The Red Bull Party Girl |ON HOLD|

30. Monza

It was Sunday in Monza, Italy, and I stood in the Red Bull garage watching a relaxed Sebastian as he chatted with Rocky. He seemed different this weekend, alot more laid back and happy than he usually was, it was almost as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, as though he suddenly felt free and able to enjoy his racing once more. I looked around the garage, there was a hive of activity around Seb's car and no doubt it was the same next door with both cars starting the race from eighth and ninth on the grid. Finding the ideal set-up on these cars had been extremely difficult all weekend. Britta was, as usual, not far from Seb and was busily chatting away on her mobile while scribbling something into her diary. After further discussions between Seb and Ferrari it was decided that any announcement about their new driver lineup would be delayed until Fernando Alonso had decided on where he was going next year, at the moment this was possibly going to confirmed and made public in October. It meant that Seb had decided to hold off on telling Red Bull his plan to leave as he didn't want it going public yet and for the rumours that were already circulating to intensify. As my gaze returned to the handsome German he was still very much immersed in conversation with Rocky but sensed me looking at him and briefly looked my way, giving me a smile and making me feel all girly.
"Buon pomeriggio, mia bellissima ex moglie." (Good afternoon, my beautiful ex-wife.) Bastiano appeared beside me, I saw Seb's facial expression change in an instant.
"Do one Bast." I muttered without even looking at him.
"You can't talk to me like that, I'm one of your sponsors now." He replied as we watched Seb zipping up his race overall, the pitlane was due to open in five minutes with thirty-five minutes to go before the race got underway and Seb would be off for an exploration lap before lining up at his grid spot. I allowed myself a smug smile for I knew that I wouldn't have to put up with my fuckwit of an ex-husband next season as we'd decided that I'd be leaving too, Seb didn't want me staying in, what would become, a rival team's garage. I'd already written my notice but was going to hand it in on the same day that Seb was going to tell the team and I couldn't wait for him to find out! "You know this sponsorship deal is for next year as well, means I'll be seeing alot more of you." He added while I just kept thinking of how wrong he was. "At least let's be civil Harper." My eyes met Seb's once again just before his put his balaclava and helmet on, the smile he gave me told me that he knew exactly what was going through my mind, how we'd be rid of the bastard next season. I blew him a kiss while he was fastening the strap under his chin, all I could see was those two blue eyes looking back at me, the way they wrinkled at the corners told me he was grinning from ear to ear under his helmet. Now we were into the second half of the season and his future for the next three years was secured he was going to enjoy this race, no matter what the result was at the end. "Harper?" Bastiano tapped my shoulder as I hadn't responded to his request to be civil.
"What?" I snapped.
"Can we at least be civil to each other?" He asked.
"Yeah, whatever." I replied vaguely as I watched Seb climb into the car, his hand went down to his groin as he adjusted himself before he sat down. It made me chuckle as yesterday just before qualifying he'd moaned over the radio that his seatbelts were too tight and were 'strangling his balls', a piece of radio gold that had gone viral on YouTube later that day. Sensing he was going to get nothing more from me, Bastiano moved on and went into Dan's garage and I sighed with relief that he'd gone.
"Thought you'd like to listen to Radio blue balls again this afternoon." Jonesy grinned as he passed me a headset and I laughed at his reference to Seb's moaning yesterday. "They've checked his seatbelt and it won't strangle the family jewels."
"Cheers Jonesy." I placed the headset on just in time as the car was started. Suzie fired into life and was lowered from her jacks just after the tyre warmers were removed. After getting the go ahead from Ben in the pitlane, Seb pulled away and out of the garage. The next time I'd see him would be a glimpse during the pitstops. Within seconds of leaving the garage, his voice sounded in my ears as he began his usual radio and car checks on every corner, I marveled at how different he sounded, my Seb had gone and had been replaced by Sebastian Vettel, four times world champion, it was as if someone had flicked a switch. I was listening to the authoritative voice of the team's number one driver, the man who had effectively built this team around him, moulding them to his way of working and I have to admit, I found listening to his voice a little bit of a turn on, it was a shame we were going to a team dinner tonight as right now I felt like dining on him, not on food. I watched on the live feed as Seb approached the back of grid and cut the engine in order for the car to be wheeled to his grid slot by his mechanics. I couldn't believe that this time next year he'd be taking part in his first Italian gp for a world famous Italian team.