Broken Speed | Lestappen

24 | special day

-|- Abu Dhabi -|-

Today was the day. My last official day as a RedBull member, the day the world would hear the news about me moving to Ferrari for next season. The last months had been tough. While Charles kept on racing, fighting for the championship, I had stayed in Monaco, getting ready.

As the races where mostly outside of Europe and Luka also had fallen ill for a few weeks, we hadn't been to any race after the summer break. Also because I had to train, and we didn't want to spread the rumors.

No one had a clue, except for me, Fred, Charles and a few other people, not even Christian knew. He thought that I would never come back to F1, after he had fired me, how wrong. The news about Carlos's new team had been a few weeks old already, keeping everyone excited who Ferrari's second driver might be.

And this wouldn't be the only surprising news today. After long discussion and living together for the last months, Charles and I had decided to tell the world about our relationship. It was better that way as everything was clear and no rumors could bother us.

"Ready?" Charles asked me as the cab stopped in front of the entrance to the paddock.

"First day of something new, a new chapter in my life." I smiled back, squeezing his hand that was laying in mine.

"I'm so proud of you mon amour, your progress over the last weeks, your confidence, everything, you're just perfect. Thanks for being here with me today." he returned, leaving a soft kiss on my lips, before he opened the door.

It was true, the last weeks and moths had been good for me. The training kept building up my confidence and I was finally satisfied again with my own body. My new trainer always on my side, helping and supporting me.

But my biggest supporter was Charles, and of course Luka and Lio. They also were here today, but still at the hotel with Pascale.

"Let's do this." I breathed as I looked down on my watch.

10:00 am, exactly. The news would be out now, a picture of me at Maranello, posted on Ferrari's Instagram channel. Quickly I brushed over my red shirt, of course wearing my boyfriend's color at such a special day.

Just a minute ago we had also published a picture on our own accounts. It was a picture from this summer, us standing on the boat, watching the sunset, arm in arm. While Charles had a Ferrari shirt with 33 on it's back, I had one with 16 covering my torso.

Partners on and off track, was the caption, together with a red heart.

The moment we entered the paddock, every camera was pointed at us, at our intertwined fingers. I still was a bit nervous, but I was Max Verstappen, I could easily brush that off and don't care.

"Are you together?" 

"Is it true you will drive for Ferrari next season?"

"Can you even come back after a season off?"

"RedBull fired your for the right reason!"

"You and Charles will be the best driver line-up!"

All the people shouted at us, but Charles just pulled me down the paddock. It was a little shame that they focused on us now and not on him, but that was exactly what he wanted. The pressure was high enough, so he didn't need to hear "Will you win the championship today?" every few minutes.