Being Esteban Ocon's press officer and personnal assistant, that was the dream job. When the dream becomes reality, Charlie discovers a whole new world, new friends and new challenges.
Based on the 2018 season.
Esteban Ocon fanfiction, featuring Pi...
"It's your 6th victory of the season here in Singapore Esteban, what do you think of that?" The former driver Lewis Hamilton is the Formula 1 official interviewer for this Grand Prix, asking a few questions to the three guys on the podium. Esteban was the first one to cross the finish line before his rival Max Verstappen, now driving for a very competitive Williams, and his friend Pierre Gasly, number 1 driver of Red Bull Racing.
"It's incredible." The French driver answers with a big smile. "It's funny actually because when I started driving in Formula 1, you were winning almost every weekend, and I didn't understand how you were still euphoric every time you won like it was your first victory. Now I get that it's a feeling that never fades."
"Mercedes is very competitive this season, after 2 difficult years. Do you think you made the right move at the right time when you joined the team 2 years ago, after a year in Formula 2 with Art GP?"
"Definitely! 2018 was a tough year, you all know that, and when I found myself carless in 2019 I trusted Toto Wolff who told me to do a year in Formula 2, to win it, and then he'd have a seat for me at Mercedes. Sure, Ferrari was the top team at that time, but I didn't hesitate twice. Mercedes has been there for me since the beginning and winning with this car is what I've always dreamt of."
"You're leading the drivers' championship by 18 points now. You can't tell us you're not aiming for it."
"Of course I want to win, like the other 19 drivers. Let's just say that I have a small advantage for now with those 18 points." He smirks.
"Thank you Esteban, and congratulations! On your win, and on your recent engagement with Charlie, your press officer."
"Thank you man!"
It's been 3 years since that day. 3 incredible years. There were some ups and downs, but I wouldn't change anything if I could. Esteban lost his Force India seat after Singapore in 2018. He won the Formula 2 championship with Art GP the year after and Toto Wolff called in during our vacations in Bali in July 2019, asking if he would like to have Lewis Hamilton's car, who was retiring at the end of the season. I remember the look on his face when he hung up and took me in his arms to announce the news. Of course, I had stayed his PR and PA even in Formula 2.
Since then, it has been a difficult first year at Mercedes with a car that wasn't as performing as it used to. But since the beginning of this season, Esteban is at the top of the drivers' championship, fighting with Max Verstappen for the title. I remember his first win, in China. He had made two podiums before that, in Australia and in Bahrain.
As Lewis just said, Esteban proposed a few weeks ago, in Spa actually, the evening he won the race. We were celebrating our 3 year anniversary. We are closer than ever, even though there were some difficult times.
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"Well done, babe!" I kiss him on the lips once he joins me for the post-race interviews.
