away we go • formula 1

... no idea

I woke up to the sound of my alarm at 7 a.m. I got ready and went for a short run. Gotta keep myself in shape. When I came back Daniel was already awake and prepared some breakfast for us. "I made us some breaki. I have to be at the factory at 9. You wanna come with me or drive with Max?", Dan told me while serving breakfast. "Depends on when Max leaves. I need to be there at 11:00 at the latest.", I explained. "He leaves at 10. So you'd be there at 10:15.", Daniel said while stuffing his face with food. "Ok I'll go with Max than. And after the factory I'm getting my stuff and I'll leave for Italy.", I planned my day.

Hey could I catch a ride with you to the factory~me
Sure. Just come to my flat whenever. It's the one directly under Daniel's~ Max
Ok thank you.~ me

I went downstairs to Mr. Verstappen's flat and was surprised to see him snogging some girl. I must admit I felt my blood running cold. I thought his girlfriend was blonde? I coughed and tried to smile. "I guess I have bad timing.", I awkwardly said. Max face went red and he looked at the floor. The girl left after kissing Max once more. "I'm sorry.", Max rubbed his neck. "No it's my fault.", I croaked out. "You wanna get going?", he asked clearly trying to move on from the embarrassment. "Sure."

As soon as we were at the factory Max sprinted away. I walked to the simulator and got ready.
"There you are. I looked for you.", Anäis said. I jumped a bit as I didn't see her. "Yeah I just wanted to get familiar with the sim before starting the session. The one in Faenza is a bit different.", I answered. "Yes it is. But don't worry you get your own steering wheel. So it's basically the same - just a bit better. At least that's what Britta told me from when Seb was driving for Toro Ross and Red Bull.", Anäis drifted off topic. "Ok so where is Markus? You said 11.", I asked while tapping in my wrist watch. "You know him... He'll be here in two minutes or so.", Anäis chuckled. True he was never on time apart from when we are racing. "Guys I'm sorry. I got held up. But let's not waste anymore time. Hop in Caro and go. Monaco isn't easy.", how right he was.
I spent 2 hours in the simulator and to say I was frustrated was an understatement. "F*ck! F*ck! F*ck!", I cursed over the radio. "Calm down. The last 20 laps were great. You just lost some focus there. Let's call it a day. You have 5 sim sessions in Faenza left.", Markus said and left the room.
My mood went down the drain after that session. I was so angry that I wasn't looking were I was going. It had to come that way and I ran into someone. "Sorry.", I quickly apologised. Please don't be Christian! I looked into the other persons eyes. I knew these eyes. Piercing blue like the sky. Max Verstappen. "No problem. Hey are you ok?", he asked. "Just frustrated. I can't seem to get through the circuit of Monaco without touching the wall at least once.", i explained my misery. "Don't worry too much. The first time I raced there I touched about 30 walls. It's a very difficult race just keep practicing. It'll be fine.", he squeezed my shoulder and walked off.

"I'm absolutely horrible at driving through Monaco.", I complained to Stoffel on the phone. "It's a hard race. I'm sure you're fine.", he tried. "No I'm really bad. I hope I can get it to work in the race. There's just not enough space.", I was on the verge of crying. "Hey don't you dare cry now. Stop doubting yourself. I was an absolute nightmare my first day in Monaco. It'll be great.", cheered me up. "Enough with the complaining. What were you up to today?", I asked. "Nothing to exciting. A sim session, some training and we needed to mold a new seat.", his day sounded as boring as mine. "When are you flying to Italy?", he asked. "Tomorrow. I'll stay there until shortly before Monaco, why?", I was curious now. "Do you maybe wanna come to Monaco a day early and stay with me?", he sounded hopeful and I could his face face in anticipation. "Why not? It's not like I have anything to do.", I needed time with Stoffel. I always did.

Traveling to Faenza was a pain in the backside as always. It takes several hours and I wasn't in a great mood to start with. Anäis was talking or rather flirting with Brendon the whole trip. While Markus and Ron, Brendon's engineer, talked about Monaco. I wanted to be left alone though so I wasn't complaining. My head was in bits thinking about Max and Stoffel. To be fair Max had a girlfriend who he was maybe cheating on and Stoffel didn't so that's a plus for Stoffel. But Max gives off a kind of bad boy vibe. A plus for him. It was all very confusing so I decided to write down a pro and contra list.
                               Stoffel
•likes me even with bed hair and without make up
• laughs about my jokes
• knows me inside out
• great listener
• keeps me grounded
•builds me up
(•great kisser)
• loves me the way I am
•understands me and my insecurities
• makes me laugh
• my best friend
• Stoffel
• loves Harry Potter
• watches gilmore girls even though he hates it
This list could go on forever.

                                 Max
•bad boy vibe
• nice
•great driver
• ...
That's when I realised I know next to nothing about Max. I'm just attracted to this Max the media portrays him as. I don't know if he likes movies or tv shows. What kind of music he listens to. If he's a good brother, jokes a lot, likes anything I like. He's unpredictable.
Stoffel however I knew inside out. He's always there for me. My rock. He's safe.

The big question is do I want safe or unpredictable?

I stuffed all my stuff into my backpack and left the car that took us to our homes. We all lived in a apartment complex near the factory.  "Carolin you have a sim session today at 5. 3 hours.", Anäis told me. Before I had to go to the simulator I had a gruelling workout with Kalle in front of me. So I went straight to my apartment changed and went to meet with my personal trainer. "Kalle don't kill me please.", I pleaded. I don't think he heard it.
"I'm dead.", I whined when I plopped down on the sofa. "You did good. Tomorrow 7 a.m. 10k run. Be prepared.", with that the swede left my flat.
After a quick shower and changing into something new it was time for the factory.

"Caro watch the breaks. They are getting critically hot. Tyre temperature dropping rapidly.", Marcus transmitted. "I'm trying but I'm having trouble steering the car. Something feels wrong.". 
"Ok Qualifying simulation. This is by far the trickiest qualifying in the whole season. It's crucial the get the tyre temperature into the window. I'll keep you updated on the tyre temperature."

After 3 hours in the simulator I was beat. "Long day?", Brendon asked as he say down next to me in the cafeteria. "More like long week.", I chuckled at my own misery. "I looked at your sector times in Monaco. You are fast girl.", Brendon congratulated me. "Thanks. I still hit a few walls here and there though.", I shrugged. He was right I gotten better but nowhere near the times Max or Dan drive. "Let me know when you figure out how to not hit a wall. I could use some tips.", Brendon joked. "You too?", I was surprised. The Kiwi is an excellent driver and has lots of experience in race car driving. I guess WEC is completely different. "Oh hell yes. Ron kept shouting at me.", he chuckled. "Well let's hope it's not a double out for us then. I don't wanna do a Wehrlein and flip over.", I truthfully said. "That won't happen. Just keep away from the crazy ones. Cough Magnussen cough.", Brendon smiled. "I actually like Kevin. But I gotta admit I don't wanna defend against that lunatic.", I shuddered. "You're quicker anyways.". "Brendon come on! You're session is not finished!", Ron shouted through the cafeteria. "Gotta go! See you later.", he breezed off.