𝑨𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒊
I smiled leaving the team meeting.
"congratulations again" one of the mechanics said to me.
"thank you" I said shaking his hand.
As you guys know already, I won the sprint yesterday scoring myself an easy 8 points in the championship putting me at a whopping 62 in total.
crazy I know
In the shootout I was P2 behind Charles, but later in the afternoon, I managed to catch him.
The pace is here this weekend.
and I'm living for it
"how are you feeling?" Xena asked handing me a cup of espresso.
"normal" I shrugged taking a sip.
We headed outside for some fresh air before Max and I need to get ready for the drivers parade.
I waved at George who was leaving Mercedes.
"wait up!"
We stopped walking so that he could join us.
"hey" I smiled.
We did our handshake before hugging.
"Max still being a pouty pants?" He laughed.
I nodded laughing along with him.
Max and George made contact yesterday during the sprint and let's just say he didn't take it to well...
flashback
"he fucking rammed into me!"
"the whole side of my car is gone!"
"are they not going to do anything about it!?"
I just sipped on my Red Bull walking by the conference room.
the tea is exceptionally good this afternoon
end of flashback
"well George if you ask me, I think you handled the situation like a gentleman" Xena complimented him.
He smiled thanking her.
I looked back at Mercedes and saw Lewis walk out. He looked at me, but didn't say anything.
"has Lewis been acting strange?" I asked George.
He frowned.
"strange? no. why?"
I sighed.
"I don't know but I feel like he's just been avoiding me since Friday"
He can't seriously be mad that I fell asleep in the car when we were supposed to get dinner. I literally told him I was tired.
I looked down at my ring and started playing with it.
"he proposed!?"
I rolled my eyes slapping his arm.
"no you dummy, it's a promise ring" I said in a duh tone.
why does everyone think it's an engagement ring?
As George was telling us about the date he has planned for Carmen, I felt my phone buzzing.
I pulled it out and looked down.
maxie🦁 : I see you.
maxie🦁 : come here.
maxie🦁 : stop speaking to the enemy.
maxie🦁 : amaniiiiiii
I looked around then saw this dummkopf hiding behind a tree watching us.
oh you've got to be kidding me
"I'll be back"
I walked over to Max.
"why are you hiding behind a tr-ah!"
He yanked me behind the tree as well.
I flicked his forehead.
"ow!"
"what is wrong with you?" I huffed.
"why are you talking to Russell?"
bffr
"you've officially went mad" I said walking away.
"Amani!" He whisper yelled.
"lalalalala"
I went back to George and Xena to finish our conversation before heading back to the motorhome to change.
Once I was done Max and I headed to the track for the drivers parade.
"let's see the ring" Esteban and Lance said coming up to me.
I batted my eyelashes holding out my hand.
"our little Mick has grown up" Lance said pretending to wipe away tears.
I giggled hugging Esteban.
"that's not even a promise ring mani, the boy proposed" he chuckled.
I bit my lip staring down at the stone.
I wish he had
When I looked up I saw Lewis glaring at me from the end of the truck.
come on man
What did I even do?
The parade ended and we all climbed down.
"why Lewis staring at you like he wanted to end your whole lineage?" Max asked as we walked into the paddock.
I shrugged going into my drivers room.
I changed into my race suit. As I was tying up my hair my phone started ringing.
I looked down and saw that it was Mick.
"good luck my love" he smiled.
I blew him a kiss tightening my ponytail.
I patted down my suit then gave him a 360. He whistled making me giggle.
I wish he was here, but Mercedes has him in Brackley.
"promise me you'll let me try it on" he teased.
I laughed taking off the ring.
"my good luck charm" I said kissing it before putting it down next to the picture of us.
"be safe okay?"
I hummed.
"I love you"
"I love you too"
I said goodbye and hung up before leaving.
Xena and I went down to the back to warmup.
After warmups, we had a quick team meeting before we moved our cars to the grid.
I did some media with Sky Sports then followed everyone to the front of the grid for the national anthem.
I stood next to Max with my hands behind my back.
As it ended and we all started to walk back to our cars, I felt Lewis's eyes one me.
I can't take this anymore
"is there a problem!?" I shouted turning around.
His eyes widened.
I didn't realize how loud my voice got. And even with all the racket on track people heard me and stopped what they were doing to look at us.
"I-"
Max quickly grabbed my arm and pulled me behind him as we walked to the paddock.
"thanks" I mumbled.
He hummed going over to his side of the garage.
"mani you okay?" Xena asked rushing is after us.
I sighed nodding.
I'll deal with Lewis later
Once I was calmed down we headed back out onto the track.
I watched as the mechanics got to work on my car making sure everything was ready.
Charles is P1, princess Max P2, I'm P3, Carlos P4 and Lewis P5.
I sucked down my Red Bull watching as Lewis climbed into his car.
I walked off to the side to speak to Christian.
"we're thinking of running mediums" Giancarlo said joining us.
"why?"
"you prefer the softs?" Horner asked.
I shrugged.
"I wouldn't mind" I said chewing on my straw.
"they won't last in this heat" Giancarlo said.
"Max is running is mediums so run them as well and then we'll see" Horner said.
I nodded.
He patted my back before walking off.
I put on my earplugs and balaclava before pulling on my helmet and climbing into the car.
"good luck" Xena smiled as I put my wheel back in.
I gave her a thumbs up then put my gloves on.
The track cleared and we began the formation lap.
51 laps and 20 turns
I expected it to be pretty gloomy today but, the sun is out and it's bright and shining on all of us.
Charles began to slow down the field making me grown.
come on man
Coming down the straight I started swerving to get a last tire temperature for the team.
I slotted in behind Charles staring at his back wing.
you know what they say bulls like red
I smirked.
"and it's lights out and away we go!"
I pulled right behind Max keeping Carlos behind me.
Into the first sector double yellows were waved.
"what is it?" I asked Giancarlo.
"debris"
for a second I swore he said de Vries
Coming down the straight to begin lap 2, the magical straight line speed that our cars get appeared and Max was gaining on Charles and I was gaining on him.
Down into lap 4, Max breezed past Charles.
my turn now
We came out of turn 19 and DRS activated.
I began to gain on Charles, but I lost him coming into turn 1 due to my early breaking.
"fuck!"
"Sainz just over 2 seconds behind you" Giancarlo said.
I turnt off my radio and turnt my attention back to Charles.
We reached the straight once again and I saw the space to make my move.
I pulled to the left of Charles and got side by side before making my move on him into turn 1 again. I forced him to brake and let me through.
"yes!"
and ladies and gentlemen that's how you do it
"clear of Leclerc, charge Max"
I like that
Lap 9 Max clipped the wall into turn 4.
I watched as he was sliding from his rears.
"great job protecting your rears, Max is struggling" Giancarlo announced.
today is a good day my friends
Suddenly the yellow flags came out.
"de Vries off into turn 6"
spoke too soon
They decided to give Max the first pick on strategy and let him pit Max first leaving me out.
traitors
As Max was leaving the pit lane, the safety car was released.
wait a minute
"Carlo! pit me! I can come in and still make it out in the lead! everyone else is racing under the safety car and I'll be out in time!"
"box! box! box!"
I pulled into the pits.
come on come on come on
The hards were on and I pulled out in front of Charles before he reached his crew.
"great job guys!" I cheered coming out back in the lead.
okay not going to lie this race was pretty boring so let's fast forward
"queen of the streets!"
"yes! well done guys! well done! this win is for everyone back in the factory!"
I parked the car and jumped out.
I ran to my crew jumping into their arms.
I felt someone pat my back.
I turnt around and saw Max. I nodded at him before walking over to Helmut who had his arms opened for me.
I smiled hugging him.
"tolles rennen!"
"danke" I smiled.
I then turnt to Max and hugged him.
"you raced hard" he mumbled.
"I learnt from you" I teased.
I walked over to the table and started taking off my helmet and and balaclava. As I was pulling out my ear plugs, I saw Charles.
I hugged him patting his back.
"thank you for not killing me" he teased.
I chuckled shaking my head.
Once he was done weighing in, I went.
"your first podium of the season" I smiled at him.
"yeah baby!"
I laughed putting my hat on.
I did my post interview then went up to the cool down room.
As I drank my water I saw Charles in my seat.
I walked over and stood in front him as I was talking to Max.
"you want your seat?" He asked about to get up.
"no" I chuckled hitting his knee.
After a few minutes we were all let out onto the podiums.
"and our race winner Amani Kraus!"
I ran out punching the air before jumping onto my middle podium.
Charles was accidentally on the P2 podium and Max was on the P3.
Max and I laughed watching Charles as he completely oblivious of the fact that.
I looked down and saw Toto watching from afar.
I sent him smirk in which he returned with a nod and wink.
"now the national anthem of The United Kingdom"
I took my hat off putting my hands behind my back.
Once my anthem was done, the Austrian one was played and then our trophies were brought out.
I lifted it up bending down to receive my medal.
"thank you" I smiled.
I put down my trophy and lifted up my bottle of bubbly and started spraying it on everyone. I took a sip then tossed it down for the guys.
We took a group photo then I made my quick escape.
"Xena" I whisper yelled.
She nodded and followed after me.
"here" she said handing me my ring.
I smiled slipping it onto my finger.
"I just want to change the post race interview and the team pho-"
"and here's our race winer herself Amani Kraus!"
oh fuck me
𝑳𝒆𝒘𝒊𝒔
I finished up my interview and was on my way to the motorhome when I saw Amani getting interviewed.
I've been a douche
Seeing how she bursted on me after the anthems made me realize I wasn't only hurting myself but her too.
I don't even know why I'm so mad. It was only time before her and Mick took the next step in their relationship.
I sighed watching her.
"and I see a ring on your ring finger, has Schumacher finally popped the question?" Martin Brundle asked her.
She chuckled.
"for the billionth time, this is not an engagement ring"
say wha-
"it's a promise ring that he gifted me" she smiled flashing it to the camera.
now I feel stupid
After her interview I made sure there were no media around before I rushed to her lifting her off the ground.
She squealed grabbing onto my shoulders.
"I'm sorry for how I've been acting and I know I don't deserve any forgiveness but I-"
I was cut off by her pinching me.
"ow!"
"that's what you get for driving me crazy" she huffed.
I let her down.
She then hugged me.
"you're lucky I'm in such a good mood" she smiled.
"so you forgive me?" I asked.
"yes you dumb dumb" she laughed slapping my chest.
I smiled kissing her forehead.
oh how I love this girl