Reviewing priorities - Sebastian Vettel

19. Silverstone pt.2

'Valeria come in' Mattia's voice came in through the radio.

'go ahead, Mattia'

'Are you ok going to the podium?'

'Sure...' she closed the communication. 'Bärchen, I'll see you back at the hotel, sorry. I need to rush' she kissed him. 'Love you'

She walked out and followed Charles' crew to the podium. She smiled at Domenico and Giorgio but decided to stay behind, her mind still wandering back to Seb. It broke her heart to see him feeling that way and to notice that only herself, Britta and Riccardo seemed to care to pick him up.

'Newbie' Nico's voice brought her back to reality. 'alright?'

'Sure' she smiled. How was it possible that Nico seemed to always read her moods?

'Live in 3... 2... Martin, it's that time of the week again! What can you tell us? How's the morale down in Casa Ferrari?'

'mixed, of course. Gutted for Sebastian, but so proud of Charles being up there so much, of course.'

'thank you' he told her, taking the microphone she was passing him. She spotted Federica behind him and waited there for the other mic.

'Carlo, I'm here with Valeria. Valeria, not the race we wanted to see.'

'These things happen in racing, unfortunately'

'Carlo did you want to ask a question?' she asked, listening through the earpiece. 'Carlo is asking if your relationship with Sebastian is affecting his performance, or if it's affecting the balance between him and Charles.'

'short answers? No and no.' She smiled.

'Care to elaborate?'

'no, I'm not affecting Sebastian's performance. He still spends as much time in the sim as he did last year, if not more. I have my own work to do, the fact that we spend time outside of work together doesn't affect both our jobs. And I have known Charles since he was three, but nobody seems to think that that might affect our relationship or the balance between our drivers. We are all professional adults and leave the feelings at the door of the factory or the paddock. Thank you' she gave her the microphone back, with a smile. She walked off as she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around to see Domenico. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, without saying anything, watching her smile feebly.

'ignore all of that crap' he told her once they got back to the garage.' Everyone is starting a witch hunt against Seb and you're getting caught in it.'

She thanked him, grabbing her stuff and walking out of the paddock straight away. She got back to the room she was sharing with Sebastian and found him sitting on the bed, watching a video on his phone. She heard her voice come out of it 'We are all professional adults and leave the feelings at the door of the factory or the paddock' he turned it off and gave her a smile.

'are you reading the Italian media again? What have I told you about them?' she tried to joke, sitting next to him.

'that they hate me?'

'No, that they jump on a different driver every season.' And that most of them shouldn't be allowed to be called journalists.' 

'you shouldn't get caught in the crossfire though. I don't want you to have to deal with it '

'Seb, it's my job. And also, I prepared myself for it since we started sneaking around in Spain. I'm happy to deal with it, because I know I get to come home to you' she kissed him. 'now. We are both upset. In this country, when you're upset you drink. When's your flight to Frankfurt?'