One shots Formula One

Head screwed on straight

Requested by: crazyeperson
Driver: Pierre Gasly
Plot: He is really stressed/nervous for the race

Pierre, he was finally in one of the top teams. After all his hard work he was finally getting there, although the first races didn't necessarily go to plan, he did the best he could. He was struggling to get used to the car and the team, he was struggling to get the results he knew the team could get as his teammate did perform to the team's wishes. 

Multiple arguments between you and him had been the result of all his build up frustration. He didn't understand why he couldn't get the car to work the way it should. He didn't understand why he couldn't go through the midfield with his top team car like a knife through soft butter. 

"If I'm doing nothing wrong then why don't I get the results? Why am I stuck somewhere at the bottom of the top ten or even out when Max can score podiums, can fight for his place?!" He yelled at you the last time, nearly bursting out into tears. 

He didn't know what to do anymore. Last race was okay with his sixth place, but with almost ninety seconds removed from race winner Lewis Hamilton, he was still way too far off for the performance of the other Red Bull who was just over twenty-five seconds off.  

"Please, Max has been driving for almost three years in the car." You had tried to argue to get him to put more confidence in himself. 

"And he won the first race with the team. How the hell do I look when I don't even finish in the top ten my first race. Heck, I didn't even make it out of q1!" He exclaimed. It broke your heart seeing Pierre like that. You knew he had a tough job, after all, he had the shoes of Daniel Ricciardo to fill and that wasn't just a simple job, but on top of that, he has one of the most talented drivers as his teammate. He has to make sure he isn't too far off the guy that people compare to Ayrton Senna, he has to make sure he delivers just as much as someone people expect to become the youngest world champion to date. 

"And you didn't, who knows, maybe you'll become Red Bull's champion instead of Max, just give yourself a little time to get adjusted. Who knows maybe next year the team has to make another trophy cabinet because you are winning too many trophies. Maybe you'll even start to do it this year. You never know Pierre. Just have a little trust." The argument had been going on for so long by that time that Pierre didn't feel like telling you once again he wasn't good enough so he left it at that. 

"Yeah, who knows." Were his final words before taking a shower and going to bed without saying another thing to you. It was eating you alive and you were hoping that the race in Azerbaijan was going to change things for the better. 

However, the first free practice didn't look that promising and even though when facing the camera he would keep his cool, he lashed out when he was alone with you. You had come with him to Azerbaijan as you loved the track. 

"You see what I mean?! Fifteenth in a free practice and I didn't crash or anything! I just am not a good enough driver."

"Pierre please calm down." You tried, making him sit down. You sat down across him and took his hands in yours. "I know you are sick of me saying this, but I am sick of you doubting yourself. You are an amazing driver, otherwise, they wouldn't have asked you to join the big team right? They know what they are doing."

"And I'm letting them down."

"Do you know what Christian told me?" Pierre shook his head. "That he has confidence in you, that Helmut Marco has trust in you. That they are more than willing to give you the time you need to get a good feeling with the car. That they are willing to invest time and money in you because you are one of their talents and they want you to succeed. They want you to be at the same level as Max, but they are patient and they are willing to wait for those results. Besides, they still have the final small gap to close before actually fighting for the championship so they are right. You have still some time. Just relax and do what you did last year with Toro Rosso, what you did all these years before coming here. They saw you were a talented driver then, all they see know is a talented driver that is failing because he puts too much pressure on himself."