away we go • formula 1

This is the moment

I was buzzed sitting in my cockpit waiting go get started with the formation lap. I heard the music roar and looked over to my right to see the Red Bull of Max parked there. He wasn't in the car yet but he seemed very focused. The song changed and I heard one of my favourite hype songs, Wannabe by the Spice Girls. I started singing and bopping my head which got caught by the cameras.
"Zwesper seems very eager to get out there. It appears her mood has changed since before Qualifying." . "Yeah I do think so Crofty." "Where do you think she's gonna place Martin? This is her highest starting grid position and she never finished higher than 6th and also has a 50% DNF rate.". "I think she has the potential to stay in P5 but it comes down to if the car can stay there."

The lights went out and we started our formation lap. The weather was really nice no cloud in sight therefore the track was hot. "Damn it's quite hot.", I transmitted. "Copy. We gotta watch those brakes then.", Luca said. No one had problem in the formation lap and so we all rolled in our respective grid positions.
1 light, 2 light, 3 lights, 4 lights, 5 lights

"It's lights out and away we go! Really nice start from the first 6. And a really good start by Vandoorne already in the points."

We drove about 10 laps in the same formation that we had at the start. But I saw Max attacking Hamilton in just about every corner but the straight line speed of the Mercedes was just so much better. I had to give my everything to keep Daniel behind me. "Guys we gotta beat Daniel strategically because he is too fast.", I said over the radio. "Ok Box next lap. We gonna put on the hards.", Luca told me. I was concentrating hard on getting every corner right.
"Zwesper coming in early in the race. Does she know something different than all the others?". "It does seem a bit early to go in. But I think she might be trying the undercut on Verstappen but that might be a bit too eager."
The next laps weren't short of thrill. Hamilton had the first mechanical failure in a Mercedes this season and he was livid. This also meant I was up in the podium positions halfway through the race. Which meant absolutely nothing since anything could happen. "Ricciardo is complaining about slipping. How are your tyres?", Luca asked. "They feel perfectly fine.". "Ok strategy A give it all you got."
Strategy A was our Plan B. Which when you think about it makes no sense but anyways it is what it is.  I was supposed to drive for another 10 laps and squeeze every ounce of performance out of the tyres and then box for softs for the laps few laps. At this moment I was still running in third with Ricciardo dropping back because of some issues with his car. In front of me were Max and Valtteri. For what I saw Max was pushing and Bottas was struggling to keep him behind.
"Martin how must that girl feel right about now?". "Well Crofty I don't know but I'm guessing she's not chilled at all. It's her home race and everybody expects a lot of her. But she's doing phenomenal." "She really is. Her gap to Ricciardo has increased. Zwesper is a good 19 seconds ahead of Daniel." "And not to forget the battle for the last few points. Vandoorne had a superb start and has stayed in the points ever since. Alonso is trailing behind the big three teams and Zwesper. He is in a very comfortable spot right now."
"Box - Box". "Copy." I pushed the last bit of performance out of my tyres and got into the box. I was one of the only ones on a two stop strategy and hoping it was gonna pay off. My pit crew were admirable. We didn't have tools as good as Mercedes or Red Bull but they pulled of a really good stop with 2.4 seconds of standing time. The guys in the pit calculated that I would get out right before Daniel and I prayed that this was the case. Daniel was not shy when it came to overtaking or defending.
"This is gonna be close. A really nice stop by Toro Rosso. Is she gonna stay in front of Daniel or was it just a tad bit short of the big clue?" "Crofty she has done it." "Ladies and Gentlemen watching. The Austrian is in the top three at her first home Grand Prix with only 10 laps left."
"Wow that was close. Thanks for the mega stop guys.". "10 laps to go push.", Luca sounded very strained.
The last then laps felt like eternity. My whole body was cramping up and I pleaded for this race to end.
Max and Bottas were still fighting. But Max got him in turn 3 and you better believe he wouldn't let Valtteri get back past him. Dani has dropped back again. Something was definitely not right with his car. While driving through the straight I saw a video wall and found Stoffel was in spot number 8. That was just behind Fernando which should give him a confidence boost.
"Last lap. Give it you all", I heard. I drove this last lap very carefully. When I safely got through turn 11 the tears started pouring.
"You did it. Grande!!! Take it all in. That P3 in Austria Caro.", the tears kept coming.
"Guys. I'm crying a lot right now. So I'll keep it short. Thank you so blimin much.", I chocked on my words but I couldn't care less. "YOU DID IT.", Marcus screamed over the radio. "We DID IT!"

The way to parc ferme I spent ugly crying. But I felt no shame in that. Everything around me was blurred but clear at the same time. I jumped out of my car and ran over to my team and hugged them. Everybody was enjoying themselves. "You did it! I'm so proud", Someone picked me up from behind. "Thank you. I couldn't have do it without you", I turned around and hugged Stoffel. "This will be the only flower ceremony I will watch the whole season.", he joked and got the clean himself up.
All the drivers came by and shook my hand.  Apart from Massa but nothing could rain on my parade today.
Carolin Zwesper 3rd in the Austrian GrandPrix.