling. It's supposed to mimic real wine, and though it doesn't have the bite, the ritual itself is calming.
'Have you ever done something like this before?', I ask Max, smirking as he studies his glass with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism.
'Once, I think. At a team dinner where everyone pretended not to know it was 0.0%'. he laughs. 'But I don't remember it being nearly as good as this'.
His eyes linger on mine a beat longer than necessary, a small smile pulling at his lips. It's a look I know all too well by now, one that says he's here with me, just us, despite the room full of friends.
Before I can reply, I catch Sienna watching us, her grin widening as she looks over, clearly reading my mind. I can already tell she's going to tease me about this later. But for now, I'm happy to just sit here with him, surrounded by people we trust.
Oscar raises his glass, interrupting my thoughts, his voice breaking through the chatter. 'Here's to the end of a season, friends, and... no hangovers', he laughs.
Grace, sitting beside him, chuckles and gives him a light shove. I join in the laughter, catching Max's eye again.
'Copy that, Osc', I laugh. 'Finally, a new race-week tradition I can actually get behind', I say, lifting my glass to meet his.
As everyone cheers, toasts, and drinks, the room fills with an easy warmth. For a few moments, I can forget about tomorrow. It's just us, our little idiotic family. And as much as I want this championship, being here, surrounded by them, reminds me that win or lose, I've already won something far more lasting.
The rest of the night flows in a cozy rhythm. Each of us takes turns making mock toasts and giving pretend speeches, laughing at each other's antics. Luciana and Charles are huddled close, Sienna's laughing with Lando and Carlos, and Max's hand rests subtly on my knee. Each moment feels like a small victory against the weight of tomorrow's race.
