58: Off track

AUTHORS NOTE: So as you all know, everyone makes mistakes. In the first chapter I wrote that Maeve drove for Alpha Tauri in F2. As we all know... Alpha Tauri is not in F2. But because I already wrote and published the chapters we will not acknowledge it as a mistake but we will just act as if Alpha Tauri was indeed a F2 team. Sorry for the mistake... but they can happen

Also... LANDO NORRIS IS OFFICIALY A RACE WINNER OH MY GOD!! Yesterday's race was so good! (You will see this later probably). Oh my gosh I'm so happy. I promise y'all he will get a win in this fanfic too! Although I'm not sure you will all like how he wins... ;))

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Race Day Part Two

Maeve's point of view

My car is placed at the third place on the grid.

I started here before of course, in F2, with Alpha Tauri.

Now I am here, in F1.

It is not bad, P3... most people would only dream of it.

Yet for me, it is a nightmare... a nightmare which can not end soon enough.

Pierre's words are still in my head. I told Max everything... everything.

He was shocked, yet he was also angry.

Angry at Ocon, not at me in any way.

He also forbade me to sleep with Ocon, so I guess that's off the table.

Although it was already from my side.

But now we do not think about it, now it is racing time.

It is time we make this P3 a P1.

No thoughts can come in today, only the thought to win.

The red lights are counting down.

The red lights turn off and I push down my throttle.

It's racing time.

66 rounds left to go.

Round 4

I have a lot of understeer and my mood is not getting better because of it.

Basically, understeer is a term used to describe a really really really fucked up problem within a car. It is when the car doesn't react as well to the steering of the driver, in this case me.

So, to explain this a little easier, if I turn my steering wheel into a turn then my car says fuck you and drives straight instead of... turning.

It's basically because of uneven grip between my front and rear tyres, or too much speed while steering into a turn.

Owen and I have been trying to find solutions for it... but it has yet been unsuccessful.

RADIO: Just lower your speed for now, when driving into a turn.

MAE: Now we're back to the start, I already tried that, remember?

RADIO: I have no idea how else we can prevent this... you have to try something.

MAE: I'm literally trying everything I can, how do you expect me to win with this?

RADIO: Just try Maeve...

Round 7

RADIO: Our estimated pit is in 21 rounds since you are now on softs.

MAE: Okay, I want mediums.

RADIO: We think hards might be better

MAE: Ha! Good joke

RADIO: What?

MAE: Last year the hards were barely used, now you expect me to go on hards? I want mediums.

RADIO: Copy that

Round 10

I see Max's car in front of me, turning into turn 4.

When he reaches turn 5 my front wing is almost touching his.

Our cars are close, very close.

He turns into turn 5 and I try to catch him from the outside, but I can't succeed.

'Fotze', I think to myself.

I try to push my car in front of his and it works, yet when we drive into turn 7 I lose my position.

Which is great, because now I get the DRS.

We reach the DRS detection zone and then turn 9.

RADIO: You have DRS Maeve, good luck.

We rush onto the straight and my DRS opens.

I push my throttle and put the car in front of his.

He tries to catch my slipstream but doesn't succeed.

We turn into turn 10, without letting him overtake me.

Maeve Vettel has succeeded, P2 baby.

Round 16

RADIO: Okay Maeve, Carlos is in front of you, 3 seconds between you two. Max is p3.

MAE: Alright, we can do this!

RADIO: Still wanting mediums?

MAE: Yes! When do we pit?

RADIO: In 10/11 laps, good luck.

Round 27

RADIO: Box box

MAE: Mediums, confirmed?

RADIO: Yes Maeve, mediums.

I drive into the pitlane.

I exit the track as P2.

The pit team is ready and so is my car.

The pit stop is perfect, 2.3 seconds.

As soon as the green light turns on, I drive out of the pits.

MAE: What's my position?

RADIO: It's P4 Maeve... Norris is in front of you

MAE: Fuck... well I guess it's better than nothing.

I see the McLaren driving in front of me and I immediately notice I'm much faster than him.

My engine roars and the sound of the car fills my ears.

It's time Maeve... it is time to win.

So far it has been Maeve - Max - Charles.

Now it's my turn again.

I need to win this championship, not only this race.

It is in my blood to win this championship.

F1 runs through my veins.

I drive in Lando's slipstream and in turn 8 I push my car in front of his.

Two more cars to go.

Round 36

The understeer has dissapeared.

What, unfortunately, has not dissapeared is the two racing drivers in front of me.

And now another racing driver has closed the gap I created between us.

Lando is trying to overtake me, he has been trying since at least 3 rounds.

I try to create a gap and then he just closes it again.

And again

And a-fucking-gain.

We both turn into turn 9.

Norris is granted DRS as we hit the straights.

He pushes his car in front of mine.

Why the fuck do I not have enough speed?

I push my throttle and I get my car in front again.

We turn into turn 10 and I have the upperhand.

My car stays in front of his and I immediatly try to create a space between us.

I succeed, finally.

RADIO: Okay Maeve, you did good. Keep it up.

MAE: Yes thank you!

Round 44

Still P3 unfortunately.

I do see Carlos's car though.

We both steer into turn 15.

I push my car into the outside, making it harder for me to overtake him but my Redbull is faster on the straights so the 'mistake' pays back.

I push my car in front of his and it stays that way.

RADIO: Brilliant! Let's bring it home Maeve... come on!

MAE: I will try, Owen.

Round 57

RADIO: Okay Maeve 9 rounds left. Still P2.

MAE: How much between me and Max?

RADIO: 10 seconds

MAE: I bet I know our strategy.

RADIO: Plan D Maeve

MAE: Right... Plan D. Let Maeve fight the people behind Max and let Max finish the race without problems. Nice one, team.

RADIO: Come on, Maeve. You know that it's also the other way around.

MAE: That's plan Z... Plan 'Zon't let it happen'.

RADIO: Nice pun, but seriously Maeve, please let it go.

MAE: I won't fight team orders, I will make sure Max stays protected.

RADIO: Good luck.

Round 64

Weirdly enough I have deleted the 10 second gap between Max and I.

Now I am right behind him, with Sainz behind me.

Luckily we are the only three within a 50 mile radius.

Not really but between Sainz and Piastri - who has overtaken Lando - is approximately 15 seconds, nice race.

Sainz has been trying to pass me for like seven rounds but I keep defending.

He will definitely not get me.

We turn into turn 9, I make sure to stay ahead and I succeed.

But then something unexpected happens.

The motherfucker touches my wheel.

They block and I drive off track.

I fucking drive off track.