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It was a close call in the qualifications that Friday.
You and Max were neck and neck, resulting in you cutting him off and just barely skimming his wheels with your Mercedes car.
Once you achieved P1, everyone was quick to offer their congratulations. However, what stood out most was the seemingly cold, resentful stare that Max gave you. It was clear that he was not used to being demoted to P4, but you didn’t let it overshadow the achievement you had made.
Everyone had warned you about how Max reacted to these sorts of situations and you had certainly seen some examples even before you joined F1, so you thought it was best to just steer clear and avoid talking to him at all costs until he calmed down.
Unfortunately, that plan only lasted a short while.
As you walked down the paddock hallway, you bumped into the Dutchman as he rounded the corner.
Startled, you apologized.
His posture relaxed when he realized it was you “Ha! That would be the second time you bumped into me today.”
‘Ah, he has jokes’ you thought to yourself
“Yeah man sorry about earlier today. But hey P4 isn't awful!"
"What do you have to be sorry about? Any rookie who can cut me out of p1 doesn't need to apologize."
"Really?" You responded, expecting him to feel at least some form of envy or resentment towards you.
"Yeah, when I say that I mean it. You...did good out there today."
He said, so earnestly in fact that you couldn't believe it was the same guy who everyone said was going to cuss you out.
“Well…” you said with a drawl
“I appreciate it, Max! That means a lot… coming from you especially.”
He looked at you with a soft expression, a stark contrast to the sharp gaze he gave you earlier that day. "Good luck tomorrow"
"Now that you've become a challenge, I'll need it!" He replied with a laugh. Though both of you knew he was bound to win even with him in P4.
After bidding farewell and wishing each other good luck, you stumbled upon your teammate conversing with three other racers.
As you walked towards them, Lewis couldn't help but cheer, "Ay, there's the woman of the hour!" His excitement was mirrored in the nods and smiles of Carlos, Pierre, and Lance.
You displayed a fake cocky attitude “Yes, yes it's me.” you said as you bowed. "You were great on the track today, congrats on P1." Carlos complimented you, and you reciprocated those feelings by telling him he did a fantastic job as well.
“How do you think Max feels that you landed him in P4?” Pierre inquired.
“Actually I don't have to wonder! Ran into him just a minute ago.”
“Really? What did he say?”
“Did he cuss you out?” Carlos and Lewis asked you with extreme interest.
“He was chill about it, and he complimented me."
You quickly gained Pierre's full attention with what you said “What? What do you mean?”.
“Did he say it passive aggressively or genuinely because sometimes it's hard to tell," Lewis questioned.
“Geez guys, what is this a police station, I feel like I'm being interrogated!” you joke
“We're all just… slightly confused, Max isn't a mean dude but we all know he's super competitive,” explained Stroll
“Well, I know you all said he has the tendency to be aggressive but geez, maybe he's just having a good day."
Lewis laughed “He never has a good day if he's losing mate.”
“Maybe it's just because you're a girl and he doesn't view you as real competition”
Lance chimed in with an unwanted opinion
“Maybe it's because he likes you,” Carlos stated, less as a theory and more like he knew it was a fact.
Mouth agape you said “WHAT.” Faster than a Redbull race car.
“For one it is not because I'm a woman,” you corrected, “and for two, he certainly does not like me in that manner!”
“Then why else would he do that?” Carlos tried to convince you that Max did indeed like you in that manner but you were impertinent to his idea.
“I don't know Carlos, I'm nice, I just have that affect on people! Go be a smooth operator on your own time, you're not cupid.”
Pierre interrupted “Wait wait, I cut him off and he pushes me, she cuts him off and he falls in love with her? That's not fair!”
Your voice rose "He doesn't like me!" you exclaimed, the frustration evident in your tone. Immediately, you cleared your throat, aware of the sudden increase in volume and the attention it might have drawn.
“Okay what did he say EXACTLY to you,” Lewis asked.
Begrudgingly you acted out your encounter with Max.
“We… bumped into each other… literally…”
With this alone, Carlos and Lewis made a face at each other.
“And he made some joke like ‘Oh that's the second time you bumped into me today!’” your Verstappen impression was funnier than the joke he made.
“He even made a joke?” Pierre looked at you in astonishment.
“Okay we are dropping this as a subject of conversation." you stated.
“Why because you like him back?”
Carlos looked at you with a smug expression.
“Because even if he did like me back,” your eyes began to drift down, acknowledging the fact you don't want him to like you simply because you know how hard it would be to keep it hidden.
“It just would be a total PR nightmare! Could you imagine? I already get flack online, imagine what would happen if everyone found out I was dating a rival team member!” You finished
“so...You like him back!” Pierre exclaimed
Your cheeks turned a bright shade of red as you tried to hide the smile that was forming across your face. "I never said that!" you protested, hoping to convince them otherwise of your Freudian slip.
"Oooo, you're in love," Lewis playfully nudged you with his arm. The other guys joined in and started making smoochy faces and kissing noises, which made you roll your eyes in response.
"Seriously, are you guys 14 years old?" you asked, exasperated. They continued to tease you as you walked away from them
It was all in good fun you were well aware, but it was still annoying. However, you were grateful for Carlos as he had helped you overcome the anxiety around liking Max. Now, all that remained was finding the courage to confess your feelings, while keeping them hidden from the public eye.