END GAME | Lewis Hamilton

Chapter 9: Race day!!

~ Lewis pov ~

Here I was 37 years old the morning of my 16th f1 season. I was making my way to breakfast walking to the elevator when a door 3 metres in front of me swings open.

Estelle Dumont.

As we make eye contact my focus is shifted to some blonde give saying goodbye to her, she doesn't really pay him much attention.

I take a good look at her. She was dressed up in going out clothes. Oh I thought she's doing a walk of shame.

As the guy steps out into the walkway I open my mouth, "Hey, you still need to get your clothes from my room, you left them there yesterday morning."

She looked horrified at what I had just said. At the time I found it hilarious but looking back I kinda feel bad. I remember my fuck boy era, what a time.

I walk away hearing her say a quick goodbye to her hookup.

As I enter the elevator I'm reminded of the party I went to earlier this year. I couldn't say whose party but I remember her there.

I was stupid not to recognise her. She just looked so... different. I guess when I've seen her she's been in a race suit but still.

It took me a day or two to connect the dots and I couldn't help but think if she remembered it. I mean she did have a lot to drink.

Something about her made me curious, I want to know more about her.

After breakfast I grabbed my stuff and made my way to the track. I did some interviews before talking to George.

"How are you feeling about this season?" He asked.

"I don't think it's going to be it."

"Yeah, redbull seemed so strong in Barcelona." He argued. "But the rookie, I think she's a wild card."

"Yeah she's a World Champion in the making." I saw myself in her.

"I wonder how max will take it when she starts winning against him." George stirred.

"Not very well is my guess." Max was a pretty sore loser I thought.

"Well she has a fuck tone of potential, I'm actually excited to see if she can hold on to it."

I nodded, "P3 for her first qualifying is kinda crazy."

After my conversation with George, I headed to the pit area to check on my car. The team was making some last-minute adjustments, and I couldn't help but feel the familiar mix of excitement and nerves building up within me.

As the sun blazed down on the track, I couldn't help but think about the rookie driver, the girl who was already making waves in the world of Formula 1. Her talent was undeniable. I remembered what it was like to be in her shoes, full of dreams and aspirations, and I couldn't help but root for her.

The race was about to begin, and the tension in the air was exhilarating. The roar of the engines, the smell of the burning rubber, and the adrenaline coursing through my veins – it was all so familiar.

I jumped in car getting the all clear from the engineers. I drove to my P2 starting position making sure my radio was working.

I got the all clear and toke a deep breath once I was in position. Everyone had made it theirs as well, the first light turned on. Then the second, I could feel a rush of adrenaline going through my body.

I had blinked for a second and the fifth one had suddenly appeared. Then they went out.

Engines roared as the lights disappeared and the 2023 season had really started. I got away clean on the first corner, keeping P2.

Max was ahead of me and behind me was George and Estelle fighting for 3rd. "Gap to max?"

"1.29 seconds." Bono informed me.

"Copy."

As we made our way around the next corner I slipped the front of the car on the inside lane but I wasn't able to hold it as max pushed swerving the next corner.

"Come on."

"Approaching DRS zone in 5 seconds." Bono encouraged me. "And now!"

I managed to glide pass max creating a gap between as. "Awesome job Lewis, Alex Albon is out due to engine problems."

"Okay."

Maybe this would be my season, maybe I would finally take my 8th world title.

As the race continued max and I went back and forth between first and second. Max wasn't going to give up easily but I already knew that.

Lap 50 out of 58 was where it changed, max and I had changed tires at the same time, half way through the race. So when I I could feel my tires already wearing I knew there was nothing I could do.

Max had overtaken me, "Box, box, my tires are gone."

"Copy."

"Gap to behind me?"

"Ah, Dumont 5.3 seconds and her pace is increasing. George is in P4 exactly 20 seconds behind you."

It toke me a minute to get to the pit lane and in that minute the rookie red bull overtook me. She was incredibly fast with amazing pace definitely giving max a run for his money.

As I pulled into the pit lane the engineers managed to put fresh tires on in 2.3 seconds and I was able to come out p3.

"Gap to p2?"

"11.93 seconds."

"Her pace?"

"She's getting quicker."7 laps left I thought as I started the course again.

I pushed harder and harder and by lap 56 I managed to close the gap to 2.4 seconds. Entering DRS zone I tried to nudge my way through but she was defending crazy.

It amazed me how well she was doing, as we glided through the course to the final lap she was still ahead of me, "Gap is 1.01 seconds, hammer time?"

"You know it." Approaching the first turn I thought she was just breaking late but she ended up in the gravel and I presumed her breaks had locked up on her.

Shame I thought.

"What's she now?"

"P6, Daniel is 15 seconds behind you don't worry."

I pushed through the last lap taking home 2nd.

"Wonderful job Lewis, let's turn that into p1 next race aye?" Toto laughed though the radio.

"Yeah, thank you guys." I chuckled through the radio.

As I pulled into the pits I was met with a huge congratulations from the team. As I grabbed water I watched Estelle pull up and jump out of her car.

Horner pulled her into a hug with her helmet still on and with my good hearing I heard him.

"You did great kid, don't sweat it. You'll always have next race." She toke the helmet off and you could see the disappointment in her face.

She seemed agitated and it reminded me of how much I wanted to take home the cup for my first race.

Daniel Ricardo had come up to me as we made our way to the podium, "She's got more ambition than you." He joked.

"Yeah." I agreed, it made me think of how naive I was when I began. How many mistakes I made and how much I've learned.

In the world of f1 you swim or you sink. She was being thrown straight into the deep end with a pool like red bull. Secretly I was rooting for her.